Journal of Biophilic Design

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How can we design our cities and towns that are not only sustainable but also help us flourish. In this podcast we explore the intersection between One Planet Living and Biophilic Design - two transformative approaches that reimagine our relationship with the natural world. Sue Riddlestone, co-founder of BioRegional, offers a compelling vision of how we can redesign our living spaces to harmonise with nature.

Sue tells us about what is in effect a beautiful living laboratory and case study, BedZED (Beddington Zero Energy Development), a groundbreaking eco-village that serves as a blueprint for sustainable living. Sue describes it as "probably the first large net zero development in the UK," featuring 100 homes, workspace, and a school that breathes life into the concept of nature-integrated design.

What makes BedZED extraordinary is its holistic approach. Sue recalls how residents could look out of windows and see green spaces, hear hedgehogs "snuffling and snorting," and experience nature as an integral part of daily life. The community didn't just design with nature - they actively enhanced it, with the residents' association continuing to plant and nurture the surrounding environment.

These principles of interconnection, which both One Planet Living and Biophilic Design share are fundamental principles that prioritise human connection with natural systems. Sue emphasises this critical perspective: "We are nature. We are part of nature."

The One Planet Living framework's 10 principles directly align with biophilic design goals from encouraging the specification of natural materials to processes that do not destroy life but enhance it, and also which bring community together and enhance health and happiness.

I was really struck by Sue’s generosity of spirit not only in what she does, but also with her advice, giving freely suggestions on how we can bring about change faster. Sue offers several transformative pieces of advice for designers, architects, and communities. First of all design for people: "Think about a day in the life" of residents, considering how design can make sustainable living effortless. With this in mind engage communities. Successful sustainable design happens when local people are involved in the planning process.

Secondly, embrace natural materials, and she describes how timber buildings can transform spaces. Sue describes walking into the Black and White Building in London, noting the "wonderful smell" and how the wooden environment felt inherently relaxing.(see our podcast we did with the architect Andrew Waugh on this too https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcast-journal-of-biophilic-design/tall-timber-buildings-are-they-the-future-of-our-urban-landscape ).

Also Sue celebrates EO Wilson's vision of allowing "half the earth" for nature, integrating green spaces into every design. We need to make space for nature. As well as creating balanced eco systems and creating more biodiversity, integrating nature can mitigate heat island effects, reduce flooding risks, improve mental health, support biodiversity as well as create more resilient communities.

Sue's ultimate vision would see us all "Living happy, healthy lives within the natural limits of the planet and leaving sufficient space for nature, wildlife and wilderness to thrive."

One of the beautiful things about this podcast and community is the collaborative path that we are all treading together. It’s about "bringing the best of nature into our environment" - not just through plants, but through materials, patterns, and design that reflect our evolutionary connection to the natural world.

For architects, designers, and communities, One Planet Living and Biophilic Design offer a roadmap. They remind us that sustainable design is not about sacrifice, but about creating spaces that nurture both human and ecological well-being.

The journey begins with understanding our fundamental connection to nature - and designing accordingly.

Join us Monday 9th June at 1pm UK time to hear more about the One Planet Living framework and how it fits in with Biophilic Design: in our regular lunchtime Biophilic Design Networking - Cities, Health and Wealth - how biophilic design improves all three. Steve Hart will also be joining us where we we will exploring the fusion of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Hydrology and Biophillia through Systems Ecology.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/journalofbiophilicdesign/1679497

We are organising a Learning Walk for interested designers and specifiers, Come with us to visit BedZed for yourself and ask questions on the day to people living there as well as a guide from BedZed itself.

For more information on BioRegional visit:

https://www.bioregional.com/one-planet-living

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Watch the Biophilic Design Conference on demand here www.biophilicdesignconference.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all of our podcasts.

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In a world increasingly disconnected from nature, architects like Nick De Klerk are pioneering a transformative approach to design that reconnects humans with their fundamental need for natural environments. "Access and proximity to nature are a basic human need," Nick emphasizes, drawing from his childhood experiences growing up close to nature.

Biophilic design is about creating moments of awe, surprise and wonder. Nick describes these as "unexpected transitions" that take your breath away - moving from a constrained, dark space into a light-filled, plant-abundant area that immediately transforms your sensory experience. These moments of awe are critical, creating what he calls a "transformational experience" where people don't just occupy a space, but are fundamentally changed by it.

We also talk about how we can preserve Heritage while embracing nature. The key to sustainable design lies in respecting existing structures. "The greenest building is one that already exists," Nick quotes, highlighting Purcell Architects' philosophy of working with heritage buildings. Their approach isn't about wholesale replacement, but sensitive enhancement - improving thermal performance, integrating natural elements, and maintaining the building's historical character.

I wanted to explore also, the hotel concept they created for HIX, the Hotel Interiors Experience trade show. Nick and his team developed a concept around the idea of integrating food production, sustainability, and hospitality within a historic agricultural hall. They imagined this beautiful historical building transformed into a living, breathing space where guest rooms overlook a lush interior landscape. Vertical farming, natural light, and community spaces merge to create an environment that reconnects people with food production and natural cycles creating not just a sensory experience but also a community connection. It's about creating spaces that are "not just practical, but experiential" - where texture, light, and living elements combine to create profound human experiences. "People want to learn something or feel they've benefited from a space," he explains.

When asked to imagine a world transformed by biophilic design, with a “magic brush of Biophilia” Nick's vision is profound. Cities reimagined as forests, where every element plays a crucial part in sustenance and survival. Not just literally with more trees, but metaphorically - creating interconnected, diverse, and mutually supportive environments.

This approach isn't just about aesthetics. It's about recognising our deep, intrinsic connection to nature and creating spaces that allow humans to truly flourish. Biophilic design isn't a trend - it's a return to understanding our fundamental relationship with the natural world. As we face increasing environmental and health challenges, design can be a powerful tool for reconnection, sustainability, and hope.

To watch the video with Nick de Klerk and Shida Salehi, Founder Customs Bureau and Yasmin Saad interior designer from Customs Bureau on the HIX Glass House Urban Retreat concept:

https://vimeo.com/1023008814/ba6c8c1448

The HIX Interview ahead of the event: https://www.hixevent.com/news/hix-co-present-hotel-bdc-purcell-x-glass-house-urban-retreat

During the London Festival of Architecture, Nick De Klerk will be leading a tour on Sunday, June 14th that explores the Victorian industrial heritage of the area around the Business Design Centre (formerly the Royal Agricultural Hall).

The tour will include several stops that highlight historical urban contexts and connections, such as:

Postman's Park - a site of historical wellness with a beautiful water source
Angel area - exploring the high pavements that were originally designed to separate pedestrians from livestock being driven to Smithfield Market
Ending at the Business Design Centre (Royal Agricultural Hall)

The tour is based on the HIX project concept and aims to:
- Engage the wider public with architecture
- Explore hidden urban histories
- Discuss how historical spaces can be reimagined
- Provide insights into the area's rich industrial and social heritage

The London Festival of Architecture is valuable because it focuses on people who use buildings, not just professionals who design them. The tour will offer refreshments and an opportunity for the public to interact directly with architects and learn about the urban landscape's history and potential future.

To join the London Festival of Architecture walk that Nick is organising see the LFA website: https://www.londonfestivalofarchitecture.org/event/islingtons-business-design-centre-past-present-and-future/

Purcell’s news piece on the installation: https://www.purcelluk.com/news/purcell-idle-and-wonder-and-customs-bureau-to-pres/

Design Insider's review of the concept in their 2024 Trend Report (pages 26-27): https://www.purcelluk.com/news/purcell-idle-and-wonder-and-customs-bureau-to-pres/

For more information on Purcell visit: https://www.purcelluk.com

To read the Hotel issue visit: https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/shop/journal-of-biophilic-design-issue-11-hotels-leisure-ebook-version

Have you got a copy of the Journal? You can now subscribe and become a member of the Journal of Biophilic Design https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/subscribe-as-a-member or purchase a copy of the Journal journalofbiophilicdesign.com or Amazon.

