Biophilia is defined as the love of nature, the love of living things and the love of living systems. However, Stephen Kellert, a Yale University professor of social ecology, said biophilia is more than that — it is built into our DNA and is an inherent instinct of the human race.
Studies have shown that higher levels of exposure to nature increases critical thinking, self-esteem, self-worth and imagination, and Kellert visited the University Thursday evening to speak on the benefits of human contact with nature.
“We evolved in a biological world, not a human-built one,” Kellert said during his presentation on biophilic design, which marries the biological and the human-built world to emphasize nature in inorganic structures.
While Kellert proclaimed, “I’m not an architect,” he suggests that new buildings should include more windows because his research has shown that exposure to light and natural settings can produce enormous benefits for workers.
Kellert said the average worker in America works in a windowless environment, which is unfavorable to a worker’s quality of life because windows result in “less frustration, greater satisfaction and better health.”
Biophilic design, which Kellert describes as “sustainable design inspired by nature,” is a useful concept for architecture because it integrates natural elements with buildings, he said. Additionally, biophilic design can be combined with environmentally friendly building practices to create what Kellert calls “restorative environmental design.”
“I thought he had some really good, valid ideas,” said Jeffrey Bolinger, a second-year graduate student in the School of Architecture and Allied Arts, who attended Kellert’s talk. “We need to train our minds to think differently so that in the future, thinking about green design is more the norm than the exception.”
Kellert’s crusade for biophilic design sprouted from his interest in the connection between the natural world and humans, in their more recent natural habitat of the urban world.
He sees a universal link between man and nature that he said can’t be ignored. His vision is to strengthen this link through architectural design, so that nature will surround people, wherever they are.
The most idyllic buildings are biophilic, Kellert pointed out. These are the buildings with high, open ceilings, arches, varying light sources and are made from natural materials like wood and stone.
Kellert showed pictures of beautiful structures nestled in forests, overlooking waterfalls, surrounded by lakes. Even the Grand Central Station in New York has taken on biophilic accents, from its spacious rooms to its light fixtures.
“I found it interesting that eco-friendly design wasn’t enough, that you have to think of the human side (of design) to keep a building sustainable,” said freshman Matthew Crawford.
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Biophilic designs unites human and nature
Daily Emerald
October 15, 2009
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