Filtering by
- All Subjects: Biophilia
- Creators: The Design School
This thesis examines the benefit and need to integrate biophilic design strategies in modern architectural buildings. It discusses the extreme dissociation humanity has experienced from nature in the technological age, and the negative effects therein. Additionally, it dives into the way modern advancements have also led to a reliance upon artificial interfacing between individuals, rather than a traditional, in-person, face-to-face connection. This will further define biophilic design strategies, case studies and inspiration images of buildings in which they are already implemented, and how they can be utilized more. Lastly, it describes and displays a design concept for a youth center located at G.R. Herberger Park, interacting with the Central Arizona Project Canal. This project ultimately will be the first step in reconnecting people with nature and with each other, hopefully creating a butterfly effect that will spread throughout the city, state, and eventually the country.
When designing a space, all of the human senses should be considered in order to keep in mind the wellness of the client. How should the built environment be designed for user wellness through a nature-based full-body experience of a space? There are many theories and concepts that have been studied and researched regarding the three concepts that will be touched on. Psychology of design, empathetic design, and nature all connect to each other. These concepts link together, prompting additional questions and needed research to find the answers. This research suggests that Biophilic Design is the answer.
This project primarily examines the physical and mental health of K-12 school children and faculty by implementing biophilic and ergonomic design into the learning environment. By understanding the positive impacts that both biophilic and ergonomic designs had on humans throughout various office space and healthcare environments, this lead into the question of how these tactics could impact the growth and development of children, as well as the positive impacts they could have on teachers. This research was paired with my fall semester interior design studio (fall of 2021), which is the study of schools and other education spaces in order to strengthen this defense and demonstrate ways schools can incorporate these tactics through the eyes of a design student.