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As urbanization encourages more people to stay indoors for longer periods of time, there is an increased need to reconnect with nature, using design as a tool. The concept of biophilic design aims to do just this, by bringing natural elements into human spaces. This industrial design project aims to create a product for educational workspaces that incorporates natural elements in a metaphorical way, so as to try and create a positive perception of such workspaces among humans. The project explores the different ways in which biophilia can be implemented in product design, and the factors and aspects that need to be considered in order to do so.  The project also tests the developed concept using a Virtual Reality setup and a questionnaire, which had 9 respondents. The results from the questionnaire showed that 89% of respondents felt the concept expressed natural elements, and 44% felt ‘Peaceful’ after observing the concept in Virtual Reality. The positive responses from participants indicate that the concept is successful both in incorporating natural elements and in transmitting a positive perception of workspaces where it is used. / Eftersom urbanisering uppmuntrar fler människor att stanna inomhus under längre perioder, finns det ett ökat behov av att återknyta kontakten med naturen med design som ett verktyg. Konceptet med biofil design syftar till att göra just detta, genom att föra in naturliga element i mänskliga utrymmen. Detta industriella designprojekt syftar till att skapa en produkt för pedagogiska arbetsplatser som innehåller naturliga element på ett metaforiskt sätt, för att försöka skapa en positiv uppfattning om sådana arbetsplatser bland människor. Projektet utforskar de olika sätten på vilka biofili kan implementeras i produktdesign, och de faktorer och aspekter som måste beaktas för att göra det. Projektet testar också det utvecklade konceptet med hjälp av en Virtual Reality-uppsättning och ett frågeformulär, som hade 9 respondenter. Resultaten från enkäten visade att 89 % av de tillfrågade ansåg att konceptet uttryckte naturliga element, och 44 % kände sig "fredliga" efter att ha observerat konceptet i Virtual Reality. De positiva svaren från deltagarna indikerar att konceptet är framgångsrikt både när det gäller att införliva naturliga element och att förmedla en positiv uppfattning om arbetsytor där det används

Doctor of Philosophy / Architects have long been focused on designing eco-friendly buildings, but there's a growing realization that focusing solely on energy efficiency isn't enough. Occupants spend the majority of their time indoors, and the quality of these indoor spaces profoundly impacts their well-being and productivity. Yet, often overlooked, are factors like lighting, air quality, and noise that can significantly affect how occupants feel and perform. With rising urbanization and recent experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the importance of indoor environments, there's a renewed emphasis on user-centric design. Biophilic design, which incorporates elements of nature into buildings, has emerged as a promising approach to enhancing occupants' health, wellness, and well-being. Airflow, a critical aspect of biophilic design, plays a key role in creating healthier indoor spaces. This study aims to develop a prototype system that mimics natural airflow patterns indoors to promote occupants' health and well-being. By analyzing weather data, natural airflow features were identified and used to inform the design of a mechanical system. The goal is to create settings that replicate natural airflow patterns in indoor environments. Ultimately, this research lays the groundwork for future studies to explore how such biophilic systems impact occupants' physiological and psychological health. By prioritizing user experience in building design, indoor spaces that not only conserve energy but also enhance the quality of life could be developed.

