Poetic dwelling, both as the perception of and engagement with the environment, has predominantly been lost in contemporary society. As a result, the earth had become an ‘inexhaustible inventory’ in the eyes of the dweller, resulting in a culture that merely consumes without giving anything of itself. In response to a Regenerative approach to the making of architecture, the dissertation combines the theories of Robert. P. Harrison and Martin Heidegger, in that poetic dwelling finds its extension in the form of building, and its fulfillment in the garden. The design aims to facilitate the healing of both people and environment on a site scarred by the consumer model of modern industry, and does so on a derelict brick quarry site in Monument Park, Pretoria. / Dissertation MArch(Prof)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / Architecture / Unrestricted

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In the context of hospital architecture, the incorporation of biophilic elements, such as natural light, greenery, and organic materials, is crucial for enhancing patient outcomes and well-being. These elements not only evoke a sense of connection with nature but also contribute to stress reduction, improved cognitive function, and accelerated recovery rates. Through the lens of Vastu Shastra, which emphasizes harmony between the individual and their surroundings, we explore how the alignment of architectural elements with natural forces can create environments that resonate with the inherent flow of life energy, or prana, within the human body. Furthermore, this abstract delves into the nature of space within hospital environments, recognizing it as a dynamic continuum that encompasses mystery, refuge, and prospect. By creating spaces that evoke a sense of mystery through subtle interplays of light and shadow, hospitals can offer moments of contemplation and introspection for patients and staff alike. Similarly, the provision of refuge zones, characterized by tranquil green spaces and secluded alcoves, serves as havens for relaxation and rejuvenation amidst the bustling clinical environment. Additionally, spaces designed to offer prospect, such as panoramic views of natural landscapes or expansive skyward vistas, instill a sense of hope and optimism, inspiring patients to envision a brighter future beyond their current circumstances. Central to this exploration is the role of materiality in shaping the permeability of hospital spaces. By carefully selecting and deploying materials that evoke tactile sensations and visual richness, it can enhance the sensory experience of occupants while fostering a sense of connection with the natural world. Whether by using sustainably sourced wood for interior finishes, biophilic patterns in architectural ornamentation, or the incorporation of water features to evoke a sense of fluidity and renewal, materiality becomes a powerful medium through which the essence of nature can permeate the built environment, promoting healing and well-being. / Master of Architecture / This summary discusses how incorporating natural elements such as sunlight, plants, and natural materials into hospital design can significantly improve patient health and recovery. Research shows that exposure to natural light can boost mood, reduce stress, and regulate sleep patterns, which are crucial for healing. Greenery, such as indoor plants or garden views, can create a calming environment and have been linked to faster recovery times and reduced need for pain medication. The summary also explores an ancient design philosophy called Vastu Shastra, which focuses on creating harmony between individuals and their surroundings. According to Vastu Shastra, aligning architectural elements with natural forces can enhance the flow of life energy, or prana, within the body, contributing to overall well-being. This philosophy suggests that well-designed hospital spaces can support both physical and mental health by promoting balance and tranquility. The design principles highlighted include creating areas for reflection and relaxation, such as quiet nooks or peaceful gardens, where patients and staff can take breaks and rejuvenate. Additionally, providing inspiring views of nature, whether through windows or rooftop gardens, can instill a sense of hope and positivity, encouraging patients to envision a brighter future. Using materials that feel and look natural, like sustainably sourced wood for furniture and finishes, or incorporating water features like fountains or ponds, can further enhance the healing atmosphere. These natural materials can evoke tactile sensations and visual richness, making the hospital environment feel more welcoming and less clinical. Overall, integrating these biophilic and Vastu Shastra-inspired elements into hospital design can create a supportive and nurturing environment that promotes healing and well-being for patients and staff alike.

