Prakriti Goyal

GCAD/16/320
15 July 2020

Biophilia – Plantation or a Design approach

 
1.     Introduction
 
“This is what I prayed for”- wrote the Roman poet Horace. “A piece of land- not so very
big, with a garden and, near the house a spring that never fails, and a bit of woods to
round it off”.
These wonderful words were quoted years ago, wherein the poet illustrates his desire for a
place connected to nature, a place where he can get refuge from the alarming life of the
urban squares.
Scrolling down the settlements and sculptures of the past, people have often illustrated
their desire to stay connected with nature. They have achieved this urge by stylizing
characteristics of flora and fauna, primitive hut to delicate leafy filigrees of Rococo Design
to Farnsworth House by Sir Mies van der rohe. The idea of staying connected with mother
nature has always been appreciated and is found beneficial for the human well-being. But,
in the present scenario, the connection with nature is presumed as an identity of the luxury
of property owner showcasing just the environmentally friendly efforts.
This extreme misconception calls for the need of studying the concepts of Biophilic design
which dictates the biological need of humans to hold a connection with nature on the
ground of physical, social, and mental level, which affects the wellbeing, worker
productivity, and societal relationships. Biophilia is derived from two words, ‘Bio’- means
nature and ‘philia’- means love or affinity, expressing the bond between nature, science,
and the built environment.
Various researches elaborate upon the positive impacts of connection with nature on
human health, productivity, decreased violence and criminal activities. Elzeyadi’s study at
the University of Oregon states, “10% of employee absenteeism could be connected to
attributes of architectural elements that did not connect to nature and that a person’s
views a primary predictor of absenteeism”. This can be easily cured via incorporating
green roof and green views within and around the area of activity.
Jenifer Seal- Creamer outlined three classifications of user experience, i.e., Nature of
space (moderate to high depth of openness), Natural Analogue (a degree of separation
from nature {using materials, patterns derived from nature}) and Nature in Space
(Incorporating plants within built space). Within the three classifications, are fourteen
patterns that help in achieving a stimulating experience.
One often merges energy efficiency and sustainability with concepts of Biophilia. With no
areas of doubt, patterns of Biophilia contribute towards bringing sustainability but are
more oriented towards user experience. In quest of maximizing energy efficiency and
minimizing the operational cost of a building, worker productivity is often devalued
because the benefits are not apparent immediately. But to note, that worker productivity
can uplift or degrade the economics of any institute.
Therefore, there is a great need that the budding minds pay heed towards the basic
functioning of a built environment as quoted by an American Psychologist which includes-
-        Need for change
-        Ability to act on the environment and see the effects
-        Meaningful stimuli
-        One’s territory to provide safety, identity and protection
-        View to the outside world.
 Prakriti Goyal
GCAD/16/320
15 July 2020

Concluding with Edward O. Wilson quotation, an American biologist who bought the term
Biophilia in use in year 1980’s, book named ‘Biophilia’.

The natural world is the refuge of the spirit, remote, static, richer even than human
imagination. – Edward O. Wilson, Biophilia

1.1  Hypothesis
A shift from Mundane setting to a stimulating experience.

 
1.2  Research question
Patterns of Biophilic design can generate a stimulating experience within a built
environment- How?