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Support for the practice of biophilic design has been growing and there are now many

exemplary examples of buildings that seek to integrate natural features and qualities. We
recognize the need for biophilic workplaces, for healing gardens and spaces in hospitals, and
for homes and apartments that provide abundant daylight, natural ventilation, plants and
greenery. Less attention, however, has been focused on the city or urban scale, despite the fact
that the planet continues an inexorable trend in the direction of urbanization. Urban residents
need nature more than ever, and much work is needed to find creative and effective means for
incorporating
it
into
urban
environments.
It is likely that the benefits of close contact with nature are deeper and even more profound than
we realize, and the potential to make a difference by integrating nature directly into our lives,
even greater. Nature ought not to be an afterthought, and ought not to only be viewed in terms
of the (considerable to be sure) functional benefits typically provided (benefits of trees, green
rooftops, wetlands for managing stormwater, for mediating air and water pollutants, for
addressing urban heat island effects, and so on). The elements of a deeper concept of
integrating nature into everyday living include recognition of some of the following:

Healthcare environments are experienced in a variety of ways from short


visits to the dentist or GP surgery, visits to the Accident & Emergency
Unit, to prolonged stays at the hospital and end of life palliative care in
hospices. The experience usually happens at a time when the individual
is in need of care or restoration and the visit in itself can be stressful. For
many of us the fear and anxiety associated with clinical settings can
make treatment more difficult or create barriers to seeking help in the
first place, both of which can exacerbate healthcare issues.
Research has shown that at these moments connecting with nature can
be a way to alleviate stress and anxiety improving the user experience in
healthcare environments. There is huge scope for using a variety of
biophilic design principles to make these improvements, whether that is
for the benefit of the patient (and their family or carer) visiting the
healthcare facilities, or the healthcare professionals, for whom it is their
daily environment.
Biophillic design principles can be introduced in varying degrees, from
small scale inexpensive additions to the decor to larger structural

interventions. Inclusion of and references to nature can be made in a


variety of ways such as the choice of flooring and wall coverings,
furniture and furnishings. It can be achieved through the use of natural
materials like wood and natural fibres, or materials that emulate nature
e.g. printed materials and surfaces on walls and floors that look like bark
or leaf patterns.
Considerations of the layout of a room can take advantage of views out
to nature and existing natural light in the space. This is something to aim
for as increasing access to natural light will help to regulate the bodys
circadian rhythms (which govern our mood and physiological changes
over a 24 hour period), affecting processes such as hormone release of
melationin and seratonin.
For further reading I would suggest taking a look at The Role of the
Physical Environment in the Hospital of the 21st Century: A
Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity. This report reviews a range of
scientific studies on the impact of hospital design on users. They indicate
that the way hospitals are currently designed can lead to the creation of
unnecessarily stressful and dangerous environments. Outlined within the
paper are a range of aspects to consider within hospital design to reduce
stress and anxiety, whilst increasing the satisfaction levels of both
patients and staff. Many of the areas identified within the research can
be improved through biophilic design.

Below are 7 key opportunities for biophilic design interventions to reduce


patient and staff stress and fatigue, to improve health outcomes and
increase effectiveness in delivering care:
1. Good ventilation to reduce the spread of infectious disease; fresh air
passing over the skin also has stress reduction qualities.
2. Reduce general noise levels & noise peaks (through sound absorbing
materials, single-bed rooms and reducing noise sources) which has
numerous benefits to staff and patients alike; to minimise staff
distractions/interruptions and reduce errors in prescribing/dispensing
medications whilst reducing staff stress (perception of work demands,
improved communication therefore social support and care) and
patients stress, blood pressure, heart and respiration rate, and to
improve sleep.
3. Optimise lighting by using natural light to reduce patients length of
stay, stress, pain, depression and need for medication and reducing
staffs exposure to high-intensity surgical lights which can cause retinal
damage.
4. Provide views of nature to improve emotional well-being, reduce fear,

anxiety, pain, stress and even levels of medication.


5. Create hospital gardens to provide views of nature, reduce stress and
improve access to social support, satisfaction with quality of care and
sanctuary from clinical environment.
6. Include artworks depicting nature to reduce stress.
7. Use nature and natural materials in the interior design to make the
hospital environment more comfortable, aesthetically pleasing,
informative, relieve stress and increase satisfaction by renovating the
layout, colour scheme, furniture, floor covering, curtains and information
displays and materials. This will improve patient perception and
satisfaction with healthcare.
Biophilic Design principles have a key role to play in the design of
healthcare spaces connecting patients, staff and visitors alike to nature;
creating physical and physiological benefits to all.
I believe many of us who have experienced healthcare in one form or
another, both personally or professionally, will recognise many of these
design opportunities. Have you experienced a really good example of
healthcare space design? Where there any Biophilic design principles in
use? How did you or your friends, families or colleagues benefit?
Perhaps you have had an experience of poor design and have some
ideas for how design could be used to improve that space? Let me know
which Biophilic design interventions you think would be most effective?

Says Biophilic designer Oliver Heath: 'Biophilic design is more than


just bringing the outside in, it's about making and strengthening a
connection with many aspects of nature. It's about natural light, views
on nature, plants, natural materials, textures and patterns.

ABSTRACT
Biophilic design can reduce stress, enhance creativity
and clarity of thought, improve our well-being and
expedite healing; as the world population continues to
urbanize, these qualities are ever more important.
Theorists, research scientists, and design practitioners
have been working for decades to define aspects of
nature that most impact our satisfaction with the built
environment. 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design articulates
the relationships between nature, human biology and the
design of the built environment so that we may
experience the human benefits of biophilia in our design
applications.
Biophilia in Context looks at the evolution of biophilic
design in architecture and planning and presents a
framework for relating the human biological science and
nature. Design Considerations explores a sampling of
factors (e.g., scale, climate, user demographics) that
may influence biophilic design decisions to bring greater

clarity to why some interventions are replicable and why


others may not be. The Patterns lays out a series of tools
for understanding design opportunities, including the
roots of the science behind each pattern, then metrics,
strategies and considerations for how to use each
pattern. This paper moves from research on biophilic
responses to design application as a way to effectively
enhance health and well-being for individuals and
society.
- See more at:
http://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/report/14patterns/#sthash.Fmglep09.dpuf

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