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Biophilic Design 15594_Kellert_3p_ffirs.f.qxd 12/5/07 12:03 PM Page ii 15594_Kellert_3p_ffirs.f.qxd 12/5/07 12:03 PM Page iii

Biophilic Design The Theory, Science, and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life

EDITED BY: Stephen R. Kellert Judith H. Heerwagen Martin L. Mador

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 15594_Kellert_3p_ffirs.f.qxd 12/5/07 12:03 PM Page iv

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: Biophilic design : the theory, science, and practice of bringing buildings to life / edited by Stephen R. Kellert, Judith H. Heerwagen, Martin L. Mador. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-470-16334-4 (cloth) 1. Architecture—Environmental aspects 2. Architecture—Human factors. I. Kellert, Stephen R. II. Heerwagen, Judith H., 1944– III. Mador, Martin L., 1949– NA2542.35.E44 2008 720'.47—dc22 2007023228

Printed in the United States of America

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Contents

Preface vii Stephen R. Kellert and Judith H. Heerwagen Acknowledgments xi Prologue: In Retrospect xiii Hillary Brown

PART I The Theory of Biophilic Design 1

Chapter 1 Dimensions, Elements, and Attributes of Biophilic Design 3 Stephen R. Kellert Chapter 2 The Nature of Human Nature 21 Edward O. Wilson Chapter 3 A Good Place to Settle: Biomimicry, Biophilia, and the Return of Nature’s Inspiration to Architecture 27 Janine Benyus Chapter 4 Water, Biophilic Design, and the Built Environment 43 Martin L. Mador Chapter 5 Neuroscience, the Natural Environment, and Building Design 59 Nikos A. Salingaros and Kenneth G. Masden II

PART II The Science and Benefits of Biophilic Design 85

Chapter 6 Biophilic Theory and Research for Healthcare Design 87 Roger S. Ulrich Chapter 7 Nature Contact and Human Health: Building the Evidence Base 107 Howard Frumkin Chapter 8 Where Windows Become Doors 119 Vivian Loftness with Megan Snyder Chapter 9 Restorative Environmental Design: What, When, Where, and for Whom? 133 Terry Hartig, Tina Bringslimark, and Grete Grindal Patil Chapter 10 Healthy Planet, Healthy Children: Designing Nature into the Daily Spaces of Childhood 153 Robin C. Moore and Clare Cooper Marcus

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Chapter 11 Children and the Success of Biophilic Design 205 Richard Louv Chapter 12 The Extinction of Natural Experience in the Built Environment 213 David Orr and Robert Michael Pyle

Part III The Practice of Biophilic Design 225

Chapter 13 Biophilia and Sensory Aesthetics 227 Judith H. Heerwagen and Bert Gregory Chapter 14 Evolving an Environmental Aesthetic 243 Stephen Kieran Chapter 15 The Picture Window: The Problem of Viewing Nature Through Glass 253 Kent Bloomer Chapter 16 Biophilic Architectural Space 263 Grant Hildebrand Chapter 17 Toward Biophilic Cities: Strategies for Integrating Nature into Urban Design 277 Timothy Beatley Chapter 18 Green Urbanism: Developing Restorative Urban Biophilia 297 Jonathan F. P. Rose Chapter 19 The Greening of the Brain 307 Pliny Fisk III Chapter 20 Bringing Buildings to Life 313 Tom Bender Chapter 21 Biophilia in Practice: Buildings That Connect People with Nature 325 Alex Wilson Chapter 22 Transforming Building Practices Through Biophilic Design 335 Jenifer Seal Cramer and William Dee Browning Chapter 23 Reflections on Implementing Biophilic Design 347 Bob Berkebile and Bob Fox, with Alice Hartley

Contributors 357 Image Credits 365 Index 371 15594_Kellert_3p_fpref.f.qxd 12/5/07 11:13 AM Page vii