This thesis is based on two observations. First, that conventional buildings cause two major losses that involve non-human nature – the loss of native biodiversity and the loss of non-human nature experience for the buildings’ human inhabitants – and that these losses both contribute to a perceived separation between humans and the rest of nature. Second, that there appears to be a growing interest in connecting buildings with nature but there is little agreement on what it actually means to ‘design with nature’. As such, the purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) to describe the meaning of ‘designing with nature’ in current architectural practice and provide a working definition of nature-based design, and (2) to explore how this can be interpreted to encourage human connectedness with non-human nature, while addressing the two major losses mentioned above. It is thus an attempt to reframe the role of building as one that provides for all inhabitants of a site, both human and non. A framework was developed that captures and summarizes the dominant ways in which design draws on nature. The framework emphasizes the importance of using ecosystems not only as models, but foremost as context. The core concepts of the framework can thus be discussed from the perspective of buildings that act like an ecosystem and that interact with their ecosystem, and are described as: ecological sense of place, regenerative ability, ecosystem health, mutually beneficial relationships, context, appropriate management, functions, ecosystem principles, values, patterns, conditions, and adaptations. Although the concepts presented in the framework are themselves not new, the way in which they are organized does contribute a new perspective on the field of nature-based design. In addition to providing a graphic model that summarizes the essence of an evolving field, the research highlights the role of scale and place in linking building design, native biodiversity, nature experience and connectedness with nature. It thus acts as a backdrop on which to bring a discussion of ecological citizenship into the architectural dialogue.

This thesis is based on two observations. First, that conventional buildings cause two major losses that involve non-human nature – the loss of native biodiversity and the loss of non-human nature experience for the buildings’ human inhabitants – and that these losses both contribute to a perceived separation between humans and the rest of nature. Second, that there appears to be a growing interest in connecting buildings with nature but there is little agreement on what it actually means to ‘design with nature’. As such, the purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) to describe the meaning of ‘designing with nature’ in current architectural practice and provide a working definition of nature-based design, and (2) to explore how this can be interpreted to encourage human connectedness with non-human nature, while addressing the two major losses mentioned above. It is thus an attempt to reframe the role of building as one that provides for all inhabitants of a site, both human and non. A framework was developed that captures and summarizes the dominant ways in which design draws on nature. The framework emphasizes the importance of using ecosystems not only as models, but foremost as context. The core concepts of the framework can thus be discussed from the perspective of buildings that act like an ecosystem and that interact with their ecosystem, and are described as: ecological sense of place, regenerative ability, ecosystem health, mutually beneficial relationships, context, appropriate management, functions, ecosystem principles, values, patterns, conditions, and adaptations. Although the concepts presented in the framework are themselves not new, the way in which they are organized does contribute a new perspective on the field of nature-based design. In addition to providing a graphic model that summarizes the essence of an evolving field, the research highlights the role of scale and place in linking building design, native biodiversity, nature experience and connectedness with nature. It thus acts as a backdrop on which to bring a discussion of ecological citizenship into the architectural dialogue.

This thesis is based on two observations. First, that conventional buildings cause two major losses that involve non-human nature – the loss of native biodiversity and the loss of non-human nature experience for the buildings’ human inhabitants – and that these losses both contribute to a perceived separation between humans and the rest of nature. Second, that there appears to be a growing interest in connecting buildings with nature but there is little agreement on what it actually means to ‘design with nature’. As such, the purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) to describe the meaning of ‘designing with nature’ in current architectural practice and provide a working definition of nature-based design, and (2) to explore how this can be interpreted to encourage human connectedness with non-human nature, while addressing the two major losses mentioned above. It is thus an attempt to reframe the role of building as one that provides for all inhabitants of a site, both human and non. A framework was developed that captures and summarizes the dominant ways in which design draws on nature. The framework emphasizes the importance of using ecosystems not only as models, but foremost as context. The core concepts of the framework can thus be discussed from the perspective of buildings that act like an ecosystem and that interact with their ecosystem, and are described as: ecological sense of place, regenerative ability, ecosystem health, mutually beneficial relationships, context, appropriate management, functions, ecosystem principles, values, patterns, conditions, and adaptations. Although the concepts presented in the framework are themselves not new, the way in which they are organized does contribute a new perspective on the field of nature-based design. In addition to providing a graphic model that summarizes the essence of an evolving field, the research highlights the role of scale and place in linking building design, native biodiversity, nature experience and connectedness with nature. It thus acts as a backdrop on which to bring a discussion of ecological citizenship into the architectural dialogue. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), School of / Graduate

