Editorial Feature

What are the Positive Human Effects of Biophilic Urban Planning?

Biophilic design has been gaining interest within the construction and urban planning industries. Trying to incorporate nature into buildings and public spaces intends to promote people’s health and wellbeing, as well as create spaces with sustainability built-in.

Bosco Verticale, Milan. Image Credit: Ivan Kurmyshov/Shutterstock.com

In recent years, numerous researchers have discovered solid connections between more time spent in nature and better physical and mental health.

Nature’s effectiveness for mental health is especially promising, as mental health problems account for as many as one in three cumulative years that people live with disability. The toll of mental health issues on the population as a whole is similar to that of cardiovascular disease and circulatory disorders.

Biophilic design offers to help people get more exposure to nature by bringing nature into cities, buildings, and public spaces.

Some environmental engineers, such Princeton University’s Anu Ramaswami in an interview with New Scientist recently, argue that green public spaces are just as important parts of city management and urban planning as shelter, water, food, energy, connectivity, and sanitation. People in cities all need these things to live healthily.

What is Biophilic Design?

Biophilic design borrows concepts from biologist Edward O. Wilson. Wilson posited the “biophilia” hypothesis in 1984. He believed that our brains have been shaped by the environment we evolved in, primed by it to respond well to cues that would help us with survival.

Natural objects like trees, savannah, lakes, and waterways help to mark locations that would provide our basic needs such as food, water, and shelter. In the first 294,000 years of our existence as a species, we always lived outside of cities.

When we eventually started building cities around 6,000 years ago, our brains still craved seeing and being near these natural markers of survivability in the environment. In fact, as a species we have only become predominantly urban dwellers in the last few decades. But, by 2050, this will likely increase to around 70% of the world’s population living in cities.

Biophilic design tries to tie these two phenomena together: biophilia causing our brains to favor natural environments, and increased urbanization taking more of us outside of natural environments and into man-made environments.

Biophilic design focuses on including natural objects like trees, waterways, and plants in public spaces. Natural shapes like curves, irregular arcs, and shapes that mottle light are also used in exteriors and interiors of biophilic buildings to appeal to us.

This is supported by recent science. A 2019 study led by University of Exeter, UK, researchers found that between 120 and 200 minutes of recreational contact with nature each week was associated with good health or wellbeing. The study involved almost 20,000 participants from around England.

Image Credit: EStock/Shutterstock.com

However, biophilic designs and time in nature may not be helpful for everybody. It is important to note that the majority of research into nature’s effects on wellbeing has been conducted in Western societies. Mental health benefits from accessing nature are probably influenced by a number of factors that include age, gender, personality, socioeconomic status, and culture.

Examples of Biophilic Design in Urban Planning and Construction

Some buildings, such as One Central Park in Sydney, Pasona Group Offices in Tokyo, and Bosco Verticale in Milan, feature biophilic design by incorporating plants and trees into their exteriors, interiors, and built environment on ground level.

Urban areas have for many years been subject to beautification schemes including bringing nature back into the urban environment. An early example in the UK is the Garden City movement in the early 1900s, but the recent announcement that France is going to heavily reduce traffic on the Champs-Elysées and turn it green continues this tradition into the present day.

The Million Trees Los Angeles initiative and the wide-scale greening program in New York City are good examples of how municipal governments in the United States are responding to the benefits of biophilic design.

Tackling Climate Change: Cool Roofs and Islands: Simple Solutions to Protect Cities from Rising Heat

Further Benefits of Biophilic Urban Planning

Biophilic urban planning has myriad benefits for citizens and the wider environment as well.

There is a wealth of evidence for the positive effects of nature for psychological conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders. Sleep, stress, happiness, emotions, social interactions, and even a sense of meaning in life can all be impacted positively by spending time in nature. Attention, memory, and creativity are also boosted by time spent in nature.

Physical health is improved when plants and vegetation in cities work to absorb airborne particulates and other pollutants from exhaust engines and heavy industry.

Natural space in cities also helps to improve cities’ sustainability. It provides free environmental benefits like clean air and water, flood defense, and natural shade. On buildings, vegetation can help to regulate temperature and air quality and reduce the building’s climate footprint.

References and Further Reading

Cohen-Cline, H., E. Turkheimer, and G.E. Duncan (2015). “Access to Green Space, Physical Activity and Mental Health: A Twin Study.” J Epidemiol Community Health. [Online] https://doi.org./10.1136/jech-2014-204667.

Dobson, J. et al. (2021). “The Magic of the Mundane: The Vulnerable Web of Connections Between Urban Nature and Wellbeing.” Cities. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2020.102989.

Douglas, K. and J. Douglas (2021). “Green Spaces Aren’t Just for Nature – They Boost Our Mental Health Too.” New Scientist. [Online] https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24933270-800-green-spaces-arent-just-for-nature-they-boost-our-mental-health-too/.

Grigsby-Touissant, D.S. (2015). “Sleep Insufficiency and The Natural Environment: Results from The US Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey.” Prev Med. [Online] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.07.011.

Orban, E. et al. (2017). “Residential Surrounding Greenness, Self-Rated Health and Interrelations with Aspects of Neighborhood Environment and Social Relations.” J Urban Health. [Online] https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-016-0112-3.

Vigo, D., G. Thornicroft, and R. Atun (2016). “Estimating the True Global Burden of Mental Illness.” The Lancet. [Online] https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00505-2.

White, M.P. et al. (2019). “Spending At Least 120 Minutes a Week in Nature Is Associated with Good Health and Wellbeing.” Sci Rep. [Online] https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44097-3.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.

Ben Pilkington

Written by

Ben Pilkington

Ben Pilkington is a freelance writer who is interested in society and technology. He enjoys learning how the latest scientific developments can affect us and imagining what will be possible in the future. Since completing graduate studies at Oxford University in 2016, Ben has reported on developments in computer software, the UK technology industry, digital rights and privacy, industrial automation, IoT, AI, additive manufacturing, sustainability, and clean technology.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Pilkington, Ben. (2021, October 13). What are the Positive Human Effects of Biophilic Urban Planning?. AZoBuild. Retrieved on December 12, 2024 from https://www.azobuild.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=8420.

  • MLA

    Pilkington, Ben. "What are the Positive Human Effects of Biophilic Urban Planning?". AZoBuild. 12 December 2024. <https://www.azobuild.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=8420>.

  • Chicago

    Pilkington, Ben. "What are the Positive Human Effects of Biophilic Urban Planning?". AZoBuild. https://www.azobuild.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=8420. (accessed December 12, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Pilkington, Ben. 2021. What are the Positive Human Effects of Biophilic Urban Planning?. AZoBuild, viewed 12 December 2024, https://www.azobuild.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=8420.

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this article?

Leave your feedback
Your comment type
Submit

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.