Biophilic Design

Biophilic Design is based on the premise that humans have an innate affinity for nature, which presents a great opportunity for designing healthy places to live, work and play. Biophilia, a term coined by German psychologist Erich Fromm and made famous by E.O. Wilson's book on the subject (Biophilia, 1984), is described by Wilson as "the innately emotional affiliation of human beings to other living organisms. Innate means hereditary and hence part of ultimate human nature."

Architect and Ecological Design Collaboratory advisor Liz Calabrese elaborates: "biophilic design in the built environment reconnects humans, communities, and societies with the natural world, weaving the two back together to promote well-being for both humanity and the natural environment." She notes that the main elements of biophilic design include the following:

• Environmental Features – well-recognized features of the natural world which are incorporated into the built environment
• Natural Shapes and Forms – features which represent and simulate the natural world, on facades and within interiors
• Natural Patterns and Processes – properties and processes found in nature
• Light and Space – quality of light and spatial relationships
• Place Based Relationships – marriage of culture with ecology in a geographical context
• Evolved Human Nature Relationships – fundamental aspects of the inherent human relationship to nature

(from: Calabrese, Liz. 2013. The Architecture of Healing. The University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont.)

The goal of biophilic design is to enhance and restore our built environment in order to create spaces that not only serve their essential function of humans, but actually enhances the experiences of its occupants. Ecological design that is rooted in biophilic design will create structures that are not only low impact through their energy efficiency, power generation, passive heating and cooling, and rainwater catchment (to name just some features), but are also desirable places to live, work, and gather.