Bioregional Planning and Biophilic Urbanism

Abstract

In recent times, bioregionalism has been rediscovered in the environmental movement, the territorialist movement (in Italy), the natural resource management or landcare movement (in Australia), and a multiple of expressions through urban and regional sustainability. Although the link between bioregionalism and cities is not always made, new movements are now appearing that are re-establishing the inherent integration of cities and their bioregion, which are more positive about how the city can help recreate a better bioregion. One of these movements is biophilic urbanism. This chapter explains how bioregionalism and biophilic urbanism are related. By employing certain case studies, especially from Singapore, it is shown that cities can indeed begin their bioregional strategies from the biophilic design strategies. The analysis concludes that a strong need exists for bioregionalism to bring its insights and science right into the city and down to the detailed landscaping in and on buildings, and for biophilic urbanism to extend its science and insights out into the corridors and surroundings of the bioregion that supports every city. Such potential integration of bioregionalism and biophilic urbanism is needed in all cities.