Biophilia: the close relationship between architecture and nature. In my thesis, I look to embrace that relationship by designing housing for homeless veterans. For veterans, this connection helps the space become a place of healing and reconnection to nature, which is proven to have a positive impact in our health and wellness. The building becomes a container of nature, where the presence of green features and natural elements are present from the moment you come into the building, the choice of materials, the different activities and position of the spaces to welcome the most amount of natural elements into the building. This creates an indoor/outdoor environment where the resident feels secure by the walls but also welcome by nature. The building captures nature through different activities and moments, where both nature and architecture work together to create a space of healing and peace, a place of freedom, but at the same time a place of security and stability. An oasis in the city, which helps homeless veterans start over and create a space they can call home. The building is equipped to offer different activities and purposes not only for the residents, but also for the employees and visitors. The building becomes a welcoming space for the neighbors but also for nature. The building welcomes different species and promotes the creation of different habitats that can serve the growth of the ecosystem. / Master of Architecture / How can Architecture and Nature work together to create healing spaces? The purpose of this thesis was to study the relationship between nature and architecture. Today, rapid growth in cities and urbanization has cause these two to be seen as separate or different, creating spaces that do not promote human well-being and healthy spaces. When in fact, when both nature and architecture work together, it creates the best and healthiest spaces for human health, performance and well-being. In this project, I focused on creating healing spaces for homeless veterans; a group that is increasing in number in large cities such as Washington D.C. Veterans are falling into homelessness due to Post-traumatic stress disorder, making it hard for them to adapt back into their normal life. Many of them live in poor conditions on the street, shelters and cars; spaces that are not suitable for people living with this disorder. Instead, I am proposing a transitional housing project where they will be trained, offered job opportunities, and a space where they will in constant presence of nature from the moment they walk into the building until they get to their room. This is because biophilic design has proven to improve the perfomance, quality of life, and health of humans. The residents of this project will have an efficient building with communal spaces, spaces for active and passive recreation, and different connections to nature to improve and expedite their healing.

Biophilia, the affinity humans have for nature, has been widely demonstrated to manifest both physiological and psychological benefits in those who are exposed to natural settings. By incorporating such elements in architecture, biophilic design has been put forth as a remedy to many of the health concerns associated with urban environments. However, most of the focus has been on treatment rather than prevention, leaving the root causes unaddressed. This thesis aims to reorient the focus toward the proactive use of biophilic design to promote well-being and avert the onset of these issues. Design principles draw from the theory of Salutogenesis, which employs elements of Psychologically Supportive Design (PSD) and Attention Restoration Theory (ART) to promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This approach contrasts and augments the concept of Pathogenesis, the focus on resultant illnesses and disease that defines the current healthcare paradigm. If biophilia is salutogenic (i.e. generates health), this thesis postulates that such architecture will also act as a prophylaxis, or preventative medicine. To evaluate the potential efficacy of various biophilic strategies, an IRB-approved research study has been designed to gather qualitative and quantitative responses from individuals viewing alternative design proposals. Rather than putting forth a hypothesis to be supported, the project centers on a thesis proposition to be explored through an inductive process of seeking emergent theories. With funding from the American Institute of Architects through the AIAS Crit Scholar Program, design alternatives were developed and presented in Virtual Reality to individuals associated with a local organization, Community Health Center of the New River Valley. While the results presented are neither prescriptive nor universally generalizable, findings are relevant in both the context of healthcare and across building types. / Master of Architecture / In recent decades, designers and researchers alike have sought to understand what people have intuitively known for millennia – namely, that humans possess an innate affinity for nature, which can improve our physical and psychological health and well-being. The theory of biophilia, first popularized in 1984 by Edward O. Wilson, has framed this concept with the hypothesis that "Natural environments have a restorative advantage over artificial environments due to the role they played in our evolution as a species." Since then, countless studies have supported this claim, with far-reaching implications and opportunities. As more and more people move to cities, health crises have escalated dramatically, with urban environments tied to increased stress, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and memory disorders. As the world continues to urbanize, designers face a growing imperative to create spaces that are conducive to health and wellness. Biophilic design has been put forth as a remedy to many of these health concerns, yet most of the focus has been on treatment rather than prevention, leaving the root causes unaddressed. This thesis aims to reorient the focus toward the proactive use of biophilic design to promote well-being and avert the onset of these issues. Design principles draw from the theory of Salutogenesis, the idea that health is a condition that can be caused, rather than the mere absence of illness. If biophilia is salutogenic (i.e. generates health), this thesis postulates that such architecture will also act as a prophylaxis, or preventative medicine. To explore this topic, a hypothetical wellness center was designed in partnership with a local organization, Community Health Center of the New River Valley. Design alternatives were presented to a group of participants using Virtual Reality headsets to view four spaces, each focused on a different element of biophilia: vegetation, water, light, and air. Interviews and questionnaires resulted in a number of trends and conclusions regarding best practices for the inclusion of natural elements in architecture.

