Biophilic Design for Bringing Educational Spaces to Life

Authors : Arwa Elmashharawi

Pages : 16-21

View : 22 | Download : 11

Publication Date : 2019-07-31

Article Type : Research

Abstract :Bringing living structures to our educational spaces, especially universities, when most educational spaces are devoided of natural features, is a concept that needs to be pervasive within the architects and designers who are responsible to create healthy and creative spaces for the students. Our biology and psychology are in a sustainable need for a connection with the natural environment. The biophilia hypothesis demonstrates that human beings are attracted naturally towards the natural environment and the detachment from it generates negative consequences that affect the physical, psychological and social aspects of the human being. Within this paper, it is argued that educational spaces need to correlate with the environment through the adoption of biophilic design as it is a design approach that aims to rebuild the connection between the natural world and the built environment through adopting biophilia principles and elements  Not every educational space can be designed with a total response to the biophilic approach; however, it is the architect’s responsibility to correlate natural features with the educational space in order to achieve a healthy environment for the students. In this article, the concept of biophilic design in the built environment and integrating the nature with the interior and exterior spaces will be first illustrated, followed by a discussion about Innovation center "OZU X” at Ozyegin university campus adoption of biophilic design elements as well as the effects biophilic design on the psychological and social health of Ozyegin university students.
Keywords : Biophilia, biophilic architecture, green university