The dissertation investigates how non-profit organisations (NPOs) can function more efficiently by sharing resources and services. The design responds with the strategy of service integration, by transforming the facilities of POPUP, a single NPO, into a shared services hub for multiple NPOs. POPUP is a People Upliftment Programme in Salvokop, Pretoria, and serves the under-privileged communities of Pretoria with skills development courses. The dissertation aims to create restorative environments for these students and explores the theoretical approaches of regenerative design, biophilic design and restorative environmental design. The premise of the investigation is that humanity has an inherent inclination towards nature and that a healthy human-nature connection enables the healing process. Furthermore, the dissertation follows a contextual approach that responds to the railway heritage significance of Salvokop, the urban condition of disconnection from the Central Business District, as well as the self-restoration of the natural landscape. The study seeks to regenerate the human-nature connection, a manifestation of the connection between the current natural landscape and the urban condition. In this way, restorative environments are created that contribute to the regeneration of people. / Dissertation MArch(Prof)--University of Pretoria, 2014 / Architecture / MArch(Prof) / Unrestricted

Vi rör oss mot en framtid där en allt större andel av jordens befolkning bor i stadsområden, vilket medför ett antal utmaningar som kommer att behöva hanteras. Redan år 2050 förväntas närmare 70% av befolkningen bo i stadsområden, vilket kan jämföras med 1950 då samma siffra låg på 30%. Denna ökning innebär att grönområden kommer bytas ut mot bostäder, medan storleken på bostäder kommer minska och priserna på dem kommer stiga. Samtidigt blir de negativa effekterna av att inte omge sig med växter och natur allt större, och allt tydligare. Detta projekt inom Teknisk design vid Luleå tekniska universitet syftar att undersöka möjligheterna med att motverka dessa negativa effekter, genom att på ett hållbart sätt skapa förutsättningar för användaren att odla i hemmet.Genom att undersöka behov hos målgruppen och använda sig av en användarcentrerad designprocess, har en mängd olika kreativa designmetoder använts för att utforska lösningar och möjligheter. Detta har genom ett iterativt arbete skapat en större mängd olika lösningar som utvärderats av användare.Detta resulterade i ett koncept för att tillåta odling i hemmet genom att använda sig av vertikal hydroponisk odling, där biofil design använts som en röd tråd för att skapa ett välgörande och tilltalande formspråk. / We are moving towards a future where an increasingly larger portion of the world’s population lives in urban areas, which entails a number of challenges that will need to be addressed. By the year 2050, it is expected that nearly 70% of the population will reside in urban areas, compared to 30% in 1950. This increase means that green spaces will be replaced by housing, leading to smaller-sized homes and rising prices. At the same time, the negative effects of not being surrounded by plants and nature are becoming more significant and evident.This project in Technical Design at Luleå University of Technology aims to explore the possibilities of mitigating these negative effects by creating sustainable opportunities for individuals to cultivate plants at home. By examining the needs of the target audience and employing a user-centered design process, a variety of creative design methods have been utilized to explore solutions and possibilities. Through an iterative process, a range of different solutions have been developed and evaluated by users.This has resulted in a concept that allows for home cultivation using vertical hydroponic farming,

Over the last two decades, biophilic design and green architecture have been gaining moremomentum throughout the world, to combat climate change and promote sustainability.Biophilic design states that humans have an innate connection with nature, and thatconnection invokes human well-being, productivity, coexistence with nature, andbiodiversity. It is estimated that by 2050, over 65% of people will live in urban settings, which should incentivize biophilic design oriented urban planning. Introducing biophilic design aspects in neighbourhoods can create environments for betterconnection between residents, and with nature. This research evaluates the affordability ofbiophilic designed apartments and if there is a correlation between the biophilic designintensity and the price tag. Research also aims to review the importance and barriers of biophilic design apartments among urban oriented academics and architects using semi-structured interviews. This paper intends to fill a research gap and provide a comprehensive understanding of affordability of biophilic designed apartments, in varying geographicalareas. The analysis was done in three steps of mixed methodology using a housing affordabilityindex, a biophilic pattern score and interviews. The findings highlight the crisis of housingunaffordability, specifically proving biophilic design apartments are severely unaffordableusing quantitative research. The study also established neutral correlation between thebiophilic patterns intensity and apartment affordability index of the selected buildingsamples. Thus, there is further research needed to find the causes of housing unaffordability,which directly equates to the health and quality of people. The research gave insights onreasoning behind low prevalence of biophilic design apartments. To summarise, the studyhighlights an important issue of unaffordability that needs to be addressed by stakeholderslike the government, planning committee, architects, and real estate developers.

