Sustainability Fieldnotes #03: Biophilic Design
Whenever we start learning something new, at a deeper level, we come in contact with terms, ideas and information we’ve never heard of.
I listen to podcasts that approach the Green Energy Transition from different angles in order to gather as much information as possible on a subject I don’t know much about.
One that I enjoy is the Green Urbanist Podcast, and Episode 53 was titled Biophilic Design for Climate Action. I love etymology so I knew it was something about life or biology and love but I had to know more, especially how it related to Climate Action. I had to press play.
After listening to, this week, the star term had to be Biophilia.
The host, Ross O’Caellaigh interviews Vanessa Champion (who has her own podcast on the subject).
Why did I enjoy this podcast? For one, it does come at climate action from a unique, if not different, very subtle and profound way.
What is Biophilic Design?
The term Biophilia was coined by Eric Fromm. In his work “The Heart of Men”, he introduces and defines it as “the passionate love of life and all that is alive”.
It was then further developed by Edward O. Wilson. In his book “Biophilia”, he suggests that humans possess an “innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life”.
He defines it as “the urge to affiliate with other forms of life”.
What does this have to do with design or climate action?
Simply this: applied to interior design, urban design, or even something more systematic such as schooling or healthcare - it has yielded rather interesting results.
Interacting with Nature
Biophilia, and its application in Biophilic Design, can be understood by assuming one, or all of these three proximities to nature:
1. Direct connection with nature: Examples can be listening to or feeling water by having a water feature in your garden, getting fresh air exposure, sitting outside to read or work, seeing nature around you, and having house plants or indoor plants in your workspace.
2. Patterns of nature: infusing textures and shapes found in nature. Rather than white-washed walls, maybe having stone walls, incorporating curves in our furniture or garden hedges, etc.
3. Rhythms of nature: for example, paying attention to circadian rhythms. This can be as simple as changing the type of tone of activities you undertake, so perhaps something more relaxing as an enjoyable conversation with dimmed light or a fire in winter in the evening, compared to going for a run first thing in the morning.
Examples of Biophilic Design
The transport shuttle at Singapore Airport.
Vanessa Champion provides examples of where it can be seen in action.
Singapore Airport is one, and the British Museum too. I immediately understood what she meant when she cited Singapore Airport.
The British Museum
However, her explanation about how the British Museum’s lovely dome is an example of Biophilic Design was surprisingly delightful.
Not only does it let in natural light, but the crisscross pattern of the roof mimics looking up at the sky through tree branches.
Hearing it made me re-experience my visits to the Museum and see them in a different light. No pun intended.
Facts & Figures
Something as simple as hanging a beautiful photograph of a natural landscape such as an image of a forest, or a lake is found to have a positive impact on patients.
It’s hard to imagine why every room in every hospital doesn’t have at least one.
It provides a cheap and easy way to assist people in their recovery and it shows how powerful even something like nature mimicry can be when included in our immediate environment.
What did I personally take away from this episode?
I loved the idea that we can use bio-mimicry for wellness and creativity. I plan to add more plants at home and maybe even include a poster near my workspace with a beautiful natural landscape.
I especially care about introducing more nature into my child’s routine and creating a stronger bond for him to enjoy and appreciate all the life that thrives around him.
This weekend, we went on a scavenger hunt to find cool things in a nearby park. He loved running around. The smell of pines was strong, and he insisted we take photographs of flowers and rocks and tree bark and bugs and twigs…
If you ask me it was Biophilia at its best.
Biophilic Design for Climate Change
One of the deepest and most moving thoughts I gained from the podcast, and the one that directly relates to how Biophilic Design can impact Climate Action is simply this:
As humans, when we spend more time in any type of contact with nature, it psychologically impacts our approach & behaviour toward it.
By having my little indoor plant next to me as I type away, by listening to birds chirping with my son in the mornings, and by making a conscious effort to spend more time with him in nature, we will become more and more attached to it.
And if everyone experienced that, we’d need to do a lot less convincing that our natural environment is something we should all care for and enjoy.
Please listen to the full episode on Biophilic Design on the Green Urbanist Podcast for an in-depth discussion on Biophilic Design. They discuss its impact on urban planning, social interaction and a lot more.
I especially enjoyed their chat about designing cities with enough density so they could benefit from public transport and cycling or walking without making them too crowded or stressful.