Integrating Biophilic Environmental Design and Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies for Sustainable Economic Development: A Systematic Review of Residential Architecture

Abstract

The residential building sector is a critical driver of global sustainability due to its substantial resource consumption, energy demand, impact on human wellbeing, and economic productivity. Biophilic environmental design, which reconnects occupants with natural systems, has been shown to improve indoor environmental quality (IEQ), psychological well-being, and energy performance. Conversely, smart sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and data-driven building management, which are systems of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, can optimise operational efficiency and adaptive building performance. Despite their individual merits, the integration of biophilic design with 4IR technologies remains underexplored, while the evidence on their combined environmental and economic outcomes has remained fragmented. A systematic review methodology, as guided by PRISMA, was adopted to coalesce empirical and theoretical evidence published between 2010 and 2025. Relevant peer-reviewed journals, conference papers, and grey literature were retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect using thematic concepts such as “biophilic design,” “4IR technologies,” “smart residential buildings,” and “sustainability.” Inclusion criteria focused on studies that reported environmental and economic outcomes related to residential architecture. Seventy-seven studies that met the inclusion criteria were examined using a Structured Data Extraction Matrix (SDEM). Findings indicate that biophilic/4IR-integrated residential buildings enhance IEQ, thermal comfort, and occupant wellbeing, while optimising energy efficiency, reducing operational costs, and lowering carbon emissions. Comparative and thematic analyses show that these buildings outperform conventional designs in environmental and economic performance and occupant satisfaction. The study recommends that architects, developers, and policymakers focus on integrating biophilic principles with 4IR technologies to achieve sustainable, human-centred residential design. Further empirical research is needed to assess the long-term economic impacts, cost-effectiveness, and policy integration of place-based and data-driven sustainable residential development.