Watch the Biophilic Design Conference on demand here www.biophilicdesignconference.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all of our podcasts.

Listen to our podcast on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube and all the RSS feeds.

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In the concrete jungle of modern urban living, we've lost something fundamental: our connection to the natural world. But Biophilic Design is offering a lifeline, promising to transform our cities from sterile, energy-hungry environments into vibrant, living ecosystems that nurture both human health and planetary well-being.

We speak with Luke Engleback, who has over 40 years' experience as a designer at all scales. We talk about biophilic design, ecourbanism, biodiversity, climate change adaptation and health. Luke is a board member and former chair of the Landscape Foundation. He also sits on the Landscape Institute Policy and Public Affairs Committee, and the Midlands Design Panel, the Cambridge Quality Panel and the South Downs National Park. For Luke Biophilic Design isn't just another architectural trend. It's a radical reimagining of how we live, work, and interact with our surroundings. At its heart lies a simple yet profound understanding: we are not separate from nature, but intrinsically part of it.

Recent groundbreaking research provides compelling evidence of nature's transformative power. In Finland, a remarkable study revealed the profound impact of natural environments on children's health. Two daycare centres became an unexpected laboratory of discovery. One centre introduced forest soil and leaf litter into its play area, allowing children to get delightfully messy. The results were astonishing. Children in this natural setting developed more diverse microbiomes and, crucially, had fewer harmful pathogens compared to their peers in clinically clean environments.

Similar research in Barcelona uncovered another revelation. Medical researchers discovered that children raised in greener urban spaces demonstrated significantly better cognitive performance. This wasn't about wealth or privilege, but about the fundamental human need to connect with living systems.

These aren't isolated examples, but part of a growing understanding that our built environments dramatically impact our physical and mental well-being. Climate change has accelerated this recognition. Cities are becoming unbearable heat islands, with temperatures rising dramatically. But biophilic design offers a sophisticated, multi-layered solution.

Eco-urbanism emerges as the critical framework for this transformative approach. It's not just design, but a holistic systems thinking methodology that challenges traditional urban planning. Where conventional approaches work in rigid, isolated silos – treating transportation, water management, energy, and green spaces as separate challenges – eco-urbanism sees the city as a living, interconnected organism.

Luke Engelback describes this approach as "elastic thinking" – the ability to zoom in and out, understanding how individual interventions connect to broader ecological systems. It's about breaking down artificial boundaries between disciplines, recognizing that a rain garden isn't just about managing water, but about hydrating urban soils, supporting biodiversity, sequestering carbon, and creating cooling microclimates.

This systems approach means reimagining every urban element. A street becomes more than a transportation corridor – it's a potential site for water management, carbon capture, biodiversity support, and community well-being. A building's facade isn't just a structural element, but an opportunity for vertical gardens, air purification, and thermal regulation.

Innovative urban planners are reimagining cityscapes as living, breathing entities. In Florence, architects designed a revolutionary urban cooling system using natural wind patterns, channelling sea breezes over water features to reduce the need for energy-intensive air conditioning. In the UK, a visionary project Luke worked on in Ashford proposed transforming large agricultural fields into interconnected woodland patches, simultaneously addressing flooding risks, carbon sequestration, and landscape restoration.

But biophilic design isn't just about grand architectural gestures. It's accessible to everyone. As landscape architect Luke passionately argues, even small actions matter. A pot plant on a windowsill, a patch of wildflowers instead of a concrete driveway – these seemingly minor interventions create a cumulative positive impact.

The potential is extraordinary. Imagine cities where every surface becomes an opportunity for life – green roofs, living walls, urban forests, and integrated water management systems. Where buildings don't just shelter us but actively contribute to ecological regeneration.

This isn't wishful thinking. Luke reminds us that leading scientists like Edward O. Wilson have long advocated for a radical reimagining of our relationship with the natural world. His vision of dedicating half the Earth to nature isn't about creating vast, untouchable reserves, but about understanding our fundamental interdependence.

Biophilic design represents a paradigm shift from the destructive, linear "take-make-waste" economic model to a circular, regenerative approach. It challenges the siloed thinking that has dominated urban planning, replacing it with systems thinking that recognizes the intricate connections between human health, ecological systems, and urban infrastructure.

Luke also says that the benefits extend far beyond environmental sustainability. Research consistently shows that exposure to natural environments reduces stress, improves cognitive function, and supports overall well-being. This is true, in an age of increasing mental health challenges, this isn't just design – it's a form of collective therapy.

As our cities continue to grow and climate change intensifies, biophilic design isn't a luxury. It's a necessity. It offers a hopeful, practical pathway to creating urban environments that don't just sustain us but help us thrive.

The revolution starts small, as Luke suggests, even a plant on a windowsill, a community garden, a green roof. But its potential is limitless. We are at the pivot point to the future of urban living, where every design choice is an opportunity to reconnect, regenerate, and reimagine our relationship with the living world.

Luke has written a brilliant article in our Journal “Biophilic Design and Ecourbanism – an example at Cannock Mill Co-housing, Colchester Winner of the 2024 SALUS Healthy City Design Award for Healthy homes & neighbourhoods”, The Journal of Biophilic Design, Issue 14, Third Age, pp. 82 -87

www.studioengleback.com

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Watch the Biophilic Design Conference on demand herewww.biophilicdesignconference.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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In an inspiring conversation with the Journal of Biophilic Design, Nick Grayson, Birmingham's former climate change and sustainability manager, reveals how cities can revolutionise urban living by putting nature at the heart of decision-making.

Nick's journey from a curious child fascinated by understanding "how all this works" to becoming a pioneering urban transformation expert is a testament to the power of vision and persistent innovation. His most powerful message resonates clearly: "Cities are themselves generating 80% of global emissions and 75 to 80% of nature loss around the world."

The turning point came when Nick realised that urban spaces needed a fundamental mindset shift. "Nature isn't something we add on or allow to exist in cities," he explains. "We need to recognize how wholly dependent we are on it, both at an individual and global scale."

Birmingham's transformation became a global blueprint for urban regeneration. Nick's shorthand for a biophilic city is deceptively simple yet profound: "Cities that put nature at the heart of their decision making."

His approach was revolutionary. By creating ecosystem assessments and climate risk maps, he made the "invisible visible". These visual representations showed stark inequalities - demonstrating how green space availability directly correlated with life expectancy and quality of life.

"Every city in the world should do a climate risk and vulnerability assessment," Nick argues. By combining multiple data sets, cities can illustrate existing crises - economic, social, and environmental - and understand how these interconnect.

"We aren't short of money. We're short of imagination and proper governance," he says. "There isn't a single example of a sustainable city anywhere in the world…The biggest failure of our time is saying we haven't got any money."

Nick's vision extends beyond Birmingham. He highlights the urgent global challenge: approximately 20 billion cities of a million people are being created due to rapid urbanisation. "Are they all being done to a sustainable model?" he challenges.

His advice for designers and urban planners is both practical and inspirational. "Ask 'why'," he suggests. "Consider what elements of change can be achieved through whatever you're planning. Make it as rich as possible and involve as many players as possible."

The ultimate goal, according to Nick, is creating cities where every person can engage with nature daily. "A biophilic city regenerates human consciousness," he explains, "making us more aware of our connections and the richness of planet Earth."

Listening to him, we can all take the practical steps he recommends including
- Engaging local communities
- Creating green infrastructure master plans
- Developing fair park standards
- Prioritising funding for underserved areas

Nick's work proves that transformation is possible. Birmingham, once considered a concrete jungle, is now part of a global network of biophilic cities alongside San Francisco, Wellington, and Oslo.

His parting vision is both simple and profound: cities where nature is integral to daily life, where people feel connected to the land, and where human consciousness is regenerated through meaningful environmental engagement.

