Foreign RRL

Title: Biophilic qualities of historical architecture: In quest of the timeless terminologies of ‘life’ in architectural
expression

Author: Nelly ShafikRamzy

Category: Article

Empirical evidence from the last three decades has confirmed that designs that connect humans to natural contents
and landscape configurations help to improve humans' overall sense of well-being, with positive and therapeutic
effects on physiology. According to findings in the field of environmental psychology, these characteristics have a
positive effect on human productivity and can reduce stress. Contact with these elements, however, is becoming
increasingly rare in modern urban life. As a result, architectural theorists recently focused their research on finding
ways to reconnect the built environment to these elements.
One of the most recent and viable reconnection theories in this field is biophilia. This 
paper highlights the theoretical underpinnings of this design theory and addresses the assumption that one of the reas
ons for most people's admiration for historical buildings is due to the biophilic qualities found in these structures. Th
is paper concludes specific 
biophilic strategies and settings that may help "bring life to buildings, as seen in these 
buildings" by drawing inspiration from historical architecture and using a qualitative 
analytical methodology that typifies certain characteristics in those days.

Nelly ShafikRamzy, “Biophilic qualities of historical architecture: In quest of the timeless terminologies of ‘life’ in
architectural expression,” Sustainable Cities and Society., Volume 15, July 2015, Pages 42-56.

[Link]

Title: The Biophilia Hypothesis and Life in the 21st Century: Increasing Mental Health or Increasing Pathology?

Author: Eleonora Gullone

Category: Article

Wilson's biophilia hypothesis includes the claim that, as a consequence of evolution, humans have an “innate
tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes.” A review of various literatures converges to support this central
claim. One area of support for our innate affiliation with nature comes from research demonstrating increased
psychological well-being upon exposure to natural features and environments. Support also comes from the strength
and prevalence of phobic responses (any reaction to a phobia) to stimuli of evolutionary significance and near
absence of such responses to potentially dangerous human-made stimuli. That survival emotions of equivalent
intensity and prevalence have failed to develop in response to modern life-threatening stimuli can be explained by
the extremely rapid process of change and progress that has occurred post World War II and continues at an ever
increasingly rapid pace. Given that our modern ways of living, as prescribed by Western industrialized culture, stand
in stark contrast to our evolutionary history, it is proposed that we may currently be witnessing the beginnings of
significant adverse outcomes for the human psyche.

Gullone, E. The Biophilia Hypothesis and Life in the 21st Century: Increasing Mental Health or Increasing
Pathology?. Journal of Happiness Studies 1, 293–322 (2000). [Link]

[Link]

Title: Analyzing Design Principles of Biophilic Neighborhoods

Authors: Elham Asadzadeh, Maryam Yousefi Ahmadchali

Category: Journal
In current years, several empirical studies recording user preferences have been done to uncover the advantages of
natural environments, and environments mimicking their geometrical qualities. The importance of urban green
spaces and urban forests is increasing worldwide because of the expansion of urban land fueled by urbanization. The
provision of parks and green spaces in urban areas make a vital contribution to the quality of urban life. Nature is
beneficial for human beings in various ways, people in cities do not get chance to have intimate contact with nature.
Realizing the importance of nature in human life, theories and researches associated with Biophilia argue that we
need to re-imagine cities as “Biophilic Cities” [29]. Cities around the world are growing rapidly in size and number,
as they provide unprecedented economic and social opportunities. The importance of both the scale and density of
cities in creating these opportunities is now well understood [30, 31]. The main purpose of this research is exploring
principles of Biophilic elements in order to achieving sustainable neighborhood that it is adapted by Iran conditions.
In this paper, five criteria were analyzed. They criteria are biodiversity, bio mimicry, prospect, sense of
playfulness, enigmatic (describes what is hard to solve or figure out). Also, was analyzed 15 patterns about this
field. Findings show, the biodiversity very important in order to achieving Biophilic neighborhood. Bio mimicry is
second factor in order to achieving sustainable neighborhood.

