Biophilic Design 1 of 2

Mental well-being is all about coping with stress, being able to work productively and contributing to the community. Mental health and resultant depression are the worldwide leading cause of disability. Climate change and Covid 19 are determining a host of mental health challenges and public health threats that people are experiencing are basically some of the most urgent. The research is on biophilia and urban planning and design, specifically asking can biophilic design increase mental well-being in the built environment?   (Andreucci et al., 2019)

Our governments, urban planners & designers are progressively promoting change in the built environment striving for sustainability and resilience to climate change. Despite the latter, Australian cities are having more and more concrete jungles being erected which are not creating an environment that is restorative and connective, albeit fomenting a disconnect with a need for nature. (Andreucci et al., 2019)

Biophilia in the built environment relates to increasing a building’s occupants’ connectivity to the natural environment via the use of space, place, indirect & direct nature. (Andreucci et al., 2021)

Over forty years, the scientific basis for biophilic design has evolved from fields of study such as endocrinology and neurosciences with the design parameters ever-growing. Research and design must translate into the effective enhancement of health and well-being in the built environment. Researchers in 2021 claim there is confusion in the design and sustainability fields as to the types of nature that lead to the types of benefits, in relation to whom. Can the abovementioned confusion be a result of a failure to interpret, understand and apply the research on health and nature? (Andreucci et al., 2021)

The influence on social health and well-being, especially of the elderly is the urban built environment.  Research scientists and designers are defining the aspects of nature that impact a human’s satisfaction with the built environment.  There are several environmental psychology theories about human behaviour and its relationship with the built environment. Various studies have shown the mind can be calmed and stimulated by nature thereby improving well-being and consequentially performance.  The understanding of biophilic design patterns is evolving and capturing its cognitive and psychophysiological benefits.  (Ryan et al., 2014, Peters and D’Penna, 2020, Andreucci et al., 2019, Andreucci et al., 2021)

The nature-health relationship in the built environment for individuals is how they interact with it in a cognitive, psychophysiological way. The nature-design relationship in the built environment falls into categories called nature in the space, natural analogues and nature of space.   (Ryan et al., 2014)

A built environment can have elements from nature that provide among other things, non-rhythmic sensory stimuli, visual or non-visual connection, and thermal and airflow variability. A connection with nature can be provided in an analogue way via natural materials, patterns, objects, shapes, ornaments, colours, and biomorphic forms. Different spatial configurations engender varying psychological and physiological responses. Biophilic design patterns simply articulate the connections between the different aspects of the natural and built environments. (Ryan et al., 2014, Peters and D’Penna, 2020)

A good biophilic design could have positive impacts such as: i) enhanced performance and productivity,  ii) attention restoration, iii)  stress reduction, iv) increase positive emotions, v) reduced negative emotions, vi) lowering blood pressure, vii)  improved mood and self-esteem, viii)  lowering the stress hormone, ix) relaxing the brain, ocular muscles, and lenses. (Ryan et al., 2014)

Biophilic design in the built environment [even in your own home] includes- looking at images or scenes of nature,  green roofs, green spaces around buildings, bringing nature indoors, use of the presence of water elements, the balance between complexity and order, Nested fractal design, prospect pattern, mystery pattern, etc. [part of a uni assignment by the author]

References

Averill, J D, Groner, N, Kuligowski, E D, Mileti, D S, Nelson, H E, Peacock, R D , Proulx, G, Reneke, P A,  2005, NIST NCSTAR 1-7, Federal building and fire safety investigation of the world trade centre disaster occupant behaviour, egress, and emergency communications,   U.S. Dept of Commerce.

Bernard, H. R, 2017,  Research methods in anthropology qualitative

and quantitative approaches, Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham, MD, USA

Creswell, J.W & J.D, 2018,  Research design qualitative, quantitative, and  mixed methods approaches, 5th edition, Sage Publications, USA

De Vaus, D, 2002,  Surveys in social research, 5th edition, Allen & UNWIN, St Leonards,  NSW

Gravetter, F.J, Forzano, L.B, 2012, Research methods for the behavioral sciences, Cengage Learning, Belmont CA

Groat, L & Wang, D, 2013, Architectural Research Methods,  PUBLISHER

John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ

Interface, Biophilic design, viewed 22nd March 2022,  https://www.interface.com/US/en-US/design/biophilic-design/Biophilic-Design-en_US

Naoum,  S G, 2019, Dissertation research and writing for built environment students, CRC Press LLC

World Health Organization, 2022, Depression, viewed the 24th of March 2022, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression#:~:text=Depression%20is%20a%20common%20mental,overall%20global%20burden%20of%20disease.

Zeisel, J, 1984, Inquiry by design tools for environment-behaviour research, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

ANDREUCCI, M. B., LODER, A., BROWN, M. & BRAJKOVIĆ, J. 2021. Exploring Challenges and Opportunities of Biophilic Urban Design: Evidence from Research and Experimentation. Sustainability, 13, 4323.

ANDREUCCI, M. B., RUSSO, A. & OLSZEWSKA-GUIZZO, A. 2019. Designing Urban Green Blue Infrastructure for Mental Health and Elderly Wellbeing. Sustainability, 11, 6425.

PETERS, T. & D’PENNA, K. 2020. Biophilic Design for Restorative University Learning Environments: A Critical Review of Literature and Design Recommendations. Sustainability, 12, 7064.

RYAN, C. O., BROWNING, W. D., CLANCY, J. O., ANDREWS, S. L. & KALLIANPURKAR, N. B. 2014. BIOPHILIC DESIGN PATTERNS: Emerging Nature-Based Parameters for Health and Well-Being in the Built Environment. ArchNet-IJAR : International Journal of Architectural Research, 8, 62-75.

Images source – google and author.

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