For urban designers, planners, and citizens alike, Nick Grayson's message is clear: change is not just possible, it's imperative. By reimagining our relationship with nature, we can create cities that are not just sustainable, but truly alive.

As Nick poignantly states, drawing inspiration from astronauts viewing Earth from space, we need a perspective shift - one that sees our urban environments as living, breathing ecosystems where humans and nature coexist in harmony.

The future of our cities depends on our willingness to embrace this vision. Are we ready to transform?

Visit https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcasts-journal-of-biophilic-design and search for this podcast to view over 30 references and links.

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In the battle against climate change, few sectors are as critical—and challenging—as construction. Simon Corbey, CEO of the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products, is leading a quiet revolution that could transform how we think about the buildings we inhabit and the best bit, it embraces Biophilic Design. With a background spanning chartered surveying, international travel, and a deep commitment to environmental sustainability, Simon has become a pivotal figure in reimagining our built environment. His journey from working in a groundbreaking eco-resource centre to heading an organisation with 165 members reveals a passionate commitment to systemic change. The statistics Simon shares are sobering. Buildings account for 42% of global CO2 emissions, with just four common materials—cement, iron, steel, and aluminium—responsible for 15% of that total. Yet Simon is not merely a prophet of doom, but a beacon of practical solutions. "We know all the answers," he explains, "we just need to implement them." His organisation champions bio-based materials, natural insulation, and designs that prioritise both human and planetary health. Timber construction, for instance, can reduce embodied carbon by up to 50% compared to traditional methods. Simon's vision extends beyond materials. He advocates for buildings that are not just environmentally sustainable, but psychologically nurturing. Exposed timber, natural light, and carefully chosen materials can create spaces that actively improve human wellbeing, reducing stress and increasing productivity. The Alliance's work includes promoting radical transparency in construction. Their "Impact" project, for example, allows building users to trace materials back to their forest of origin, connecting consumers with the ecological story behind their built environment. Critically, Simon understands that change requires both innovation and pragmatism. The organisation works closely with forward-thinking clients like the Department of Education, which is now setting embodied carbon targets for new schools. The approach is refreshingly holistic. "We're not just talking about reducing carbon," he says, "we're talking about creating healthier, more connected communities." Community hop-growing schemes, collaborative design, and a focus on local, sustainable materials are all part of his broader vision. The challenges are significant. The construction industry remains notoriously resistant to change, with short-term economic considerations often trumping long-term sustainability. Yet Simon remains optimistic, pointing to growing awareness and legislative changes like the EU's new deforestation regulations. Simon's magic brush would paint a world of bio-based buildings, comfortable temperatures, low energy bills, and strong community connections. It's a vision that feels both radical and eminently sensible. For those feeling overwhelmed by climate crisis narratives, Simon offers hope: the solutions exist. We simply need the collective will to implement them. The future of construction is not about building more, but building better and thinking with a Biophilic Design mindset can really help us all make better decisions which won’t negatively impact people and planet but rather uplift, heal and regenerate life. https://asbp.org.uk/team/simon-corbey If you like this, please subscribe! Please register for our newsletter on our website https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcasts-journal-of-biophilic-design Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts. Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds? Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Twitter https://twitter.com/JofBiophilicDsn LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/journalofbiophilicdesign

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In a quiet laboratory in Manchester, a quiet revolution is brewing that could dramatically reshape the construction industry's environmental impact. LAMDA, a groundbreaking wool insulation panel, promises to challenge the dominance of petrochemical-based building materials while offering a sustainable, health-conscious alternative.

Vicente Orts Mercadillo from Vector Homes and Ruth Marie Mackrodt of Wool Insulation Wales are pioneering a material that does far more than simply keep buildings warm. Their innovation tackles multiple environmental and health challenges simultaneously.

"Construction is responsible for around 40% of global carbon emissions," explains Ruth, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. In the UK alone, 9% of the national carbon footprint comes from manufacturing construction materials.

The LAMDA panel's credentials are impressive. Made from Welsh mountain sheep wool, it's fire-retardant, sound-absorbing, breathable, and capable of neutralising volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Perhaps most crucially, it's fully circular - at the end of its life, the panel can be recycled to create new insulation.

Currently, between 70-90% of Europe's wool clip is buried in the ground annually - a shocking waste of a potentially revolutionary material. Vicente, a material scientist, describes wool as "a highly technical fibre" that nature has "bio-engineered" over thousands of years.

The panel's unique structure comes from wool's inherent properties. Its crimped fibres trap air pockets, providing exceptional insulation. The fibres' scaled exterior allows them to tangle, creating a network that breathes while maintaining thermal efficiency.

Critically, LAMDA addresses a significant health concern. A recent study suggested that around 4,000 childhood asthma cases in the UK are caused annually by formaldehyde inhalation from construction materials. LAMDA not only avoids using formaldehyde but can actually absorb such harmful chemicals from indoor environments.

The current insulation market is dominated by energy-intensive mineral wools and petrochemical foams. In the UK, less than 0.1% of insulation is bio-based - a statistic the LAMDA team is determined to change.

"Change doesn't have to come from the top," Ruth emphasises. "It can come from the bottom, with lots of people making the right choices."

The team is actively seeking collaboration with architects, designers, and investors. Their vision extends beyond the UK, with potential for global replication using local wool resources.

As the world grapples with climate crisis, LAMDA represents more than just an insulation product. It's a potential blueprint for reimagining how we construct our built environment - prioritising human and planetary health.

Vicente dreams of a design approach that reconnects people with local materials and their surrounding environment. Ruth advocates for a longer-term perspective that considers environmental and health costs beyond immediate economic gains.

LAMDA might just be the wonder that helps us build a more sustainable future - one panel at a time.

www.wulltechnologies.com

https://www.vectorhomes.co.uk

https://web-eur.cvent.com/event/6f895721-0d82-42d2-874b-3419d89f6ed8/summary

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Julian Treasure gives us a stark warning emerges about humanity's growing disconnection from the natural world - and it's happening through our ears.

Julian, renowned for his TED talks, reveals how modern human-generated noise is systematically destroying ecosystems, disrupting animal communication, and fundamentally altering our relationship with the environment. From whales struggling to communicate across oceans due to shipping noise to insects experiencing shortened mating cycles near roadways, the acoustic pollution is devastating.

"We've become numb to sound," Julian explains. Humans now spend 93% of their lives indoors, sealed away from natural soundscapes of wind, water, and birdsong - sounds our ancestors evolved alongside for hundreds of thousands of years.

The consequences extend far beyond environmental damage. Our inability to truly listen is fracturing human society. Julian argues that we've lost the art of compassionate listening, creating dangerous social echo chambers where people only hear opinions that confirm their existing beliefs.

Critically, our noise-saturated world is causing serious health problems. Julian highlights that hospitals are 12 times louder than recommended levels, preventing patient recovery. Classrooms bombard children with sound levels that could increase heart attack risks. A billion young people risk hearing damage from excessive headphone use.

But there's hope. Julian advocates for radical reimagining of our sonic environments. Simple interventions like playing nature sounds, training medical staff to be quieter, and teaching children listening skills could transform societal outcomes.

His upcoming book "Sound Effects" and new online community "The Listening Society" aim to reconnect people with the wonder of sound. He suggests everyone should ask: "What beautiful, natural sounds could improve my living space?"

The solution, he believes, lies in embracing biophilia - designing every space with life's wellbeing in mind. Whether in healthcare, education, or urban planning, we must consider sound's impact.

Julian's most profound message is simple: listening is an act of respect - to nature, to each other, and to ourselves. In a world increasingly characterized by shouting and division, truly hearing one another might be our most powerful tool for understanding.

As he poignantly notes, "The sound of democracy is listening." By rediscovering our acoustic sensitivity, we might just heal our fractured planet - one sound wave at a time.

Become a member of The Listening Society which opens its doors on 1st May here: https://listen.thelisteningsociety.community/1mth Sign up to their free newsletter to learn more too.

