There is green design, or sustainable design, which aims to minimize buildings' effects on the environment, and then there is biophilic design, which incorporates nature into the buildings. Biophilic design emerges from Edward O. Wilson's biophilia (literally meaning "love of life") theory that humans have an innate attraction to all things natural and living. It uses nature to instill feelings of peace and comfort, focusing more on the aesthetic aspects between nature and buildings. So, while green design recycles and conserves energy, biophilic design sprouts pretty plants.
The two are not mutually exclusive, though. For example, increasing natural lighting inside not only saves electric power, but also creates a biophilic environment. The Alice H. Cook House at Cornell University (where I will be this summer!), is a residential hall that meets both sustainable and biophilic requirements very well. Plants and grass grow on the roof, which also helps insulate the building. A lake provides chilled water, lowering the amount of energy needed for cooling. In addition, all materials are recycled, made locally, and use as few chemicals as possible.
Here are other examples of biophilic design:
 |
| Prisma building, Nuremberg, Germany |
 |
| Greenhouse Nightclub, New York, New York |
Aside from art and culture, the more scientific knowledges an architect has, the more functional, the more powerful and the more interesting his/her designs can get. Math, physics, bio, etc. - Sky will be the limit...
ReplyDelete