Preface Stephen R. Kellert and Judith H. Heerwagen

his book immodestly aspires to help mend the The idea of biophilic design arises from the increas- prevailing breach existing in our society between ing recognition that the human mind and body evolved T the modern built environment and the human in a sensorially rich world, one that continues to be crit- need for contact with the natural world. In this regard, ical to people’s health, productivity, emotional, intellec- the chapters in this volume focus on the theory, science, tual, and even spiritual well-being. The emergence and practice of what we call biophilic design, an innovative during the modern age of large-scale agriculture, indus- approach that emphasizes the necessity of maintaining, try, artificial fabrication, engineering, electronics, and enhancing, and restoring the beneficial experience of na- the city represents but a tiny fraction of our species’ ture in the built environment. Although we present bio- evolutionary history. Humanity evolved in adaptive re- philic design as an innovation today, ironically, it was the sponse to natural conditions and stimuli, such as sun- way buildings were designed for much of human history. light, weather, water, plants, animals, landscapes, and Integration with the natural environment; use of local habitats, which continue to be essential contexts for materials, themes and patterns of nature in building ar- human maturation, functional development, and ulti- tifacts; connection to culture and heritage; and more mately survival. were all tools and methods used by builders, artisans, and Unfortunately, modern technical and engineering designers to create structures still among the most func- accomplishments have fostered the belief that humans tional, beautiful, and enduring in the world. can transcend their natural and genetic heritage. This The authors in this book represent widely diverse presumption has encouraged a view of humanity as hav- disciplines, including architects, natural scientists, social ing escaped the dictates of natural systems, with human scientists, health professionals, developers, practitioners, progress and civilization measured by its capacity for and others who offer an original and timely vision of fundamentally altering and transforming the natural how we can achieve not just a sustainable but also a more world. This dangerous illusion has given rise to an ar- satisfying and fulfilling modern society in harmony with chitectural practice that encourages overexploitation, nature. Collectively, they articulate a paradigm shift in environmental degradation, and separation of people how we design and build with nature in mind. Still, bio- from natural systems and processes. The dominant par- philic design is not about greening our buildings or sim- adigm of design and development of the modern built ply increasing their aesthetic appeal through inserting environment has become one of unsustainable energy trees and shrubs. Much more, it is about humanity’s and resource consumption, extensive air and water pol- place in nature, and the natural world’s place in human lution, widespread atmospheric and climate alteration, society, a space where mutuality, respect, and enriching excessive waste generation, unhealthy indoor environ- relation can and should exist at all levels and emerge as mental conditions, increasing alienation from nature, the norm rather than the exception. and growing “placelessness.” One of the volume’s au- Biophilic design at any scale from buildings to cities thors, David Orr (1999:212–213), described this lam- begins with a simple question: How does the built en- entable condition in this way: vironment affect the natural environment, and how will nature affect human experience and aspiration? Most of Most [modern] buildings reflect no understanding all, how can we achieve sustained and reciprocal bene- of ecology or ecological processes. Most tell its fits between the two? users that knowing where they are is unimportant. vii 15594_Kellert_3p_fpref.f.qxd 12/5/07 11:13 AM Page viii

