Student Guide 2—How to Develop a Biophilic Design Framework

Abstract

A biophilic design (BD) framework is a crucial component for using BD principles within an environmentally sustainable design (ESD) approach. One key challenge in developing a BD framework compatible with an ESD approach is the lack of systematic techniques with clear instructions to generate the criteria. To address this need, the process-bridging technique—a systematic method for developing biophilic criteria—is outlined in this chapter. The proposed system uses natural processes to bridge between biophilic and building performance criteria. The five elements—earth, air, water, energy and habitat—proposed in previous chapter are used to categorise the criteria. The process-bridging technique supports you in systematically generating biophilic criteria compatible with ESD approach We illustrate how a place criteria for BD and a performance criteria for ESD are generated using current BD and ESD frameworks respectively. These biophilic criteria can be used as a basis to develop and elaborate strategies for the architectural concept, geometrical model and building components and systems to be employed in the design. These, in turn, can then be integrated into your ESD framework, which we have termed as the ‘success matrix’. There are two ways to integrate: (i) you can include them as a specific category in the matrix, hence your BD framework will become a sub-section of the overarching ESD framework, or (ii) they become the leading design targets in the matrix. We will give you some examples of each. Either way, you can synthesise the generated biophilic criteria, design strategies and building components into a self-assessment tool.