Elham Asadzadeh, Maryam Yousefi Ahmadchali, “Analyzing Design Principles of Biophilic Neighborhoods,” Civil
Engineering Journal., Vol. 4, No. 10, October, 2018.

[Link]

Title: ‘Love honey, hate honey bees’: reviving biophilia of elementary school students through environmental
education program

Author: Yoori Cho

Category: Journal

The concept of emotional affinity and connection with nature using the term of ‘biophilia’ along with its counter-
part ‘biophobia’ has been merely researched in the area of environmental education. In this study, it was
hypothesized that children’s negative emotions (biophobia) such as fear towards insects can be changed into affinity
(biophilia) through an environmental education program. One hundred and four third-grade students from an
elementary school in Seoul, South Korea participated in the honey bee environmental education program, and their
emotional changes were measured with Inclusion of Nature in Self and Connectedness to Nature Scale. The result
after the program implementation showed that the participants’ affinity toward nature was significantly improved.
This empirical study suggests that an environmental education programs on insects of which children initially feel
scared can be effective in helping to overcome fear toward insects and nature, and to revive their innate biophilia.
Especially, honey bees, one of the most crucial insect species providing priceless ecosystem services can be a good
medium for environmental education program to promote children’s innate love towards nature. This study, to the
authors’ knowledge, was the first research which attempted to link an insect-mediated environmental education
program to children’s connectedness to nature with the biophilia–biophobia approach.

Yoori Cho, “‘Love honey, hate honey bees’: reviving biophilia of elementary school students through environmental
education program,” Environmental Education Research., Volume 24, 2018 - Issue 3.

[Link]

Title: BIOPHILIA AND HUMAN HEALTH

Authors: Gregory Crawford, Vernon A. Woodworth

Category: Journal

The concept of biophilia bridges the gap between the unfolding explorations of neuroscience and the environmental
crisis that threatens to disrupt civilization irrevocably. Salingaros has described the benefits of biophilia as follows:
“since biophilia is an essential part of human biology, building according to its principles … satisfies part of what is
required for sustainability, in two ways. (i) The built structures are conceived as extensions of our biology and our
ecosystem; (ii) we feel healthier in them, and therefore we will feel more motivated to preserve them against wear
and tear and replacement” (Salingaros, 2019). With an evolving sense of self that prioritizes natural patterns and
systems as essential to well-being perhaps homeostasis can be restored, not only to our autonomic nervous systems,
but also to the all-encompassing systems of our biosphere, on which all life depends.

Gregory Crawford, Vernon A. Woodworth, “BIOPHILIA AND HUMAN HEALTH,” New Design Ideas., Vol.4,
No.2, 2020, pp.112-118.

[Link]

Title: Biophilia and Acoustics: Implications for Office Worker Health and Wellbeing

Authors: Hodsman, Paige, Svensson, Carsten

Category: Article

Identifying what benefits an acoustic-based biophilic perspective may hold for creating better office acoustic
conditions are the aims of this paper and presentation. Extensive cross-disciplinary literature is discussed
encompassing evolutionary biology to positive natural sounds for interior workplace environments. Reconnecting
building occupants with nature is a growing trend in architecture and design and amongst other professions
associated with the built environment. Plants, natural day light, biomorphic shapes, water and good air quality are
elements often cited as ways to "bring nature in" and referred to as Biophilic Design. Surprisingly, human sound
perception and biophilic constructs are not often readily linked despite such an obvious connection. Human beings
evolved within and were shaped by the presence (and absence of) sounds from nature for hundreds of thousands of
years. If biophilia is generally defined as "nature loving", then surely identifying what kinds of sound environments
reflect this is a worthy of inclusion. This paper explores the evolution of the human hearing organ and by
comparison, proposes what kind of sounds could be introduced (or eliminated) to create indoor environments more
in-tune with the beneficial elements of nature, possibly aiding more productive, healthier environments particularly
in our workplaces.

