Galileo observed that the book of nature “is written in the language of mathematics.” We’re only beginning to learn how right he was.
In the 1970s, the Polish-born mathematician Benoit Mandlebrot turned the scientific world’s attention to the abundance of shapes in nature that seem to repeat endlessly at varying scales. He called these forms “fractals,” from the Latin word “fractus,” meaning broken or shattered.
Look out your window and you’ll see them everywhere. A tree limb has smaller branches growing out of it, which in turn has smaller twigs growing out of them. Growing along them are leaves with veins that branch off again and again into smaller versions of themselves. Snowflakes, pine cone scales, flower petal arrangements, and tree bark are all made up of such repeating and scaling patterns. Mandelbrot determined that, when viewed up close, even natural forms we interpret as chaotic, such as shorelines and lightning bolts, were actually organized fractal systems.
Known as the “father of fractals,” Mandelbrot applied his findings to make breakthroughs in disciplines ranging from geometry to computing to economics. However, it appears some of the most impactful discoveries are happening today in the world of design.
Fractal complexity matters: lower D-Values (like subtle linear patterns) create calming spaces, while higher D-Values deliver visual energy and movement. Choose based on the mood you want to establish.
Fractals and Wellness
A growing body of evidence concludes that there are mental health benefits from exposure to fractal patterns. Because humans evolved in environments rich in fractal patterns, researchers believe that we are hardwired to experience an innate sense of comfort in such environments, and that the time we spend indoors, walled off from them, is detrimental.
“[The human eye] has taken 600 million years to develop, and what it’s expecting to look at is nature,” University of Oregon Professor of Physics, Psychology, and Art Richard Taylor explained on the Biophilic Design podcast. “It’s not expecting to look at these Euclidean boxes that we’ve chosen to live in fairly recently.”
Taylor put the notion to the test in a study funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which was concerned about the stress its astronauts could experience when journeying far from their world. The researchers staged two mock space-station rooms with fractal and non-fractal backgrounds and studied the responses of those who worked in them. He said that when fractal imagery was on the walls, stress levels were reduced by 60 percent – a finding with huge implications here on earth.
Another avenue of Taylor’s research has been the effects that varying complexities (which he terms “D values”) of fractal patterns can have on viewers. A design with a low D-value fractal pattern, comparable in subtlety to a cloud floating in a blue sky, can have a calming influence, while a visual with a very high D-value may induce unease.
The fractal imagery you include in your home or office can therefore be chosen with intention to set the energy of a room, and tile plays a big role in how that energy takes shape.
A geometric stone accent wall transforms the space: the Paragon Chevron pattern establishes visual interest while maintaining the biophilic calm that comes from working with natural materials.
Designing with Fractals
Tapping the benefits of fractal exposure through interior design isn’t as simple as adding a plant to your office (although that doesn’t hurt). Since the brain can find it distracting when features from the outdoors are too far out of context in the built environment, it can be just as effective, if not more so, to use bio-inspired designs.
Island Stone & Tile has a wide array of products that fit that description, made with natural materials like stone and wood, as well as ceramics and glass. Vice President of Brand Strategy and Design Feras Irikat notes that the choice of materials in a fractal pattern tile can effectively alter its atmosphere.
“If I put our Paragon Chevron in a quartzite, like Crystal White which has a shine and movement, I'm creating a high-energy pattern,” Irikat said. “If I take that pattern and introduce it into our Sandstone Mint, which is a limestone, I’ll have created something that's a little bit more subdued. Limestone has pores and absorbs sound and temperature; its colors are usually soft tones of grays, beige, or off-whites, and it has the capability of creating a quiet space.”
One of Irikat’s favorite fractal-style tile patterns is Paragon Hex, which is part of the Dimensions collection. The Paragon Hex features a repeating shape that, when assembled together, may call to mind a star, flower, or sand dollar, and is made of natural stone.
“The surface is honed, so it is absorbent to light and sound,” Irikat said. “It has a way of emotionally calming you and making you feel like you're in a sanctuary or a super-intimate space.”
Island Stone & Tile carries one of the industry's most diverse and highest-quality assortments of 3-D tiles, with shapes that take their cues from nature. Other popular examples include:
- V-Squares: Although the featured shapes in these tiles are squares, their diverging angles and ability to manipulate light and shadows give each a unique sense of dimension. Breaking away from the classic linear style of the V Tile line, V Squares are arranged in a weave-like pattern, creating a strikingly modern aesthetic.
- Rhythm: These tiles capture the sense of visual movement of ripples and small waves on the ocean. Rhythm is offered in four color and stone varieties, each with its own distinct personality.
Find Your Design
Whether you’re seeking a calming tile for your bathroom or shower, a textured tile for a decorative accent wall, or eye-catching geometric tile patterns for a place of business, Island Stone & Tile has what you need to make your project a success. Browse our online collections, contact us anytime with questions, or find a showroom near you where you can see and experience our products for yourself.
