Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life

434 Pages·2008·17.3 MB·English

by  Stephen R. Kellert

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Biophilic Design
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Biophilic Design
The Theory, Science, and Practice
of Bringing Buildings to Life
EDITEDBY:
Stephen R. Kellert
Judith H. Heerwagen
Martin L. Mador
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Copyright © 2008 by Stephen R. Kellert, Judith H. Heerwagen, and Martin L. Mador. All rights reserved
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Biophilic design : the theory, science, and practice of bringing buildings to life / edited by Stephen R.
Kellert, Judith H. Heerwagen, Martin L. Mador.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-470-16334-4 (cloth)
1. Architecture—Environmental aspects 2. Architecture—Human factors. I. Kellert, Stephen R.
II. Heerwagen, Judith H., 1944– III. Mador, Martin L., 1949–
NA2542.35.E44 2008
720'.47—dc22
2007023228
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Contents
Preface vii
Stephen R. Kellert and Judith H. Heerwagen
Acknowledgments xi
Prologue: In Retrospect xiii
Hillary Brown
PART I The Theory of Biophilic Design 1
Chapter 1 Dimensions, Elements, and Attributes of Biophilic Design 3
Stephen R. Kellert
Chapter 2 The Nature of Human Nature 21
Edward O. Wilson
Chapter 3 A Good Place to Settle: Biomimicry, Biophilia, and the Return
of Nature’s Inspiration to Architecture 27
Janine Benyus
Chapter 4 Water, Biophilic Design, and the Built Environment 43
Martin L. Mador
Chapter 5 Neuroscience, the Natural Environment, and Building Design 59
Nikos A. Salingaros and Kenneth G. Masden II
PART II The Science and Benefits of Biophilic Design 85
Chapter 6 Biophilic Theory and Research for Healthcare Design 87
Roger S. Ulrich
Chapter 7 Nature Contact and Human Health: Building the Evidence Base 107
Howard Frumkin
Chapter 8 Where Windows Become Doors 119
Vivian Loftness with Megan Snyder
Chapter 9 Restorative Environmental Design: What, When, Where, and
for Whom? 133
Terry Hartig, Tina Bringslimark, and Grete Grindal Patil
Chapter10 Healthy Planet, Healthy Children: Designing Nature into the Daily
Spaces of Childhood 153
Robin C. Moore and Clare Cooper Marcus
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vi Contents
Chapter11 Children and the Success of Biophilic Design 205
Richard Louv
Chapter12 The Extinction of Natural Experience in the Built Environment 213
David Orr and Robert Michael Pyle
Part III The Practice of Biophilic Design 225
Chapter13 Biophilia and Sensory Aesthetics 227
Judith H. Heerwagen and Bert Gregory
Chapter14 Evolving an Environmental Aesthetic 243
Stephen Kieran
Chapter15 The Picture Window: The Problem of Viewing Nature
Through Glass 253
Kent Bloomer
Chapter16 Biophilic Architectural Space 263
Grant Hildebrand
Chapter17 Toward Biophilic Cities: Strategies for Integrating Nature
into Urban Design 277
Timothy Beatley
Chapter18 Green Urbanism: Developing Restorative Urban Biophilia 297
Jonathan F. P. Rose
Chapter19 The Greening of the Brain 307
Pliny Fisk III
Chapter20 Bringing Buildings to Life 313
Tom Bender
Chapter21 Biophilia in Practice: Buildings That Connect People with Nature 325
Alex Wilson
Chapter22 Transforming Building Practices Through Biophilic Design 335
Jenifer Seal Cramer and William Dee Browning
Chapter23 Reflections on Implementing Biophilic Design 347
Bob Berkebile and Bob Fox, with Alice Hartley
Contributors 357
Image Credits 365
Index 371
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Preface
Stephen R. Kellert and Judith H. Heerwagen
T
his book immodestly aspires to help mend the The idea of biophilic design arises from the increas-
prevailing breach existing in our society between ing recognition that the human mind and body evolved
the modern built environment and the human in a sensorially rich world, one that continues to be crit-
need for contact with the natural world. In this regard, ical to people’s health, productivity, emotional, intellec-
the chapters in this volume focus on the theory, science, tual, and even spiritual well-being. The emergence
and practice of what we call biophilic design, an innovative during the modern age of large-scale agriculture, indus-
approach that emphasizes the necessity of maintaining, try, artificial fabrication, engineering, electronics, and
enhancing, and restoring the beneficial experience of na- the city represents but a tiny fraction of our species’
ture in the built environment. Although we present bio- evolutionary history. Humanity evolved in adaptive re-
philic design as an innovation today, ironically, it was the sponse to natural conditions and stimuli, such as sun-
way buildings were designed for much of human history. light, weather, water, plants, animals, landscapes, and
Integration with the natural environment; use of local habitats, which continue to be essential contexts for
materials, themes and patterns of nature in building ar- human maturation, functional development, and ulti-
tifacts; connection to culture and heritage; and more mately survival.
were all tools and methods used by builders, artisans, and Unfortunately, modern technical and engineering
designers to create structures still among the most func- accomplishments have fostered the belief that humans
tional, beautiful, and enduring in the world. can transcend their natural and genetic heritage. This
The authors in this book represent widely diverse presumption has encouraged a view of humanity as hav-
disciplines, including architects, natural scientists, social ing escaped the dictates of natural systems, with human
scientists, health professionals, developers, practitioners, progress and civilization measured by its capacity for
and others who offer an original and timely vision of fundamentally altering and transforming the natural
how we can achieve not just a sustainable but also a more world. This dangerous illusion has given rise to an ar-
satisfying and fulfilling modern society in harmony with chitectural practice that encourages overexploitation,