Listen to our previous podcast with Julian https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcast-journal-of-biophilic-design/the-power-of-sound

For more information on Julian and his work and details of his new book visit https://www.juliantreasure.com

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Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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In the urgent battle against climate change, an unexpected hero is emerging: biophilic design. Far more than a trendy architectural concept, it represents a radical reimagining of how we interact with our built environment. We speak with Tom Dolan, a senior research fellow at UCL and leading voice in sustainable infrastructure.

"We're not just adding plants to buildings," Tom explains. "We're talking about a complete transformation of how we design our cities, infrastructure, and living spaces." This approach goes beyond mere aesthetics, offering a comprehensive solution to some of our most pressing environmental challenges.

At its core, biophilic design recognizes that humans are intrinsically connected to natural systems. It's an approach that sees buildings and urban spaces not as isolated structures, but as living, breathing ecosystems that can actively contribute to environmental healing.

Take water management, for instance. Traditional urban design channels water away as quickly as possible, creating flood risks and environmental stress. Biophilic design reimagines this, using green infrastructure to slow water movement, improve quality, and create multifunctional urban spaces. "We can capture water, slow its movement through urban landscapes, and create spaces that are both functional and beautiful," Tom argues.

The potential impacts are profound. Buildings designed with biophilic principles could become self-regulating systems that require minimal external energy for heating and cooling. Imagine schools and hospitals where the building itself becomes a learning tool – demonstrating how architecture can work in harmony with natural systems.

This isn't just environmental idealism. There's a compelling economic argument too. Drawing on the "donut economics" framework, Tom highlights how biophilic design can create multiple value streams. A single tree, for example, provides services that would cost thousands to replicate artificially – from air purification to carbon sequestration, from temperature regulation to mental health benefits.

The climate emergency demands more than incremental changes. As Tom puts it, it's a "wicked problem" requiring a transformative approach. Biophilic design offers a holistic solution, addressing not just carbon emissions, but broader issues of resilience, well-being, and sustainable development.

Real-world examples are emerging. Urban regeneration projects are increasingly incorporating green infrastructure, while innovative designers are creating buildings that blur the lines between built and natural environments. The cloud gardener in Manchester, who transformed a high-rise balcony into a thriving ecosystem, demonstrates the potential for individual action.

Yet challenges remain. Despite growing evidence of its benefits, biophilic design still struggles for mainstream acceptance. "We need to change mindsets," Tom insists. This means reimagining success metrics beyond simple economic growth and recognizing the true value of natural systems.

As we face escalating climate challenges, biophilic design offers more than hope – it offers a practical, beautiful solution. It's an approach that doesn't just mitigate environmental damage, but actively creates regenerative, life-supporting spaces.

The future is green, interconnected, and full of possibility. And it starts with how we choose to design our world.

Here are links to things he mentioned in the podcast

Tom Dolan, 2024, “Systemic Perspective on the Climate Emergency, National Infrastructure Transformation and Opportunities for Biophilic Design” Journal of Biophilic Design, Issue 12. Digital viewPrinted versionhttps://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/shop/journal-of-biophilic-design-issue-12-retail-printed-copy-of-the-journal

Systemic Perspectives on National Infrastructure for a Sustainable, Resilient Net Zero Future

https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2021.752765

Thought Leadership Articles from COP

COP28 and The First Global Stocktake: Personal Reflections on an Affirmational, Inspirational and Disappointing Experience and an Opportunity Missed

https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10186998/7/UKCRIC%20Connected%20-%20COP%2028%20First%20gloabl%20stocktake%20DOI%20A4.pdf

Insight: COP26 - Inspirational Heartbreak: Personal reflection on an inspirational, holistic and uplifting event with an underwhelming outcome

https://www.ukcric.com/outputs/insight-cop26-inspirational-heartbreak/

Insight: Personal reflection on COP27 – Where do we go from here?

https://www.ukcric.com/outputs/insight-personal-reflection-on-cop27-where-do-we-go-from-here/

An Article from Politics Home (with Joanne Leach)

https://library.myebook.com/thehouse/greening-the-nation/4495/#page/20

UKCRIC Homepage https://www.ukcric.com/

UKCRIC National Green Infrastructure Facility

https://www.ukcric.com/how-we-can-help/facilities/national-green-infrastructure-facility/

Climate Positive Design – Pamela Conrad’s work https://climatepositivedesign.org/education

ASLA Case Studies https://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/index.html

Doughnut Economics https://doughnuteconomics.org/about-doughnut-economics

Donella Meadows Thinking in Systems

https://research.fit.edu/media/site-specific/researchfitedu/coast-climate-adaptation-library/climate-communications/psychology-amp-behavior/Meadows-2008.-Thinking-in-Systems.pdf

The Cloud Gardener https://cloudgardeneruk.co.uk/

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Catching up with some designers leading the way for workplace transformation at the Workspace Design Show in February this year, we learnt that there are more and more designers championing biophilic design as more than just a trend—it's a critical response to human well-being and environmental sustainability.

Gurvinder Khurana from M Moser Associates cuts to the heart of the matter: "We are over 70% water, and [nature] resonates with us." This sentiment echoes throughout the conversation, revealing biophilic design as a profound connection between human experience and natural environments.

The designers unanimously agree that workspaces are no longer just functional spaces, but essential ecosystems that directly impact mental health and productivity. Nikos Papapetrou from Sheppard Robson provocatively argues that sustainability isn't just about materials, but "how you make people feel."

Kael Gillam, Senior Associate for Hoare Lea, and a lighting designer, offers a radical perspective: her job is essentially to compel people outdoors. "I want you to go out at lunch. I want you to wake up in the morning and open your blinds," she explains, emphasizing that true design should reconnect humans with natural rhythms.

Emma Douglas from Ryder Interiors highlights the nuanced approach, noting that biophilic design isn't just about adding plants, but creating "smooth forms" and calm environments that inherently make people feel better.

The most compelling narrative emerges around workplace evolution. As Martina Bazzoni, also of M Moser Associates, passionately states, good design is about "investigating how people feel in the space" and creating environments where employees don't want to leave their company.

Ashton Holmes from Peldon Rose shares a delightful anecdote about designing a client’s bathroom with a moss "jungle" ceiling and a disco ball—proving that biophilic design can be both functional and playfully innovative.

The designers unanimously view their work as a critical intervention. As Govinder succinctly puts it, "If you want to be a profitable business, you need to invest in your people and the space they're in."

The interview reveals biophilic design as an holistic approach addressing mental health, sustainability, and human-centric workplace experiences. It's not just about aesthetics, but about creating spaces that nurture, inspire, and reconnect humans with the natural world.

In an era of increasing disconnection, these designers are painting a hopeful picture—quite literally. When asked what they'd do with a "magic paintbrush," their responses ranged from reforesting the Amazon to recreating community spaces and designing immersive, nature-integrated environments.

As workplaces continue to evolve post-pandemic, this conversation suggests a profound shift: design is no longer about creating spaces, but about crafting experiences that fundamentally support human potential.

The future of work, it seems, is green, thoughtful, and wonderfully alive.

For more information on Workspace Design Show, visit https://workspaceshow.co.uk

Maybe we’ll see you at their Amsterdam show? https://workspaceshow.nl

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In a world increasingly dominated by sterile, lifeless buildings, one architect is on a mission to reawaken our innate connection to the natural world. Amanda, CEO of the Biomimicry Institute, is a passionate advocate for biophilic design - the practice of incorporating elements of nature into the built environment to enhance human health, wellbeing and productivity.

"Many of our buildings today are like barren tombs, where people's souls and creativity go to die," Amanda laments. Her own experiences working in windowless offices, devoid of natural light, fresh air and sensory stimuli, left her feeling disconnected and uninspired. This personal frustration fuelled her determination to transform the way we design the spaces we inhabit.

