Biophilic Design Studies and Workshop Development
Project work while at GBD, 2019; workshop for International Living Future Collaborative, 2018
Humans are just fancy animals.
People spend about 90% of their time indoors, and it is not great for us. The “biophilic hypothesis” introduced by Edward O. Wilson suggests that humans have an innate connection to nature. We all need daylight, access to the outdoors, and reminders of our natural origins within our constructed spaces, or we will never be truly at ease.
Inspired by Terrapin Bright Green’s 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design, I have incorporated biophilic design into several building projects and workshops. I helped teammates at GBD develop compelling project stories and healthier interior designs.
In 2018, I led a Biophilic Design Workshop for Portland’s International Living Futures Collaborative group at Glumac Engineering in Portland, Oregon.
A strategy I love to use to engage workshop attendees is to bring my huge stack of charrette cards, array them across a table, and ask folks to choose images of textures and places that spark joy or intrigue for them. Then, we imagine how we could incorporate these natural elements into our design, or consider what we can learn from the natural processes that produced them.
See some example images below.