Hodsman, Paige and Svensson, Carsten. Biophilia and Acoustics: Implications for Office Worker Health and
Wellbeing.  INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings, InterNoise19, Madrid, Spain,
pages 1-995, pp. 12-12(1)

[Link]/content/ince/incecp/2019/00000259/00000009/art00012

Title: Rebuilding Biophilia

Author: DILLON, BRENDAN RUSSELL

Category: Thesis

Biophilic design balances human needs with the value and considerations of natural environments and processes and
incorporates aspects and qualities of those elements into architectural design. This serves to reinforce man's
instinctual connection and relationship with those systems. There are two basics, symbiotic, motivations for
reinforcing this relationship. First, a high-quality relationship with the environment has many beneficial effects on
human health on the physical, psychological and intellectual levels. The second reason is that a strong relationship
with the environment will result in people acting in a manner that is conducive to the environment's preservation, as
a result of having formed a personal relationship with it and having gained an appreciation of its value. Biophilic
design nurtures these relationships through the use of five basic principles: affiliation & affinity, homeostasis,
prospect & refuge, ecological ethics and wellness. These principles can be applied as methods for developing a
design, as well as evaluating a design or built project.

DILLON, BRENDAN. "Rebuilding Biophilia." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2008.

[Link]

Title: Biophilia: Getting Intimate with Nature

Author: YOUNG, JESSALYN ANN

Category: Thesis

Humans desire a natural experience, through biophilia. However, modernity has decreased the opportunities for the
humans to interact with nature. Unfortunately, this lost human relationship with nature not only destroys nature, but
humanity itself. For humans to continue to sustain themselves, they must also sustain nature. The city is the location
where nature has become almost invisible to the human eye. However, those who choose the urban environment
over the suburban or rural one should have an equal opportunity to take in living things. Adjacent to the University
of Cincinnati is such a place where appealing nature has become extinct. This design puts life back into this urban
site.

To sustain a relationship with another entity, one must consistently spend time in its presence. The program chosen
for this project is a habitat for nature and humans: a garden and a dwelling. These two elements intermingled in a
single design.

YOUNG, JESSALYN. "Biophilia: Getting Intimate with Nature." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2008.

[Link]

Title: Integrating Biophilic Principles and Therapeutic Design Elements in Outdoor Spaces for Children at Tucson
Medical Center

Author: Deryn Davidson

Category: Report

As concern for the health and wellbeing of children grows in a society geared toward a more sedentary lifestyle,
many doctors and therapists are pointing to the importance of access to, and time spent interacting with the natural
world. The idea of using the restorative properties of nature in healing has been around since ancient times. There is
currently a renaissance in the health care industry looking at the importance of incorporating gardens into the design
of health care facilities once again. This project proposes to explore the importance for children in health care
facilities to have access to the natural world while using the biophilia hypothesis as a framework for design.
Furthermore, the benefits of outdoor areas for the families (particularly siblings) of child patients and the staff of the
health care facilities was explored. Through the use of literature and case reviews, data was collected and
synthesized to determine the elements best used to strengthen the designs for children’s therapeutic environments.
Outcomes include three models of therapeutic environments including focus areas for the Tucson Medical Center
campus in Tucson, Arizona.
Therapeutic landscape design is a complex, but rewarding area of landscape architecture. To be able to provide
comfort and healing to people through the design of the outside world is a unique opportunity. Over the course of
this project, the notion that nature's healing and restorative properties are profound was reaffirmed again and again.
Recognizing that we are a part of the natural world and exploring the biophilia hypothesis has the potential to
provide humans with an invaluable resource. Instead of shutting nature out, this project has shown that we can
benefit by inviting nature in. Getting out into our natural areas and bringing naturalistic spaces into the urban fabric
has been shown to have beneficial impacts on humans. Providing those spaces and experiences to people who are
unable to venture outside to the nearest city or state park, allows them the opportunity to harness the healing
properties of nature and surrounds them with one of our most basic human needs, connection to life.