Amanda's journey began with her childhood in a small English village, where she spent endless hours immersed in the outdoors. Travelling through Australia and Southeast Asia as a young adult further opened her eyes to the profound relationship between architecture, culture and the natural environment. "I saw buildings that were so in tune with the climate, responding to it in a way I'd never witnessed before," she recalls.

This epiphany set Amanda on a path to redefine the role of the architect, moving away from the "hero on a horse" mentality of individual, ego-driven design towards a more holistic, place-based approach.

Biophilic design, she believes, is not about simply adding a few plants or water features to a building, but rather deeply understanding the unique ecology, climate and community of a site, and weaving those elements seamlessly into the fabric of the structure.

Amanda points to the humble termite mound as a prime example of biomimicry in action - traditional architecture that mimics the natural ventilation systems of these industrious insects. "It's the same principle we see in biophilic design, creating buildings that are climatically responsible and connected to place," she explains. The benefits of this approach are well-documented.

Studies have shown that access to natural light, views of greenery and sensory connections to the outdoors can significantly improve health outcomes, productivity and learning. Yet, Amanda laments, the majority of our schools, hospitals and workplaces remain stubbornly disconnected from the natural world. "We've created this separation between humans and nature, which has allowed us to destroy ecosystems and indigenous cultures without remorse," she says. "Now, we need a revolution in the way we design and think about the built environment."

Amanda envisions a future where forests and green spaces reclaim the urban landscape, where buildings are designed to support not just human inhabitants, but all living systems. It's an ambitious vision, but one she believes is essential if we are to address the pressing challenges of our time, from climate change to biodiversity loss. "We have the knowledge and the tools to create buildings that are truly in harmony with nature," Amanda says. "What we need now is the collective will to make it happen."

Amanda has an unwavering passion and a lifetime of experience in the field, and encourages us all to create a biophilic, biomimetic future, one that reconnects us to the natural world and, in doing so, restores our own sense of purpose and belonging.

https://amandasturgeon.com.au

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In the heart of London, a quiet revolution is underway, one that is set to transform the way we experience our urban environments. At the forefront of this movement is Scott Carroll and LDA Design, landscape architects whose visionary projects are redefining the relationship between people and nature.

Their work at Great Ormond Street Hospital, a renowned children's medical facility, is a prime example of how biophilic design can heal the wounds of the built environment.

"Great Ormond Street Hospital, in common with many of London's hospitals, faces massive challenges in the streets and spaces around it," Scott explains. "It's a vehicle-dominated environment, lacking in high-quality space for people and nature." The consequences are dire, with air pollution levels exceeding World Health Organization recommendations and a severe shortage of green spaces for the hospital community and local residents.

But Scott and his team have a bold vision. By reclaiming vehicle space and introducing a rich, curated planted environment, they aim to create the UK's first "healthy hospital street." This pioneering approach will not only reduce harmful emissions but also provide a sensory oasis for patients, staff, and visitors alike.

"We're applying biophilic design through patterns and design opportunities," Scott says. "The first layer is about creating prospect and refuge, exploration, and discovery. The second is about introducing natural sensory content, primarily through a carefully curated planted environment."

The transformative impact of this project is not lost on Scott. "When you think about the impact we have and the people that we reach, this is such a fantastic opportunity to put biophilic benefits and outcomes right at the heart of people's experience," he says.

But Great Ormond Street is just one piece of Scott's ambitious portfolio. Across the city, at the East Bank Stratford Waterfront development, they are leading the design of a new cultural and educational district that seamlessly blends people, culture, and nature.

"It's a really unique blend," Scott enthuses. "You'll see groups of school children sat on the terraces, working like an outdoor classroom, learning about the park and the environment. And then you'll have the first event that Sadler's Wells put on, with hip-hop dancers on the same terraces."

As the project slowly unfolds, Scott finds himself increasingly inspired by the transformative power of biophilic design. "Every time I go there, there's something new that I see that I just find inspirational," he says.

In a world increasingly dominated by concrete and steel, Scott's work stands as a testament to the healing power of nature. By weaving biophilic principles into the fabric of our cities, he is not only improving physical and mental well-being but also fostering a deeper connection between people and the natural world.

https://www.lda-design.co.uk

Great Ormond Street Hospital and LDA Design, Reimagining Great Ormond Street won the award for Health and Place at the Thornton Education Trust Inspire Future Generations Awards https://www.thorntoneducationtrust.org/ifgawards2024winnersandcommendations

Have you got a copy of the Journal? You can now subscribe and become a member of our Biophilic Design Network or purchase a copy directly from us at the journalofbiophilicdesign.com or Amazon. If you like our podcast and would like to support us in some way, you can buy us a coffee if you’d like to, thank you x

Did you miss the Biophilic Design Conference? Did you know you can buy a catch up ticket here and watch anytime you like on demand? www.biophilicdesignconference.com

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In a world increasingly dominated by artificial environments, the importance of reconnecting with nature has never been more crucial. Xander Cadisch, head of the independent research arm Light Tribe of Phos, is on a mission to illuminate the science behind biophilic design and its profound impact on human behaviour. He explores the electromagnetic spectrum explaining how light is part of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, which includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, and ultraviolet. - As you move from red to violet in the visible light spectrum, the wavelength gets shorter and the frequency increases. He goes on to share WHY this is important to us when we design spaces.

Xander explains how we emerged out of the sea and how our eyes still carry those salt water ducts which are reminders of where we evolved from. He goes on to explain the evolutionary journey that has hardwired our brains to respond to the natural rhythms of light and colour. "We've always had these intrinsic links to the rising and setting of the sun and all these different colour variations and intensities and wavelengths that the sun gives us at night, at daytime, and then removed at night."

However, the modern human now spends a staggering 90% of their time indoors, deprived of this vital connection. "It's less than the legal requirement for maximum security prisoners," he says. This disconnect has profound consequences, as our eyes and brains are wired to thrive on the sensory experiences found in the natural world.

"Light is one of the main guiding forces to the world around us," he says. "Potentially 80% of how we interact with the world around us comes from what we see." From the way certain wavelengths can influence our mood and productivity, to the importance of shadows and contrast in creating a sense of harmony, the science behind lighting design is complex and often overlooked.

He cites the example of a study in Sacramento, where simply turning employees' desks to face a window tripled their productivity, with the business making an additional $3,000 per employee.

The solution, he believes, lies in embracing the principles of biophilic design - not just adding plants, but carefully considering texture, colour, and the interplay of light and shadow.

By reintroducing the "organized chaos" of nature into our built environments, he argues, we can unlock the full potential of our senses and improve our health, wellbeing, and productivity. It's a vision that could transform the way we design the spaces we inhabit, one wavelength at a time.

www.phos.co.uk

Did you miss the Biophilic Design Conference? Did you know you can buy a catch up ticket here and watch anytime you like on demand? www.biophilicdesignconference.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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We recently published Issue 11 https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/journal-of-biophilic-design-1 of the Journal of Biophilic Design which had a focus on Hotels and leisure and to celebrate this, we are thrilled to have Louis Thompson, Founder of Nomadic Resorts with us on this podcast.

Nomadic Resorts were one of the finalists in the 2023 Stephen Kellert Biophilic Design award. We were delighted to partner with Living Future Europe to co-publish the book of winners and shortlisted entries of the 2023 Stephen Kellert Biophilic Design Award.

In a world increasingly dominated by concrete and steel, one man is on a mission to rekindle our innate connection with the natural world. Louis, founder of Nomadic Resorts, is pioneering a revolutionary approach to architecture that seamlessly blends human habitats with the surrounding environment.

Louis' journey began not in the halls of design schools, but in the remote corners of the Indian Ocean. After studying European politics, he found himself drawn to the hospitality industry, honing his skills at the luxury resort operator Six Senses. It was here that he discovered his true calling – to create spaces that not only cater to the needs of guests, but also nurture their well-being and foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

"I've always believed in that inherent human need to interact with the natural environment," Louis explains. "The principles of biophilic design and biomimicry have been at the core of our work from the very beginning."

