AR 543:

ARCHITECTURE INQUIRIES
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Architecture [BCRAT]
January - May 2022 Semester
Assignment 02:

BOOK PUBLICATION: BOOK CHAPTER

PROPOSAL

Unit A - Group 01
CHAPTER 10 - Chin Jun Yee 1001956511

Lecturer: Ms Intan Lina Samsudin, Ms Norizan Daud

 CHAPTER 10
BIOPHILIC ARCHITECTURE AFFECTS ON HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY AND HEALTH

Chin Jun yee

10.0 Extended Abstract

10.1 Introduction

10.1.1 Problem statement

10.1.2 Aim

10.2 Literature Review

10.2.1 The emergence of biophilic architecture

10.2.2 Biophilic design attributes

10.2.3 Enhancement to quality of life

10.3 Methodology

10.3.1 Literature Review

10.3.2 Observation

10.3.3 Interview

10.3.4 Research Synthesising

10.4 References

10.0 Extended Abstract

Stress, mental health concerns, high crime rates, and poor health are all prevalent in today's cities,
while the built environment is increasingly plagued by urban heat island effects and air and water
pollution. These concerns have spawned a new set of design concepts and practises known as
"biophilic architecture," which emphasises the importance of nature in the design process. This
design philosophy claims that humans have a natural connection to nature, which may help to
make buildings and cities more functional human habitations. This study addresses the evidence
for this fundamental human psychological and physiological connection to nature, as well as the
rising research supporting biophilic architecture's various social, environmental, and economic
benefits.

Keywords: Biophilic Design, Biophilic Architecture, stress, Quality of life, social, environmental,
economic

10.1 Introduction

Biophilic design is founded on the idea that individuals have a natural connection to nature that
should be reflected in their daily lives, particularly in cities. Although this has not been a dominant
component of architectural principles, it has the potential to yield significant benefits if the
assumption is correct. The psychological and physiological data that explains the human-nature
link is reviewed in this work. If the innate link exists, there should be proof anytime biophilic
architecture is used for significant social, environmental, and economic benefits.

10.1.1 Problem statement

In Penang Hill, there are some issues faced by the people in the area thus this study has been done
and found out that the people living there do not meet standard level of quality of life as their
lifestyle causes harm to the environment around them for example, cutting down forest to benefit
themselves. Some of the places are in poor condition which poorly affect the quality of life of the
people at Penang Hill. Some farmers in the area are stress of living at the area even after illegally
farming on the hill that causes harm to the hill and might cause landslide.

10.1.2 Aim

The aim of the research from this chapter is to find out methods of improving quality of life through
a biophilic architecture approach. The objective is to study the relationship between quality of life
and biophilic architecture by observing living conditions at Penang Hill. Then propose design
attributes of biophilic architecture which enhance the quality of life of the people in Penang Hill.

10.2 Literature Review

10.2.1 The emergence of biophilic architecture

Biophilia was introduced by psychoanalyst Fromm in his research of the "Essence of Man," or that
which constitutes mankind. Human consciousness of their "beingness," or death, he saw, divides
them from nature, causing deep distress and conflict. A regressive road of narcissism, incestuous
symbiosis, violence, and necrophilia, or a progressive path of compassion, freedom, and biophilia,
might be taken in the attempt to overcome this uneasiness. A love of life and living processes was
termed as "biophilia".

Wilson, a sociobiologist, investigated and popularised the concept of the biophilic human being in
his book Biophilia, published in 1984. "The natural desire to focus on life and lifelike processes,"
Wilson described biophilia. During a period of study and immersion in the natural world, he came
up with the term "biophilia" to express his intense feelings of connection to nature. Wilson's key
insight was that this biophilic proclivity evolved as a means of evolutionary survival and, as a
result, incorporates some traits that people retain even in modern cities. He claimed that a desire
to "discover and identify with life is a profound and difficult process in mental growth," and that
"love of life is an inbuilt human propensity."

10.2.2 Biophilic design attributes

Biophilic design advocates have developed these ideas, proving their validity via personal
experience, intuitive knowledge, and historical evidence. The authors of Biophilic Design: The
Theory, Science, and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life saw the necessity to define the
characteristics of biophilic architecture as the first step toward developing a toolkit for architects
and developers. There used to categorise biophilic design into seven major attributes and six
element with seventy design attributes proposed but throughout the years these attributes were
refined using supportive qualitative and quantitative research and concluded with the following
fourteen patterns within three categories (Table 1) because designers may find previous design
attributes difficult to work with because it is unwieldy and potentially confronting.