nature. Collectively, they articulate a paradigm shift in environmental degradation, and separation of people
how we design and build with nature in mind. Still, bio- from natural systems and processes. The dominant par-
philic design is not about greening our buildings or sim- adigm of design and development of the modern built
ply increasing their aesthetic appeal through inserting environment has become one of unsustainable energy
trees and shrubs. Much more, it is about humanity’s and resource consumption, extensive air and water pol-
place in nature, and the natural world’s place in human lution, widespread atmospheric and climate alteration,
society, a space where mutuality, respect, and enriching excessive waste generation, unhealthy indoor environ-
relation can and should exist at all levels and emerge as mental conditions, increasing alienation from nature,
the norm rather than the exception. and growing “placelessness.” One of the volume’s au-
Biophilic design at any scale from buildings to cities thors, David Orr (1999:212–213), described this lam-
begins with a simple question: How does the built en- entable condition in this way:
vironment affect the natural environment, and how will
nature affect human experience and aspiration? Most of Most [modern] buildings reflect no understanding
all, how can we achieve sustained and reciprocal bene- of ecology or ecological processes. Most tell its
fits between the two? users that knowing where they are is unimportant.
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viii Preface
Most tell its users that energy is cheap and abun- extent still undervalued...,our existence depends on
dant and can be squandered. Most are provisioned this propensity, our spirit is woven from it, hope rises on
with materials and water and dispose of their wastes its currents.” The idea of biophilia is elucidated else-
in ways that tell its occupants that we are not part of where (Wilson 1984, Kellert and Wilson 1993, Kellert
the larger web of life. Most resonate with no part of 1997), and described in chapters in this volume by
our biology, evolutionary experience, or aesthetic Kellert and E. O. Wilson.
Biophilic design is the expression of the inherent
sensibilities.
human need to affiliate with nature in the design of the
Recognition of the necessity to change this self- built environment. The basic premise of biophilic de-
defeating paradigm has led to significant efforts at min- sign is that the positive experience of natural systems
imizing and mitigating the adverse environmental and and processes in our buildings and constructed land-
human health impacts of modern development. These scapes remains critical to human performance and well-
efforts have resulted in the growth of the sustainable or being. Various chapters in the volume cite growing
green design movement, dramatically illustrated by the scientific evidence to corroborate this assumption in
extraordinary rise of the U.S. Green Building Council’s studies of health care, the workplace, childhood devel-
LEED certification and rating system. While com- opment, community functioning, and more. More gen-
mendable and necessary, these efforts will ultimately be erally, the authors offer insight and understanding
insufficient to achieving the long-term goal of a sustain- regarding the theory, science, and practice of biophilic
able, healthy, and well-functioning society. design.
The basic deficiency of current sustainable design is Part I of the book focuses on a conceptual under-
a narrow focus on avoiding harmful environmental im- standing of biophilia and biophilic design. Chapters by
pacts, or what we call low environmental impact design. Kellert, E. O. Wilson, Benyus, Mador, and Salingaros
Low environmental impact design, while fundamental and Masden offer various biological and cultural under-
and essential, fails to address the equally critical needs standings of the human need to affiliate with natural
of diminishing human separation from nature, enhanc- systems, and how this inclination can be achieved
ing positive contact with environmental processes, and through design of the built environment. The authors
building within a culturally and ecologically relevant address the neglect of the human-nature connection in
context, all basic to human health, productivity, and modern architecture and construction, a condition the
well-being. These latter objectives are the essence of eminent architectural historian Vincent Scully de-
biophilic design. True and lasting sustainability must scribed in this way (1991:11): “The relationship of man-
combine both low environmental impact and biophilic made structures to the natural world...has been
design, the result being what is called restorative envi- neglected by architecture....There are many reasons
ronmental design (Kellert 2005). This book, in effect, for this. Foremost among them...is the blindness of
contends that biophilic design has been until now the the contemporary urban world to everything that is not
largely missing link in current sustainable design. The itself, to nature most of all.”
various chapters attempt to redress this imbalance. A major cause for this blindness has been the lack of
The notion of biophilic design derives from the con- empirical evidence revealing the illogical and self-
cept of biophilia,the idea that humans possess a biolog- defeating consequences of designing in adversarial rela-
ical inclination to affiliate with natural systems and tion to the natural environment. Part II of the book
processes instrumental in their health and productivity. provides much of this needed evidentiary material, par-
Originally proposed by the eminent biologist and one of ticularly the many health and productivity benefits of
the volume’s authors, Edward O. Wilson, biophilia has biophilic design, as well as the harmful consequences of
been eloquently described by Wilson in this way impeding and degrading human contact with natural
(1984:35): “To explore and affiliate with life is a deep systems and processes. Chapters by Ulrich, Frumkin,
and complicated process in mental development. To an Loftness, and Hartig and colleagues delineate a range of