viii Preface

Most tell its users that energy is cheap and abun- extent still undervalued...,our existence depends on dant and can be squandered. Most are provisioned this propensity, our spirit is woven from it, hope rises on with materials and water and dispose of their wastes its currents.” The idea of biophilia is elucidated else- in ways that tell its occupants that we are not part of where (Wilson 1984, Kellert and Wilson 1993, Kellert the larger web of life. Most resonate with no part of 1997), and described in chapters in this volume by our biology, evolutionary experience, or aesthetic Kellert and E. O. Wilson. sensibilities. Biophilic design is the expression of the inherent human need to affiliate with nature in the design of the Recognition of the necessity to change this self- built environment. The basic premise of biophilic de- defeating paradigm has led to significant efforts at min- sign is that the positive experience of natural systems imizing and mitigating the adverse environmental and and processes in our buildings and constructed land- human health impacts of modern development. These scapes remains critical to human performance and well- efforts have resulted in the growth of the sustainable or being. Various chapters in the volume cite growing green design movement, dramatically illustrated by the scientific evidence to corroborate this assumption in extraordinary rise of the U.S. Green Building Council’s studies of health care, the workplace, childhood devel- LEED certification and rating system. While com- opment, community functioning, and more. More gen- mendable and necessary, these efforts will ultimately be erally, the authors offer insight and understanding insufficient to achieving the long-term goal of a sustain- regarding the theory, science, and practice of biophilic able, healthy, and well-functioning society. design. The basic deficiency of current sustainable design is Part I of the book focuses on a conceptual under- a narrow focus on avoiding harmful environmental im- standing of biophilia and biophilic design. Chapters by pacts, or what we call low environmental impact design. Kellert, E. O. Wilson, Benyus, Mador, and Salingaros Low environmental impact design, while fundamental and Masden offer various biological and cultural under- and essential, fails to address the equally critical needs standings of the human need to affiliate with natural of diminishing human separation from nature, enhanc- systems, and how this inclination can be achieved ing positive contact with environmental processes, and through design of the built environment. The authors building within a culturally and ecologically relevant address the neglect of the human-nature connection in context, all basic to human health, productivity, and modern architecture and construction, a condition the well-being. These latter objectives are the essence of eminent architectural historian Vincent Scully de- biophilic design. True and lasting sustainability must scribed in this way (1991:11): “The relationship of man- combine both low environmental impact and biophilic made structures to the natural world . . . has been design, the result being what is called restorative envi- neglected by architecture. . . . There are many reasons ronmental design (Kellert 2005). This book, in effect, for this. Foremost among them . . . is the blindness of contends that biophilic design has been until now the the contemporary urban world to everything that is not largely missing link in current sustainable design. The itself, to nature most of all.” various chapters attempt to redress this imbalance. A major cause for this blindness has been the lack of The notion of biophilic design derives from the con- empirical evidence revealing the illogical and self- cept of biophilia, the idea that humans possess a biolog- defeating consequences of designing in adversarial rela- ical inclination to affiliate with natural systems and tion to the natural environment. Part II of the book processes instrumental in their health and productivity. provides much of this needed evidentiary material, par- Originally proposed by the eminent biologist and one of ticularly the many health and productivity benefits of the volume’s authors, Edward O. Wilson, biophilia has biophilic design, as well as the harmful consequences of been eloquently described by Wilson in this way impeding and degrading human contact with natural (1984:35): “To explore and affiliate with life is a deep systems and processes. Chapters by Ulrich, Frumkin, and complicated process in mental development. To an Loftness, and Hartig and colleagues delineate a range of 15594_Kellert_3p_fpref.f.qxd 12/5/07 11:13 AM Page ix

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health, physical, emotional, and intellectual advantages Rose emphasize how to foster the human-nature con- of building and landscape designs that facilitate the pos- nection at the neighborhood, community, and urban itive experience of nature. Additional chapters by scales, even what Beatley ambitiously calls the creation Moore and Marcus, Louv, and Pyle and Orr describe of “biophilic cities.” The challenge of transforming the the importance of nature in childhood maturation, how process of design and development essential to imple- to foster this connection through the design of residen- menting biophilic design is addressed in chapters by tial and educational settings, and the deleterious and po- Alex Wilson, Cramer and Browning, and Fox and tentially disastrous consequences of doing otherwise. Berkebile. Part III focuses on the practical challenge of imple- We believe this volume will greatly advance our no- menting biophilic design, most particularly how to tions of sustainable, biophilic, and restorative environ- transform conventional and prevailing sustainable de- mental design. Still, our efforts remain a work in sign practice. Chapters by Heerwagen and Gregory, progress, with much more to learn about the elusive Kieran, Bloomer, Hildebrand, Fisk, and Bender provide expression of the inherent human need to affiliate insight and guidance regarding the architectural expres- with nature in the design and construction of our sion of biophilic design, focusing largely on the build- buildings, landscapes, communities, neighborhoods, ing and site scale. Additional chapters by Beatley and and cities.

REFERENCES Kellert, S. 1997. Kinship to Mastery: Biophilia in Human Evolu- Orr, D. 1999. “Architecture as Pedagogy.” In Reshaping the tion and Development. Washington, DC: Island Press. Built Environment, edited by C. Kibert. Washington, DC: Kellert, S. 2005. Building for Life: Understanding and Designing Island Press. the Human-Nature Connection. Washington, DC: Island Scully, V. 1991. Architecture: The Natural and the Manmade. Press. New York: St. Martin’s Press. Kellert, S., and E.O. Wilson, eds. 1993. The Biophilia Hypoth- Wilson, E. O. 1984. Biophilia: The Human Bond with Other esis. Washington, DC: Island Press. Species. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. 15594_Kellert_3p_fpref.f.qxd 12/5/07 11:13 AM Page x 15594_Kellert_3p_fack.f.qxd 12/5/07 11:12 AM Page xi

