Architectural Psychology and Biophilia in Healthcare FINAL - Flipbook - Page 2
Here’s an overview of some of the more significant findings of architectural
psychology, the theories behind them, and supporting investigations:
One of the most compelling theories related to architectural psychology is that of
biophilia.
In 1986, Edward O. Wilson coined the term ‘biophilia’ to describe what he believed to
be the necessity for modern humans to be in contact with nature. He argued that this
predisposition was genetic and could be traced back to our human ancestry.
However, modern‐day societal factors have cut us off from our contact with nature.
According to the proponents of biophilia, efforts must be made by planners and
designers to re‐establish this connection in the built environment. Wilson’s Biophilia
was followed by a great deal of study and literature on the topic by many researchers
and architects.
The findings of biophilia have received particular attention over other findings related
to architectural psychology for the following reasons:
1. The volumes of pertinent information provided by the study of biophilia far
outweigh that of other recent psychological studies in the architectural realm.
The findings of biophilia also tend to overlap with many of the other areas.
2. Biophilia particularly concerns itself with health and well‐being and, therefore,
is particularly conducive to applications in healthcare settings. These settings
have provided a convenient laboratory for many clinical experiments that
support the claims of biophilia.
3. While much of the data in architectural psychology is antidotal or based on
testing, that of biophilia is largely backed by scientifically measurable metrics
such as blood pressure, heart rate, and other vitals taken directly from subjects.
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