Les changements démographiques et climatiques que nous vivons actuellement mènent à de nouveaux défis pour les concepteurs du milieu bâti. La dégradation des systèmes naturels ainsi que la densification urbaine réduit les possibilités d’exposition au monde naturel des citadins. Des études empiriques ont démontré que cette exposition a un effet réparateur en contribuant à réduire notre stress et à augmenter notre niveau d’attention. C’est ce que nous nommons l’effet biophile. Quoiqu’encore à ses débuts, le domaine du design biophile cherche un appui scientifique pour promouvoir la réintégration de la nature en ville. L’objectif pratique de ce mémoire est de proposer une vision écosystémique aux concepteurs et décideurs, afin d’influencer le processus de design de nos villes. L’objectif académique est de contribuer aux données probantes dans le domaine de la conception biophile en milieu scolaire. Une approche de « design fondé sur les données probantes » est utilisée, afin d’infirmer un lien positif entre une exposition au monde naturel et le succès scolaire. Notre recherche est observationnelle, étant basée sur des conditions existantes et des données historiques. En caractérisant des expériences biophiles liées aux vues par les fenêtres des salles de classe, nous explorons leur rapport avec les résultats scolaires d’étudiants au niveau collégial. L’effet de ces expériences est modélisé par régression linéaire en utilisant des méthodes d’analyses quantitatives. Nos résultats initiaux démontrent que sous certaines conditions, il y a un effet biophile positif mesurable et légèrement significatif. En réduisant la portée au cours vision du monde, nos résultats subséquents indiquent que les étudiants réussissent mieux dans les salles de classe avec un plus haut degré biophile. Il en est de même pour les étudiants dans les salles de classe avec un plus grand pourcentage de fenêtres. Malgré ces résultats encourageants, nous ne sommes pas en mesure de dire que l’effet biophile est toujours présent ou même toujours positif dans un milieu d’enseignement. Il existe plusieurs opportunités de recherche dans ce domaine qui transcendent les simples résultats scolaires. / Climate change and demographic expansion have led to new challenges for design professionals. The degradation of our natural systems as well as urban densification reduce the opportunity for city dwellers to be exposed to the natural world. This exposure has been shown empirically to have a restorative effect by reducing stress and increasing attention. We call this the biophilic effect. Although still in its early stages, the field of biophilic design is using a scientific approach in an effort to green our cities. The practical objective of this research is to expose designers and administrators to an ecosystemic worldview that will hopefully impact their design and decision-making process. The academic objective is to contribute to the body of knowledge in the field of biophilic design in academic environments. We use methods borrowed from ‘Evidence Based Design’ to test the hypothesis that the biophilic effect has a positive impact on college student performances. It is an observational study based on existing conditions and historical data. By characterising biophilic experiences linked to window views from the classrooms, we explore their impact on student grades. The biophilic effects are modelled using linear regression in a quantitative analysis. Our initial results indicate that in certain circumstances there is a measurable, slightly significant, positive biophilic effect. When focusing on the Worldview course, subsequent results show that students do better in a classroom with a higher degree of biophilic features. They also perform better in classrooms with larger or more windows. Although these results are encouraging, we are far from being able to state that a biophilic effect is always present or always positive in an educational setting. The are many research opportunities in this field that go well beyond simple performance outcomes.