Healthcare workers' overall performance and patients' well-being are crucial to wellness design and the overall productivity of the working environment. The purpose of this thesis is to narrate how natural light - a key aspect of biophilic design - can give great health outcomes and enhance the placemaking of a healthcare setting. Hence, this dissertation attempts to deal with placemaking and formation as an inside-outside dialogue that connects users to nature by implementing the idea of transitioning natural light through space and structure. In doing so, lighting explorations were conducted as series of physical models and case studies to help understand and analyze various effects of light at different times of the day. These explorations narrate a story about the journey of the medical worker and the patient throughout the setting of the apertures, walls, path, and canopy. Also, in response to the topography, a south-facing aperture wants to be framed, while a north-facing aperture can be an open wall, a smooth polished continuous wall and path can act as a canvas when the filtered light falls on it, while rough fragmented walls rise from earth acting as structural walls, and a cluster of trees can act as a natural canopy to provide shelter from the sun, while a steel canopy can shelter other areas from the rain or sun. / Master of Architecture / Biophilia, the innate human instinct to connect with nature, is a foundational concept to biophilic architecture. This concept seeks to enhance the well-being of users when in a human-made environment, by incorporating vital aspects of nature in a building. Therefore, applying a biophilic-based design approach to a high stressed place like a hospital can be worthwhile in numerous ways to patients, their families, and healthcare workers. The thesis addresses the aspects of Biophilia and looks deeper into the effects and benefits of natural light in a healthcare setting.

This thesis is an interdisciplinary analysis of humans' relationship to the natural environment, specifically how wetlands are reflected in our legislative decisions. Our perceptions of wetlands and our relationship to the environment are influenced by our locality, history, and inter-generational relationships. These perceptions shape decision-making within a community. Our relationship to the natural environment and the way we interact with it can be explained through psychological and geographical theories. Historical trends reveal our consistently negative perspectives of wetlands in the United States and a rapid decline in wetlands acreage. At the federal, state, and local level, Americans have attempted to agree upon regulations that protect both essential wetland functions and private property rights. Literature, academic discourse, newspaper articles, local voices, county employees, and legislation help reveal the relationship between perceptions of wetlands and the regulations that affect these ecosystems. Hillsborough County's wetland controversy exemplifies a debate between differing public attitudes toward wetlands similar to that seen across the state and country. Pressure from landowners and developers encouraged the Hillsborough Environmental Protection Commission to vote to eliminate the county wetland protection division in the summer of 2007. Public concern following this decision led to debate about the significance of local wetland regulations. The decision to eliminate the wetland protection division was placed on hold for further discussion. In the first four chapters I examine the historical, social and psychological roots of our relationship to wetlands. Then, chapters five and six address wetland regulations on the federal and state levels. Chapter seven is a case study of Hillsborough County's wetlands controversy that arose in summer 2007 with a commission vote to do away with the county wetlands protection. Finally, in chapter eight I attempt to bring together all sides of the wetlands conversation into towards finding a solution to what position county governments should take in regulating wetland impacts and use.

This thesis examines case studies and historical accounts taken from different periods of the history of recording technology, and addresses questions concerning the impact of mediatization, manipulation, and mediation on listeners' and performers' approaches to music. The project considers the development of the idea of "copies without originals," and of the ideological frameworks that have been used to describe and classify recorded sound. The first case study covers the early days of the phonograph and its development in Victorian society, then contrasts the values and motivations of those early years with modern-day rock performance and its own value systems. Moving into the mid-twentieth century, a chapter of this thesis is devoted to the work of Glenn Gould, and the possibilities for tape manipulation that the Canadian pianist explored during the period of his career that was focused on the recording studio. Lastly, this project examines the innovative, user-driven methods of music-making that are gaining momentum today, including Bjork's "Biophilia" app album, and the emergence of a new genre of popular music in Asia that uses vocal synthesizers in place of live performers. By exploring these case studies alongside the works of scholars in musicology, media studies, sound theory, film and television, and popular music studies, this thesis demonstrates how cultural need, individual innovation, and social involvement interact to direct the development and application of emerging media technologies.