Acknowledgments

This timely and, we hope, highly relevant book Forestry and Environmental Studies, and Rev. Albert P. emerged from a three-day meeting in a beautiful re- Neilson. Further support for the project was provided treat setting known as “Whispering Pines” in rural by the Henry Luce Foundation. Rhode Island in May 2006. This extraordinary setting A number of Yale University students were espe- and gathering of leading scientists, designers, practi- cially helpful in hosting the symposium and in other tioners, and others was made possible by the support vital ways. Particular thanks are due Ben Shepherd. of many generous benefactors. We particularly appre- Others who provided critical assistance included Rod- ciate the major assistance of the Geraldine R. Dodge erick Bates, Christopher Clement, Gwen Emery, Maren Foundation and its visionary president, David Grant. Haus, Sasha Novograd, Judy Preston, Chris Rubino, Jill Additional critical support was provided by the William Savery, Ali Senauer, Adrienne Swiatocha, Terry Terhaar, and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Edward and and Christopher Thompson. Dorothy Kempf Fund at Yale University, the Vervane Finally, we very much thank our editor at John Wiley, Foundation and especially Josephine Merck, the Hixon Margaret Cummins, for her considerable confidence and Center for Urban Ecology at the Yale School of support.

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Prologue: In Retrospect Hillary Brown

uring a visit to Turkey more than two decades lage. From the far end came soft social sounds—foot- ago, my companions and I shared pilgrimages to falls, a child’s exclamation, the soft rise and fall of treble Dthat country’s Arcadian ruins, the rock-cut un- and bass voices. Fountains and laughter stippled the air, derworld of Cappadocia, and other rewarding sights. At while clattering silverware broadcast the locale of a café. one stop along the Aegean coast, we spent the night sea- From here, just as our ears took in the softness of break- side at a resort community. With construction detritus ing waves, our nostrils detected and eyes at once con- everywhere, it was in a graceless stage of formation, its firmed the full expanse of the Aegean. Magnifying our platted but unbuilt streets undoing the modesty of the senses while buffering us from everything else, the hotel village. A dozen hotels along the beach elbowed for sea was channeling the sea. frontage, gleaming glass and concrete towers, each I remember my sense of gratification as well as cu- straining to trump the other as more formally promi- rious agitation in taking in this unexpected place, an ex- nent, more luxuriously endowed. perience of architectural pleasure that resonated as both In contrast, the entry to our hotel was undistin- new and unfathomably familiar. For the first (and since guished, even obscure, a suggestive breach in a white then, only) time I knew, as I turned to my companions wall, solid for its several-storied height. Over the and announced with conviction, that a woman had de- threshold, we found ourselves within a long narrow signed this building. To my friends’ astonishment, the courtyard open to the elements. The sky overhead (ex- hotel manager readily confirmed that yes, in fact, a perienced as one would an artwork by James Turrell— woman-led practice in Istanbul had won the commis- not as passive observer, but as participant) was an azure sion. slash. At the far end, the sky ballooned above what ap- For years since, I’ve given thought to that sharp, al- peared to be a plaza. most physiological insight, that instant knowing-in-my- We were seduced down this street that was mostly bones that arose from a shared design sensibility. Was it self-shaded and cooled by a gentle updraft. Trees and how she closed our eyes and ears to the chaos of this plantings dotted the surfaces, muting the noise of our beach community, or how she choreographed our progress. Underfoot, the upended and sea worn cob- movements to dilate the experience in time, intensifying ble paving was punctuated with sandstone slabs at the this sensual introduction to the sea? Perhaps it was her entries to adjacent spaces, texturing our sound as alter- preference for socialized space, invoking a primordial natively smooth or gritty down the length of the cor- practice of sharing exquisite places rather than reserv- ridor. ing them for private consumption. In setting itself apart, Overhead, the walls were faced with windows and her retreat, after all, recalled the archetypal Islamic car- doors that opened onto balconies hanging out over this avansary—that protective, walled compound found at narrow street, beaming like so many smiles. Most case- intervals along desert trading routes where travelers to- ments were flung open, others still shuttered against the gether sought refreshment and protection. How com- morning. Quite a few were peopled, elbows on sills, pelling was this concept, in contrast to the extravagant whispering shared delight at awakening in this commu- resorts next door that claimed visual primacy and exclu- nal scene. sivity, ignoring the cultural landscape. The building was vocalizing, its diverse din a con- Given an emergent environmental consciousness at temporary rendering of an ancient Mediterranean vil- the time, I now more fully appreciate this architect’s ac- xiii