Can Nature Help Heal Us?

Did you know? Nature Can impact our wellbeing?

When you integrate aspects of nature into your built environments it can improve your wellbeing, happiness and overall quality of life!  

We may intuitively feel a positive reaction when we think of our favorite natural space, (mine is the top of an old pine tree!). What's really inspiring is that incorporating nature into the design of our buildings such as our homes, offices or schools is also a scientifically researched field called Biophilic Design  

Dr. Stephen Kellert explains over 70 attributes of ways we can incorporate the researched supportive qualities of nature into our buildings through such strategies such as:

1. Regional and natural materials

2. Daylight and natural views

3. Organic shaped forms creating a sense of protection and refuge 

4. Spirit of Place

Biophilic Design Education Workshop at Greenbuild in collaboration with the incredible Sonja Bochart!

Considering we spend almost 90% of our lives inside buildings (you read that right, folks!) it's inspiring to know we have scientifically researched roadmaps to help ensure the spaces we create, where we breath 9 out of our every 10 breaths!, are as supportive as possible.  It’s essential to collaborate in understanding the best approach for integrating this conversation into a project such as through end-user workshops and co-creative design charrettes. The goal is not to try to get as many attributes as possible into the projects. More essentially, it is to identify the essence of the project then identify approaches to celebrate aligning with that established essence.

We’re honored to work with clients educating them on this topic and collaborating side-by-side on their design projects.

Stay tuned as we share a deeper dive conversation in Biophilic Design in upcoming posts!

Author: Bonnie Casamassima, Interweave People Place