Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biophilic Design: Nine Ways to Enhance Physical and Psychological Health and Wellbeing in Our Built Environments

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Therapeutic Landscape Design

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology ((BRIEFSPOLIMI))

Abstract

Biophilic Design is an applied science that takes into account the most recent findings on the relationship between human beings and Nature to render artificial spaces more coherent with innate human biophilia. It is well known that the application of Biophilic Design reduces stress, stimulates creativity and clear thinking, improves physical and psychological wellbeing and accelerates healing. Considering the relentless process of global urbanization, these benefits will become increasingly important in the design of our urban spaces, buildings and interiors. The aim of the present study is to develop a conceptual framework for Biophilic Design, reducing the gap between scientific research and its translation into functional applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Arranz-Otaegui A, Gonzalez carretero L, Ramsey MN, Fuller DQ, Richter T (2018) Archaeobotanical evidence reveals the origins of bread 14,400 years ago in northeastern Jordan. PNAS. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1801071115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Barbiero G (2011) Biophilia and Gaia. Two Hypotheses for an Affective Ecology. J. Biourbanism 1:11–27

    Google Scholar 

  3. Barbiero G, Berto R (2016) Introduzione alla Biofilia. Roma, IT: Carocci

    Google Scholar 

  4. Barbiero G, Berto R (2018) From biophilia to naturalist intelligence passing through perceived restorativeness and connection to nature. Ann Rev Res 3(1):555604

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Barbiero G, Berto R, Freire DD, Ferrando M, Camino E (2014) Unveiling biophilia in children using active silence training: an experimental approach. Vis Sustain 1:31–38

    Google Scholar 

  6. Barbiero G, Marconato C (2016) Biophilia as emotion. Vis Sustain 6:45–51

    Google Scholar 

  7. Beatley T (2011) Biophilic cities: what are they? In: Washington DC (ed) Biophilic Cities. Island Press, pp 45–81

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  8. Berto R, Barbiero G (2014) Mindful silence produces long lasting attentional performance in children. Vis Sustain 2:49–60

    Google Scholar 

  9. Berto R, Barbiero G (2017) How the psychological benefits associated with exposure to Nature can affect pro-environmental behaviour. Ann. Cogn. Sci. 1:16–20

    Google Scholar 

  10. Berto R, Barbiero G (2017) The biophilic quality index: a tool to improve a building from “Green” to restorative. Vis Sustain 8:38–45

    Google Scholar 

  11. Berto R, Barbiero G, Barbiero P, Senes G (2018) Individual’s connection to nature can affect perceived restorativeness of natural environments. Some Observations about Biophilia. Behav Sci 8:34

    Google Scholar 

  12. Berto R, Barbiero G, Pasini M, Unema P (2015) Biophilic design triggers fascination and enhances psychological restoration in the urban environment. J Biourbanism 1:26–35

    Google Scholar 

  13. Berto R, Pasini M, Barbiero G (2015) How does psychological restoration work in children? An exploratory study. J Child Adolesc Behav 3:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  14. Browning WD, Ryan CO, Clancy JO (2014) 14 Patterns of biophilic design. Terrapin Bright Green LLC, New York

    Google Scholar 

  15. Browning WD, Ryan CO (2020) Nature inside: a biophilic design guide. RIBA Publishing, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  16. Buss D (2019) Evolutionary psychology: the new science of the mind, 6th edn. Taylor and Frances, Routledge, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  17. Crutzen PJ (2006) The “Anthropocene.” In: Ehlers E, Krafft T (eds) Earth system science in the anthropocene. Heidelberg, Springer, Berlin, pp 13–18

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  18. Diamond J (1998) Guns, germs and steel: a short history of everybody for the last 13,000 years. Vintage, New York

    Google Scholar 

  19. Harvard Medical School (2018) Understanding the stress response. Chronic activation of this survival mechanism impairs health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response. Accessed 28 July 2020

  20. Kant I (1790) Kritik der Urteilskraft. Berlin und Libau, Verlag Lagarde und Friedrich

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kaplan S (1995) The restorative effects of nature: toward an integrative framework. J Env Psy 15:169–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Kellert, S (1997) Kinship to Mastery. Biophilia in Human Evolution and Development. Washington, DC, Island Press.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kellert S (2008) Dimensions, elements and attributes of biophilic design. In: Kellert SR, Heerwagen J, Mador Biophilic design, Hoboken, NJ, Wiley, pp 3–19

    Google Scholar 

  24. Kellert S (2018) Nature by design. Yale University Press, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kellert, S. and Heerwagen, J., (2008) Preface. In Biophilic Design, eds. S.R. Kellert, J. Heerwagen, P., Mador. Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons, pp. vii-ix.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kellert S, Heerwagen J, Mador P (eds) (2008) Biophilic design: the theory, science, and practice of bringing buildings to life. Wiley, Hoboken, NJ

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kellert S, Wilson EO (eds) (1993) The biophilia hypothesis. Island Press, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kreibig SD (2010) Autonomic nervous system activity in emotion: a review. Biol Psychol 84(3):394–421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Orians GH, Heerwagen JH (1992) Evolved responses to landscapes. In: Barkow JH, Cosmides L, Tooby J (eds) The adapted mind: evolutionary psychology and the generation of culture. Oxford University Press, New York pp 555–579

    Google Scholar 

  30. Shimizu H, Okabe M (2007) Evolutionary origin of autonomic regulation of physiological activities in vertebrate phyla. J Comp Physiol A 193:1013–1019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Söderlund J (2019) The emergence of biophilic design; Cities and Nature. Springer Nature, Switzerland AG

    Google Scholar 

  32. Ulrich, R. (1993) Biophilia, biophobia and natural landscapes. In: Kellert S, Wilson EO The Biophilia hypothesis. Washington DC, Island Press, pp 73–137

    Google Scholar 

  33. Wilson EO (1984) Biophilia. MA, Harvard University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  34. Wilson EO (1993) Biophilia and the conservation ethic. In: Kellert S, Wilson EO (eds) The biophilia hypothesis. Press, Washington DC, Island, pp 31–41

    Google Scholar 

  35. Worldbank (2018). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Silvia Barbiero for her useful insight into the neurophysiology of biophilia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Laboratory of Affective Ecology (LEAF), University of Valle d’Aosta, Aosta, Italy

    Bettina Bolten & Giuseppe Barbiero

Authors
  1. Bettina Bolten
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Giuseppe Barbiero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bettina Bolten .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department ABC, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Stefano Capolongo

  2. Milano, Italy

    Monica Botta

  3. Department ABC, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Andrea Rebecchi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Bolten, B., Barbiero, G. (2023). Biophilic Design: Nine Ways to Enhance Physical and Psychological Health and Wellbeing in Our Built Environments. In: Capolongo, S., Botta, M., Rebecchi, A. (eds) Therapeutic Landscape Design. SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-09439-2_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation