Figure 2 from Elements of Biophilic Design Increase Visual Attention in Preschoolers | Semantic Scholar (2024)

FAQs

What are the benefits of biophilic design in children? ›

Biophilic Design for Children's Health and Well-Being. Biophilic design, inspired by Wilson's 1984 hypothesis of 'biophilia', advocates that people have an instinctive affinity with nature and that increasing the presence of nature in the built environment can lead to an increase in benefits [99,100,101].

Incorporating direct or indirect elements of nature into the built environment have been demonstrated through research to reduce stress, blood pressure levels and heart rates, whilst increasing productivity, creativity and self reported rates of well-being.

Passive exposure to the natural world through repeating geometric patterns and pictures of nature can improve memory and attention. Further, classrooms that utilize biophilic design enhance student creativity and support overall healthier development due to our biologically encoded connection to nature.

Biophilic design suggests that incorporating characteristics that are rich in nature and nature-inspired features into the physical learning environment can have positive impacts on students' well-being.

Children have an innate biological tendency to bond with the natural world known as biophilia. For children's natural inclination of biophilia to develop they must be given developmentally appropriate opportunities to learn about the natural world based on sound principles of child development and learning.

This includes plant life, water and animals, as well as breezes, sounds, scents and other natural elements. Common examples include potted plants, flowerbeds, bird feeders, butterfly gardens, water features, fountains, aquariums, courtyard gardens and green walls or vegetated roofs.

Biophilic Design can have a positive impact in and out of the office. By incorporating sustainable materials, reducing energy consumption, and promoting biodiversity, biophilic offices can help minimise their ecological footprint and contribute to a healthier planet.

Visual connection with nature can be naturally occurring or simulated (see below). Connecting to nature can be highly restorative (1,2). One explanation could be how crucial trees and other plants have been to human survival, providing us with sustenance, shade and protection.

Biophilic design is an approach to architecture that seeks to connect building occupants more closely to nature. Biophilic designed buildings incorporate things like natural lighting and ventilation, natural landscape features and other elements for creating a more productive and healthy built environment for people.

A: Biophilic elements such as plants, natural materials, and views of nature can enhance indoor spaces by improving air quality, reducing stress, increasing productivity, and promoting overall wellbeing. They help create a connection to nature even in indoor environments.

What is the concept of biophilic design? ›

Biophilic design is a concept used within the building industry to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions.

Visual connection with nature can lower blood pressure and heart rate, improve mental engagement, and attentiveness, and positively impact attitude and overall happiness. This is linked to lower incidence of depression, heart disease, and diabetes.

When kids design, create, and build, they learn how to make a plan, problem-solve, handle frustration, and they learn the value of refining their ideas to make them better.

Visual connection with nature can lower blood pressure and heart rate, improve mental engagement, and attentiveness, and positively impact attitude and overall happiness. This is linked to lower incidence of depression, heart disease, and diabetes.