This philosophy has manifested in a series of breathtaking projects that have earned Nomadic Resorts international acclaim. The Playa Viva Bamboo Tree Houses in Mexico, a finalist for the 2023 Stephen Kellert Biophilic Design Award, exemplifies this approach. Perched atop a remote Pacific coast beach, the structures are designed to immerse guests in the sights, sounds, and scents of their surroundings.

"Our client had a very clear vision," Louis recalls. "He didn't want air conditioning – he wanted people to truly feel their environment, to smell the salt air and hear the crashing waves."

Leveraging the natural airflow and the insulating properties of bamboo, the team created a series of lightweight, permeable structures that seamlessly integrate with the landscape. Elevated on coconut tree trunks and sheltered by a parabolic roof, the tree houses offer a sense of refuge and privacy while maintaining a deep connection to the outdoors.

"It wasn't just a question of biomimicry," Louis explains. "We wanted to create a biophilic experience that would evoke specific emotions and feelings in the guests – a sense of being hidden away, yet able to take in the breathtaking vistas around them."

The project's success has been a testament to Louis' belief that the technologies we use to facilitate our lives can often be detrimental to our innate connection with nature. By embracing the genius loci, or "spirit of the place," Nomadic Resorts has crafted experiences that challenge the notion of traditional hospitality.

"Living in air-conditioned boxes and going from one space to another through the car-filled world, I think it has divorced people from their environment. Giving people the opportunity to have an authentic connection to the natural environment is a true luxury now."

This sentiment is echoed in the company's other projects, such as the tree-top dining experience in Thailand, where guests are hoisted into the canopy of an old-growth forest on a custom-designed, cable-suspended platform. The attention to detail, from the use of traditional building techniques to the integration of local craftspeople, has imbued each creation with a distinct sense of place.

"We've had the great fortune of working with incredibly skilled people with fantastic ideas who have really contributed very significantly to the projects we've been involved in. It's a two-way exchange, where we're learning from them, and they're learning from us."

As the company expands its portfolio of biophilic designs, Louis is also exploring new frontiers, such as the development of eco-villages and modular tent structures that can be deployed in remote locations. The goal is to create self-sustaining communities that allow people to reconnect with the natural world, not just during a vacation, but as a way of life.

In an age of increasing environmental challenges and mental health crises, Louis' vision for a more harmonious future offers a glimmer of hope. By designing with nature, not against it, Nomadic Resorts is leading the charge in a revolution that could transform the way we live, work, and thrive on this planet,

https://nomadicresorts.com

View issue 11 Hotels to read more about Louis and Nomadic Resorts inspiring designs: https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/journal-of-biophilic-design-1

https://www.living-future.eu/publications/

Or you can get a copy from our website https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/shop/stephen-kellert-design-award-2023

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In an age where the modern workplace is rapidly evolving, a growing chorus of designers and workplace strategists are championing a radical new approach - one that reconnects us with the natural world. At the heart of this movement is the principle of biophilic design, which seeks to infuse our built environments with the rejuvenating power of nature.

We speak with Collin Burry, design director at global architecture firm Gensler and Allison English, co-founder of workplace experience consultancy Aéto Strategy, who are both speaking at the Workspace Design Show in London on 26-27th February 2024. https://workspaceshow.co.uk

"We are sensory beings," explains Collin Burry, design director at global architecture firm Gensler. "Designing for the full range of human senses - sight, sound, touch - is crucial if we want to create spaces that truly nourish and inspire people." Collin, who has transformed the interiors of iconic brands like Apple and Dolby, believes the workplace of the future must move beyond bare functionality to address our deep-seated need for connection with the natural world.

Allison English, co-founder of workplace experience consultancy Atos Strategy, agrees. "Sometimes we forget that we, as humans, are not designed to be sitting at desks staring at screens all day," she reflects. "We evolved to be in nature, to thrive in environments that stimulate all our senses." Allison's work has shown how biophilic design - from verdant living walls to soothing natural soundscapes - can have a profound impact on employee wellbeing and productivity. The benefits are backed by a growing body of research. Studies have found that exposure to natural elements can lower stress levels, boost cognitive function and even reduce absenteeism.

To find out more about both Collin and Allison’s practices, visit

https://www.gensler.com/people/collin-burry

https://www.linkedin.com/company/aéto-strategy/

To meet them in person register and come to the Workspace Design Show in London on 26-27th February 2024. https://workspaceshow.co.uk. Hope to see you there!

"We are sensory beings," explains Collin. "Designing for the full range of human senses - sight, sound, touch - is crucial if we want to create spaces that truly nourish and inspire people." Collin, who has transformed the interiors of iconic brands like Apple and Dolby, believes the workplace of the future must move beyond bare functionality to address our deep-seated need for connection with the natural world.

Allison agrees. "Sometimes we forget that we, as humans, are not designed to be sitting at desks staring at screens all day," she reflects. "We evolved to be in nature, to thrive in environments that stimulate all our senses." Allison's work has shown how biophilic design - from verdant living walls to soothing natural soundscapes - can have a profound impact on employee wellbeing and productivity. The benefits are backed by a growing body of research. Studies have found that exposure to natural elements can lower stress levels, boost cognitive function and even reduce absenteeism.

"It's about creating spaces that make people feel cared for," says Collin. "When you walk into a workplace that's infused with natural materials, textures and greenery, it communicates the organisation's values in a powerful way." Yet, as both Collin and Allison acknowledge, driving this shift requires overcoming entrenched mindsets. "For too long, workplace design has been driven by the bottom line, not the human experience," laments Bury. "We need to get past this idea that sustainability and wellbeing are at odds with good design."

Encouragingly, pioneering companies are leading the way. Allison cites the example of Standard Chartered Bank, which has used data-driven insights to create "the world's healthiest building" - complete with vertical farms, outdoor terraces and carefully curated natural elements. As we emerge from the upheaval of the pandemic, the designers believe this biophilic revolution is just getting started. "This is about reconnecting with our roots, with what it means to be human," says Collin. "The workplaces of the future won't just be efficient - they'll be truly life-enhancing."

To find out more about both Collin and Allison’s practices, visit

https://www.gensler.com/people/collin-burry

https://www.linkedin.com/company/aéto-strategy/

To meet them in person register and come to the Workspace Design Show in London on 26-27th February 2024. https://workspaceshow.co.uk. Hope to see you there!

https://workspaceshow.co.uk/speaker-allison-english

https://workspaceshow.co.uk/speaker-collin-burry

Did you miss the Biophilic Design Conference? Did you know you can buy a catch up ticket here and watch anytime you like on demand? www.biophilicdesignconference.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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Reconnecting with Nature: Charlotte's Biophilic Retreat Offers Healing and Wonder

In a secluded corner of the Welsh countryside, internationally renowned singer-songwriter Charlotte has created a sanctuary that blends the power of nature, music, and design. The Dreaming, her newly opened retreat centre, is a testament to her lifelong passion for the restorative qualities of the natural world.

Nestled in the Elan Valley, surrounded by cascading waterfalls and ancient forests, The Dreaming is a place where visitors are invited to shed the trappings of modern life and immerse themselves in the rhythms of the land.

Charlotte's journey to this point has been shaped by a growing awareness of the disconnect between humans and nature, a disconnect she believes is at the root of many of society's ills. "Nature keeps us in balance," she explains. "When we separate ourselves from it, we become way out of balance in every way possible."

At The Dreaming, Charlotte has created a space that aims to rekindle that essential connection. Through a blend of biophilic design, holistic practices, and the power of music, she hopes to guide visitors on a transformative journey of self-discovery and healing.

"It's about an opening," Charlotte says of the experiences people have at the retreat. "Almost everybody that comes here, experiences some form of opening, whatever the walls that we build around ourselves and our hearts, they just start to loosen a little bit."

