Our Vision — Biophilic Cities (2024)

FAQs

What is biophilic city theory? ›

The concept of the biophilic city was introduced by Beatley, who suggested that cities 'can be designed and planned to be profoundly more “natureful” and organic, providing opportunities for extensive and deep contact between urban residents and nature' (Beatley 2008, pp.

Biophilic design is an approach to architecture that seeks to connect building occupants more closely to nature. Biophilic designed buildings incorporate things like natural lighting and ventilation, natural landscape features and other elements for creating a more productive and healthy built environment for people.

Few dense cities can truly boast being “in a garden” in the way that Singapore can. In many ways, Singapore is the shining example of a biophilic city.

Light, air, water, plants, animals, weather, natural landscape, and ecosystem are biophilic design elements for restorative environments.

Biophilic design principles are generally organised into three categories: nature in the space, nature of the space, and natural analogues. Nature in the space refers to the direct presence of nature and often includes multi-sensory interactions.

In the book Biophilic Cities, you propose a set of indicators of a biophilic city and you cluster them in four categories: Conditions & Infrastructure (e.g., miles per capita of walking trails); Activities (e.g., % of population in nature clubs); Attitudes & Knowledge (e.g., % of population that can identify a common ...

The elements of a biophilic city extend beyond a traditional planning focus on public parks and greenspace to include many other elements of nature in cities within both public and private realms, such as blue-green corridors, urban forests, pocket parks, green rooftops, waterways, urban agriculture, and pollinator ...

Biophilic design comprises the 5 senses; sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing. The ultimate goal is to use these in conjunction with each other to create a space which reenergises its occupants and allows for maximum return on investment.

Increased biodiversity in urban environments

The biophilic city concept advocates for natural features like native trees and plants to improve the natural environment, by offering respite to migrating insects and birds, cleaning the air, and providing a natural cooling system during hot summers.

The entire city-state of Singapore is, arguably, the world's first 'biophilic city'. The authorities have made extensive efforts to incorporate plants, water and wildlife into buildings, parks, streetscapes and government offices.

Are biophilic cities sustainable resilient cities? ›

Biophilic cities are cities that provide close and daily contact with nature, nearby nature, but also seek to foster an awareness of and caring for this nature. Biophilic cities, it is argued here, are also sustainable and resilient cities.

Key Principles of Biophilic Design:

Biophilic design focuses on elements of the natural world that, over evolutionary time, have advanced human health, fitness, and wellbeing. Biophilic design incorporates nature in a way that is connected, complementary, and integrated within the overall environment.

Biophilic design is a concept used within the building industry to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions.

bio·​phil·​ia ˌbī-ō-ˈfi-lē-ə -ˈfēl-yə : a hypothetical human tendency to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature : a desire or tendency to commune with nature.

Biophilic design encourages an emotional attachment to particular settings and places. 4. Biophilic design promotes positive interactions between people and nature that encourage an expanded sense of relationship and responsibility for the human and natural communities.

The biophilia hypothesis is the belief that humans are genetically predisposed to be attracted to nature. It states that all humans inherently love the natural world. This idea that we are drawn to and need nature was first put forth by a man named Edward O. Wilson in his book, Biophilia, published in 1984.

Biophilic design is a concept used within the building industry to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions.

Biophilic urbanism was presented as an emerging planning and urban design approach that aimed to systematically integrate nature into the urban fabric, igniting the potential to transform barren urban spaces into places that are restorative and conducive to life [7, 13].

The green city is characterized by a balance with nature, where all forms of nature are respected, maintained, and extended for the benefit of city residents . The concept of urban green infrastructure plays a crucial role in the strategic planning, protection, development, and management of urban nature .