[Link]

Title: Biophilic campus: An emerging planning approach for a sustainable innovation-conducive university

Author: Mohamed [Link]

Category: Journal

Universities worldwide are competing to offer attractive learning and research environments to a new generation of
skilled and talented students. Governments of the developed world urge universities to foster innovation and
technology transfer within a framework of sustainability, at the same time as higher education systems are facing
continuous funding cuts. This dilemma pushes campus architects and planners to work on ways to promote
innovation and creativity in a planned manner within time, budget and space limitations. This research attempts to
fill the gaps between strategy-based studies and practical aspects of design of innovation-conducive university
campuses. This study introduces biophilia as a philosophical approach that reflects the innate human need to connect
with nature. Recent experiments with biophilia have used natural elements to enhance physical, social, intellectual
and psychological human wellbeing. This study proposes that merging the attributes of biophilic design with
sustainable development will generate a robust model that supports the evolution of a creative university campus. In
this light, this research thoroughly reviews the body of literature which investigates the correlation between
sustainability, innovation and biophilia within the built environment in general with particular attention to university
campuses. The theoretical background shows that the principles of biophilia have the potential to foster innovation
in higher education. The study proposes a comprehensive framework based on earlier studies to promote the
linkages between sustainability and innovation through deploying the values, patterns and elements of biophilic
design. Further research is required to test the validity of the framework on a global scale.

Mohamed [Link], “Biophilic campus: An emerging planning approach for a sustainable innovation-conducive
university,” Journal of Cleaner Production., Volume 215, 1 April 2019, Pages 1445-1456.

[Link]

Among the14 PATTERNS, I selected 2 patterns:

CONNECTION WITH NATURAL SYSTEMS

Is about the awareness of natural processes, especially seasonal and temporal changes characteristic of a healthy
ecosystem.

Experience: often relaxing, nostalgic, profound or enlightening, and frequently anticipated.

Design considerations and opportunities that may help create quality connections with natural systems:

 In Enhancing the relaxation of the user by integrating rainwater capture and treatment applying to
landscape design.
 provides visual access to existing natural systems will be the easiest and most cost-effective approach.
incorporate of responsive design tactics such as the use of materials that change form or expand function
with exposure to solar heat gain, wind, rain/moisture, or shading, structures and land formations are
necessary to achieve the desired level of awareness.
 Design interactive opportunities especially for children, patients, and the elderly by integrating a program
that will boost not just their cognitive but also their energy using the space such as the use of community
gardens, water features and horticultural program.

BIOMORPHIC FORMS & PATTERNS

Are symbolic references to contoured, patterned, textured or numerical arrangements that persist in nature.

Experience: A space with good Biomorphic Forms & Patterns feels interesting and comfortable, possibly
captivating, contemplative or even absorptive.
The objective of Biomorphic Forms & Patterns is to provide representational design elements within the built
environment which allow users to make connections to nature. The intent is to use biomorphic forms and patterns in
a way that creates a more visually preferred environment that enhances cognitive performance while helping reduce
stress.

Design considerations that may help create a quality biomorphic condition:

 Apply on 2 or 3 planes or dimensions such as floor plane and wall, furniture windows and soffits to achieve
greater diversity and to control frequency of exposure.
 Avoid using overuse of forms and patterns that may lead to visual toxicity.
 More comprehensive interventions will be more cost effective when they are introduced early in the design
process.