The Dreaming's architectural design is a testament to this philosophy. Crafted with natural materials and a keen eye for integrating the outdoors, the spaces are imbued with a sense of warmth and wonder. From the cozy "Cwtch" room, with its plush sofa and rustic charm, to the mystical "Mystic" suite, with its vibrant saris and ancient-inspired decor, each space is designed to evoke a different facet of the natural world.

But it's not just the environment that captivates. The Dreaming's programs, led by Charlotte and a team of skilled practitioners, are designed to immerse visitors in the rhythms of nature. Dawn chanting, dark sky immersions, and communal music-making are just a few of the offerings that aim to reconnect people with their innate sense of wonder and creativity.

"I think that the land does the majority of the work," Charlotte says. "I feel like when people leave, they leave with a sense of awe, wonder, the mysteries, the magic."

For Charlotte, this magic is not limited to the confines of The Dreaming. She believes that the power of nature-based healing is accessible to everyone, no matter where they live. "You can go to a beach, you can go to a forest, you can go to a river, wherever you are most drawn."

The Dreaming, then, is not just a retreat centre, but a model for a new way of living in harmony with the natural world. By tapping into the deep well of wisdom and healing that resides in the land, Charlotte hopes to inspire a broader cultural shift, one that recognizes the vital role of nature in our individual and collective well-being.

"I've watched people really connect with joy for the first time in years," Charlotte says. "Another thing that I try and instil when I'm here is that this it doesn't have to be in this place, and it doesn't have to be facilitated by very clever, very learned, very spiritual people - you can go and do this wherever you are, wherever you are."

As the world grapples with the mounting challenges of climate change and social disconnection, The Dreaming stands as a beacon of hope, a place where the ancient wisdom of the land is honoured and the power of human creativity is unleashed. For those who venture here, the experience is nothing short of transformative – a reminder that the path to healing and wholeness lies not in the pursuit of material wealth or status, but in the simple act of reconnecting with the natural world that sustains us all.

Watch the Biophilic Design Conference on demand here www.biophilicdesignconference.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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In an age of increasing urbanisation and digital distractions, a growing movement is seeking to reestablish our innate connection with the natural world. At the forefront of this revolution is Martin Brown, a sustainability consultant and self-proclaimed "provocateur," who is challenging the way we design and inhabit our built environments.

Speaking with Vanessa Champion on The Journal of Biophilic Design Podcast, Martin recounts his own journey, one that has seen him transition from a career in project management to becoming a leading voice in the world of regenerative design. "I think biophilia, rather biophilic design, was that sort of gateway to try attract more people and gain attention," he explains, describing how simple biophilic elements, such as living walls and textured wood panelling, can have a profound impact on both the occupants and the bottom line.

But Martin's vision extends far beyond mere aesthetic improvements. He speaks passionately about the concept of "kinship," a deeper, more spiritual connection to the natural world that draws inspiration from indigenous philosophies. This shift in mindset is essential if we are to address the pressing environmental and social challenges of our time. He laments the "disconnect" he observes in modern society, where people are quick to marvel at the "pretty lights in the sky" but equally quick to discard their litter.

The solution, according to Martin, lies in reclaiming our time and space, both physically and mentally. "If you're too busy to spend 20 minutes in nature, you should be spending an hour," he advises, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and reconnection. It's a message that is resonating with a new generation of designers, architects, and urban planners, who are increasingly recognising the transformative power of biophilic design.

As the world grapples with the consequences of our disconnection from nature, the work of visionaries like Martin Brown offers a glimmer of hope. By reweaving the threads of our relationship with the natural world, they are paving the way for a more sustainable, resilient, and fulfilling future.

Listen to Martin Brown speak at the Biophilic Design Conference on 12th November. If you missed it you can still buy tickets to access the videos online from the website www.biophilicdesignconference.com

To find out more about all the links Martin mentioned visit:

https://linktr.ee/martin_brown

https://www.living-future.eu/lfa/martin-brown/

https://www.living-future.eu

https://fairsnape.substack.com

Book tickets to the Biophilic Design Conference here www.biophilicdesignconference.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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Lyn Falk is founder and president of Retailworks, Inc. – an award-winning branding, design, display and consulting firm specializing in retail, corporate, and hospitality spaces. She has devoted over 35 years to teaching and helping retailers and business professionals build healthy, purposeful and productive spaces that move hearts, minds & merchandise.

Her expertise in retail design, business, science, consumer behaviour and environmental psychology has helped her develop designs that not only meet but often exceed her client’s projected goals/sales.

Lyn is a passionate advocate of biophilic design. From her perspective, it is important all the time, humans are part of nature and need to reconnect with the environment rather than living in a built environment that pulls us away from nature. Early in her career she was really keen on healthy design, sustainable design and eco-friendly design and took an early interest in Biomimicry and Biophilia.

In this podcast, Lyn describes herself as a long-term preacher and educator in the sphere of biophilic design. To her, "Everything is energy, even this brick building I'm in is made from molecules and atoms and energy,", and different materials like glass, wood, and brick vibrate differently, affecting our senses and well-being. She emphasizes the importance of natural materials like wood, which have not undergone extensive processing and retain their original energy. Her designs always include the immediate benefits of incorporating natural elements like plants, natural light, and fresh air into design and as many other elements the brief allows.

Lyn's design philosophy is rooted in the understanding that we are fundamentally part of nature, not separate from it. "We cannot exist without abiding by the laws of nature," she says. "We've perhaps been forced into built environments that pull that out of the environment, but we're now seeing the results of that." Those results, according to Lyn, are all too apparent in the retail and hospitality sectors, where a focus on maximizing profits has often come at the expense of human needs.

Lyn believes that by reintegrating nature into our built spaces through elements like natural light, plants, and natural materials, we can not only improve the customer experience, but also the wellbeing of employees. "I always say if I had to work in a cubicle, just shoot me," she laughs. “We are living nature, and we've been put in buildings that are static and not necessarily living, breathing buildings.”

The key, Lyn argues, is understanding how our senses and subconscious respond to different environmental cues. For instance you can increase dwell time by having your customers listen “to the right genre of music for your target market and for the product that you're selling and your brand the right genre of music at the right volume and the right aroma, people think they were only in your store for a shorter period of time than they actually were."

Ultimately, Lyn's vision for a future painted with the “Magic Brush of Biophilia” is one where biophilic design is the norm, not the exception. "Lush green and beautiful, clear blue. It's greens and blues, but all different shades, and just the depths of the green is amazing and enveloping. And the clear, deep, different coloured shades of blue that make you be able to breathe and see and there’s clarity."

As the world grapples with the consequences of our disconnection from nature, Lyn's advocacy and insight in this podcast serves as a powerful reminder that the solutions may be found in reconnecting with the very essence of what makes us human.

www.retailworksinc.com

Book tickets to the Biophilic Design Conference here www.biophilicdesignconference.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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Talina Edwards, founder of the award-winning architecture firm Envirotecture, shares her passion for sustainable, biophilic design that reconnects people with the natural world.

Based in Ballarat, Victoria, Talina and her team are at the forefront of a movement to transform the way homes and buildings are constructed in Australia. "We really care about health, we really care about people, and we really care about the planet, because we want a healthy, thriving future for the future generations," Talina explains. This ethos underpins Envirotecture's work, which spans certified PassivHaus projects, off-grid homes, and advocacy for more environmentally-conscious building practices.

One of Talina's standout projects is the "Huff and Puff" house, a straw bale home that also achieved PassivHaus certification. "We wanted it to be very healthy. The clients were very keen on using straw because of being so connected to the land there. So that drove the whole project," she said. The home's thick straw walls, combined with careful solar orientation and triple-glazed windows, allowed it to meet the rigorous PassivHaus standard while still maintaining a strong connection to its natural surroundings.

This connection to place is a crucial element of biophilic design, which Talina sees as essential for shifting societal mindsets around sustainability.