Biophilic architecture is a contemporary design approach that emphasises better touch with natue
both within and outside of buildings. Is there enough evidence to support the necessity for this
design approach, according to the biophilic urbanism literature?

10.2.3 Enhancement to quality of life

The purpose of biophilic design is to create environments that elicit positive emotional responses such
as satisfaction, pleasure, curiosity, fascination, and wonder, all of which are antecedents to human
attachment to and care for a place (Kellert, Heerwagen & Mador, 2008). The goal can be reached by
adding actual Nature or symbolically referring to Nature in architectural surroundings, which will
promote interest in and admiration for Nature while also providing an effective means to recover from
mental exhaustion.

Biophilic design supporters largely focused on the human-nature connection, however they
recognised the potential benefits of a change toward a design strategy that integrates nature into
cities, not just for the human-nature relationship, but also for the environment. The benefits of
direct vegetation, primarily on roofs, have been the focus of study on the environmental benefits
of biophilic architecture in the recent decade. For example, Green roofs have a long history in
urban design, dating back to the early sod roofs of European architecture, but modern engineering
techniques have enabled green roofs to become a prominent architectural component of cutting-
edge structures.

Figure 1 illustrates the paper's main argument and flow: the natural human-nature link should be visible
in direct measurements of human-nature interactions, as well as in how cities function in environmental
measurements, and that these two factors should be combined to lead to economic gains. As shown in
Figure 1, socio-psychological and environmental benefits are likely to combine to produce large
economic benefits. Although research has offered some measurable data to support the economic case,
it has tended to focus on the economics of either a single benefit or a few related benefits. Better
workplace productivity, enhanced health and healing, higher retail potential, lower crime and violence,
increased property prices and employee attraction, and increased livability in congested locations are
all examples of economic benefits from biophilic design.

Figure 1. Biophilic architecture benefit flow

With all these elements of quality of life it is clear that biophilic architecture can have a huge
impact on humanity by connecting humans with nature. It will also improve social connection
among us human thus making unite as a whole with each other and also nature, as times goes on
we will be more understanding of us as human and nature as well.

10.3 Methodology

Methodology is a collection of techniques utilised in a specific field of study or activity. In order

to obtain the data needed to complete the research and documentation of the site, we used
observation, literature review, interviews and research synthesising for this research.

10.3.1 Literature Review

A literature review is conducted to understand the concept of biophilic architecture, design
elements of biophilic design and method to enhance the quality of life through biophilic
architecture.

10.3.2 Observation

In Penang Hill, the site study is used to develop a design proposal that fits the site environment.
The information that needs to be observed about the site’s proposed program, the location, the
physical environment, and the adjacent buildings, are critical for constructing public spaces that
allow people to improve their quality of life by engaging with nature.

10.3.3 Interview

Interview is one of the methods used to obtain data through open-ended and conversational
communication. Therefore, we used this method to conduct an in-depth interview to obtain
information about the quality of life of the people in the site.

10.3.4 Research Synthesising

Research synthesis refers to methods for merging, aggregating, integrating, and synthesising
primary research data. By synthesising the information gathered we are able to propose spaces
that enhance the quality of life of the people.

10.4 References

Beatley T (2011). Biophilic Cities: Integrating Nature into Urban Design and Planning.

Browning WD, Ryan CO, Clancy JO (2014) 14 Patterns of biophilic design.

Browning B, Garvin C, Ryan C, et al (2012). The Economics of Biophilia - Why Designing with
Nature in Mind Makes Financial Sense.

Cook-Patton SC, Bauerle TL (2012). Potential benefits of plant diversity on vegetated roofs: A
literature review.

Fromm E (1964). The Heart of Man

Kellert, S. R., (2005). Building for life: Designing and understanding the human-nature
connection.

Kellert, S. R., Heerwagen, J., & Mador, M. (2008). Biophilic design: The theory, science and
practice of bringing buildings to life.

Kowarik I (2011). Novel urban ecosystems, biodiversity, and conservation.

Wilson EO (1984). Biophilia.