Applying Biomorphic forms and patterns

Decor:

 Fabrics, carpet, wallpaper designs based on Fibonacci series or Golden Mean

 Window details: trim and moldings, glass color, texture, mullion design, window reveal detail
 Installations and free-standing sculptures
 Furniture details
 Woodwork, masonry
 Wall decal, paint style or texture

Form / Function of Biomorphic:

 Arrangement of the structural system such as the use of columns shaped like trees which contribute to
natural ambiance of the space
 Building form using the Fibonacci Sequence or the Golden mean, a correct proportion came from different
natural structures such as arrangement of sunflower seeds or the spiral of seashells.
 Acoustic paneling on walls or ceiling
 Railings, balustrades, fencing, gates were also used
 Furniture form based on correct proportioning
 Window details such as frit, light shelves, fins
 Pathway and hallway form

In this study, the researchers will investigate how students might benefit from spending time in natural
settings in terms of their academic experiences. What the researchers may witness and experienced
about the views of students and hope to discover whether time outdoors can help them with the issues.
More specifically, The researcher tend to understand why and how the recommendation of spending
time in natural settings reaches the core educational skills at the root of learning strategy sessions.

1. How might nature facilitate student learning?

2. What might the impact be on students if learning strategies were aligned with a biophilic inclination?

3. How might a non-traditional learning strategy, like spending time in nature, compare to a traditional
one, in terms of student benefit?

An interview protocol was developed by the researcher. The interview protocol initially comprised (no.
of questions) semi-structured questions.

Limitations
This study has several limitations. First, this study has a cross-sectional design
and relatively few cases of coronavirus infections of students in Tarlac City;
thus, many possible problems may not have emerged during the course of the
research. Constant attention and further investigation are required to assess
the overall situation. Second, this research was administered to high school
students in Tarlac City, and it does not reflect the opinions of students in other
areas. In Tarlac City, the capital Tokyo has the largest population and the
highest risk of infection. Conversely, the possibility of infection is not as high
in the countryside. Third, the educational environment, such as the number of
students and facilities, varies depending on the country. Different countries
have different infection control methods, and there may be different reasons
for teachers’ anxiety. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct similar surveys and
obtain the results thereof in other countries. Furthermore, another limitation
of this study was the lack of demographic information on the teachers who
completed the questionnaires. Regarding the male–female ratio of
participants, 68% of the participants identified as female. The percentages of
female teachers in elementary and junior high schools in Japan are
approximately 63 and 44%, respectively [48]. The percentage of elementary
school teachers who participated in our study was high, which may have led to
a high percentage of female teachers. Therefore, the male–female ratio of the
teachers in each country must be considered. Moreover, the study did not use
a validated questionnaire; therefore, the results should be carefully
interpreted. Nevertheless, this study provides valuable information to address
the concrete causes of teachers’ anxiety following the reopening of schools in
the presence of COVID-19. In this study, we searched for factors associated
with anxiety by variable selection using the stepwise method. Among the
selected factors, we then demonstrated the strength of the factors associated
with anxiety. These findings provide important information to formulate
measures to eliminate infection- and education-related anxiety factors.

The psychological wellbeing of teachers who are in a position to guide students

is important to ensure the students’ right to education. The results of this
study are useful not only for providing information regarding the anxiety of
Japanese teachers but also for providing information that can be helpful when
other countries are considering reopening schools.

Limitations
This study has several limitations. First, this study has a cross-sectional design and relatively few
cases of coronavirus infections of students in Tarlac City; thus, many possible problems may not
have emerged during the course of the research. Constant attention and further investigation are
required to assess the overall situation. Second, this research was focused to Junior and Senior
high school students in (School), and it does not reflect the opinions of students in other school.
Third, the educational environment, such as the number of students and facilities, varies
depending on the school of (______). The schools in Tarlac City have different infection control
methods, and there may be different reasons for student’s mental health issue especially in the
post-covid pandemic. Lastly, another limitation of this study was the lack of demographic
information on the student who completed the questionnaires. (Regarding the male–female ratio
of participants) Moreover, this study provides valuable information to address the academic
resilience of students in the following of reopening of schools in the presence of COVID-19.

The psychological and strengthening of academic resilience with the help of thermal and airflow
variability that that introduced by the researchers are important to ensure the student’s right to
education. The results of this study are useful not only for providing information regarding the
mental condition of students during the post-covid pandemic but also for providing information
that can be helpful in the future researchers.