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Biophilia Strategies for Health and Well Being in the Built Environment
Biophilia, a concept first described by biologist E.O. Wilson, is humanity’s innate response to nature and connection to natural systems. Biophilic design is about recognizing humanity’s place in nature and using the built environment to maintain, restore, and enhance our physiological and psychological connections to the natural world. We care about biophilia in building design for two primary reasons. First, biophilic elements have demonstrably real, measurable benefits for human performance metrics such as productivity, emotional well-being, stress reduction, learning, and healing. Second, biophilic features foster an appreciation of nature, which can lead to greater protection of natural areas, species conservation, and pollution prevention.

Terrapin was asked to develop a research database for Delos Living, a real estate developer focusing on community design that supports human health and well being. While literature on biophilia spans a number of disciplines, scientific peer-reviewed documentation triangulating its relationship to health and well being in the built environment is increasingly prevalent. Terrapin identified key scientific studies that connect common facets of biophilia (nature in the space, natural analogs, and nature of the space) with important health domains, including stress response, productivity, obesity, and cancer. At the core of the research is an interest in human psychological and physiological response to different environments. The results of our research were categorized to identify relationships between health domains and the built environment that will be used to inform the design goals of Delos Living. Detailed Terrapin Case Studies are available in the Workroom, our private extranet full of detailed information and resources to help you make an informed decision.

Courtesy of Cook+Fox Architects

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Biophilic Design wins American Publishers Award

Bill Browning and Bob Fox are among the authors of a new book, Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science, and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life edited by Yale professor Stephen Kellert and winner of the 2008 American Publishers Award for Professional and Scholarly Excellence in the Architecture and Urban Planning category.

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