CETANA PROOF - Flipbook - Page 119
Why Biophilic Design?
Biophilic design is an approach that incorporates nature into
the built environment by incorporating natural elements and
emphasizing them through multi-sensory experiences, imitating
nature in forms, shapes, patterns, materials and colours, and
interacting with nature to establish connection with and between
spaces. This can be done in a number of ways, such as bringing
plants and water features into a space, using natural materials
and colours, and providing views of nature.
Biophilic design, or designing experiences of nature, has grown
in appeal and scientific justification in the last two decades.
Hundreds of studies have identified strong impacts of exposure
to nature on many of the human behaviors and capabilities that
underpin our entire economy. A 2019 review of the literature
published in the journal Building and Environment identified
more than 500 peer-reviewed articles on the topic of biophilic
design. A 2022 review of 141 articles in the same journal
identifies and compares frameworks and discusses the benefits
and challenges. Researchers have investigated and widely
documented various physiological and psychological effects of
exposure to nature, and to seeing nature reflected in architecture.
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