Talina believes that biophilic principles can have a profound impact. “If we remember our true wild nature and our connection to spirit of place, it changes your outlook and everything." This sentiment is echoed in the design of Envirotecture's "Biophilic Bungalow" project, which involves the sensitive renovation and expansion of the existing California-style home.

By incorporating elements like a central courtyard, a reflection pond, and carefully curated natural materials, they are creating a space that nurtures its occupants' connection to the surrounding landscape.

With projects that seamlessly blend sustainability, health, and biophilic design, Talina and Envirotecture are leading the charge towards a more harmonious, nature-centric future for the built environment in Australia and beyond.

Book tickets to the Biophilic Design Conference here www.biophilicdesignconference.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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In a world increasingly disconnected from nature, the principles of biophilic design offer a powerful antidote.

Chintamani Bird, an Australian designer committed to biophilic design, shared her insights on how Biophilic Design can heal both people and the planet. She emphasizes that biophilic design has a profound impact on the brain, reducing stress, improving cognitive function, activating the parasympathetic nervous system, and enhancing overall mood and well-being.

As the Journal of Biophilic Design expands to Australia in 2025, this is the first in a series of interviews with leading names in Biophilic Designers from that side of the globe and who champion the transformative potential of this design philosophy.

At the heart of Biophilic Design is the recognition that humans have an innate need to connect with the natural world. "Biophilic design has the opportunity to heal and heal through biodiversity, heal the soil, heal the environment, heal communities," Chintamani emphasized.

When we put people in an environment like a modern open plan office with sensory deprivation, with white walls and square functional modular furniture for instance, we're actually really giving our people a beating. “It's very unkind and quite malicious," Chintamani explains. In contrast, environments infused with natural elements like fractals, water, and greenery can have a profound impact. Because the brain uses up an enormous amount of energy when engaged in any task, having those medium density fractals, allows for cognitive function to reduce as far as the effort it makes, and so helps us use the leftover energy to be more creative, to function, be more productive.

This extends beyond the individual to the collective. Chintamani envisions a world "where nature is honoured and treated as sacred, with an integral balance between nature, Earth, and humanity."

Biophilic design, she believes, can heal communities and ecosystems alike. The urgency of this approach is clear. "We're at a tipping point, we need to save our planet." With insects facing mass extinction, the time to act is now. Yet Chintamani's vision is not one of sacrifice, but of abundance. "Biophilic design has the opportunity to really do a lot of healing, not just for the environment, but also for people."

From healthcare settings to workplaces, the integration of natural elements can reduce stress, improve mental health, and foster a sense of connection. I am often saying that biophilic design sits above everything... it's a catch all design principle that embraces everything and this discussion with Chintamani highlights this in buckets!

By honouring our innate biophilia, our love of life, designers like Chintamani are reshaping the built environment to nurture both human and ecological wellbeing. In Chintamani's words, "we should actually imbue it with reverence and then be able to find an integral balance between nature, Earth and humanity."

This is the transformative power of biophilic design.

To find out more and follow Chintamani’s work visit:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557684881987

https://www.instagram.com/studio.chintamani/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chintamani-bird-lfa-b3a90662/

www.studiochintamani.com

Book tickets to the Biophilic Design Conference here.

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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How does a passion for biophilic design, which stems from a desire to improve an architect and designer’s own health, lead to the design of a major new healthcare building? For Steven Edge, founder of Salvage Sustainable Design, his personal interest in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) expanded into advocacy of Biophilic Design in buildings. We catch up with and discuss his recent project, commissioned by Manchester based architects AHR in 2017, where he acted as biophilic design consultant for their client the Royal College of Physicians’ new £35, million HQ in Liverpool. The Spine opened in the Spring of 2021 and with 109 out of a possible 110 WELL Credits, the highest of any (over 26,000) WELL certified buildings in the world, its set to become one of the healthiest buildings in the world.

Stephen is a biophilic design consultant, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, with over 40 years’ experience in academia and the design and construction industry. He shares his background, starting with work in architecture and interior design, and his growing interest in sustainability and healthy materials.

Talking about biophilic design principles used in The Spine, Steve describes how The Royal College of Physicians wanted to create a building that would make people feel healthier when they left it than when they entered; a brief that was fully met. Because it's a college as well as Office Spaces, they have young surgeons who would also be diagnosing real patients’ problems in this new building.

The design, led by architect Rob Hopkins, drew inspiration from the human body, with elements like the "skin" of the building and the "spine" staircase.

Steven describes how the team incorporated biophilic design principles to support health and wellbeing. This included maximizing natural daylight, providing views of nature, and incorporating lush indoor planting that was dubbed the "lungs" of the building. One of the things he mentions, is that trees give out a hormone that stimulates the vagus nerve in our brains. It calms us down, and so we are not only breathing that in but are also visually affected by the fact that we're in nature and walking under a tree canopy.

The design also features sensors to allow occupants to control their immediate environment and temperature. Taking an holistic approach it uses innovative materials such as a clay plaster that absorbs toxins from the air.

The team also looked at principles of biomimicry, taking cues from natural structures like bone to inform the building's columns. Interactive elements, like kinetic sculptures, were planned to encourage movement and play. Steven explains how lighting was a key consideration, with the team aiming to support circadian rhythms through strategic use of natural and artificial light. They consulted research on how lighting can impact productivity and mood throughout the day.

Beyond the immediate health benefits, Edge discusses the links between biophilic design and sustainability. The team explored circular economy principles, looking at designing for disassembly and the potential to lease lighting systems rather than own them outright. They also drew on NASA research to select plant species known for their air purifying properties.

The Spine is an amazing and inspirational project for any designer and architect. It demonstrates an holistic approach to biophilic design, integrating elements that support human health, wellbeing, and environmental sustainability.

Edge's passion for this approach shines through, as he envisions a future with more playful, interactive biophilic design elements woven into our cities and buildings.

For more information on Steve’s work visit: www.salvedge.co.uk

These are a couple of the extra references mentioned in the podcast:

https://www.squintopera.com/projects/floodedlondon/

https://www.studioroosegaarde.net/project/wind-3-0

and

https://www.studioroosegaarde.net/project/flow

Also Dr Vanessa Champion, will also be presenting at the Healthy Cities by Design Conference at The Spine on 15 and 16 October 2024 https://www.healthycitydesign.global

And Steve Edge will be presenting at the Biophilic Design Conference 12 November 2024 at the Barbican London (another Biophilic Space, we will also be in the Conservatory, the second largest after Kew Gardens). www.biophilicdesignconference.com

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"I love this term biophilia, because it's this, in a sense, it's a love of nature in a word, isn't it? And I had this beautiful description recently of what it actually means to love something or to love someone. In very plain terms, it means to include that person or that thing's interests as one's own." Jojo Mehta, Co-founder, Stop Ecocide International.

For me Biophilic Design has the potential to heal more than just physical and mental health of people, it has the potential to help heal our earth too. If we implemented Biophilic Design in cities for instance, we can help mitigate climate change, even just by planting more trees which is a Biophilic Design solution, we increase tree canopy cover, increase biodiversity, mitigate flooding. There are many more, from creating Blue cities with cleaner rivers and waterways to planting on roofs and sides of buildings helping reduce the need to switch on air conditioning units in the summer and heating in the winter, which in turn reduces energy consumption. Also, as interior designers we specify more natural materials, reducing plastic, are more considerate of what textiles are made of and originate from.

With our global temperature reaching a danger point, we need to do all we can as designers, architects, fit out managers and anyone who works in the built environment at any point.

Today we have got the amazing Jojo Mehta with us on the podcast. Jojo is CEO and co-founder of Stop Ecocide International (SEI), the hub of the global movement to create a new international crime of ecocide to protect the Earth from the worst acts of environmental damage, a movement that is gaining significant political traction. She co-founded SEI with the visionary lawyer, Polly Higgins, who died in 2019, having devoted the final decade of her life to the cause.

We explore and put into context just WHY we need to do more as designers, seize every opportunity we can to create better environments, not just for people, but for planet too and also how Biophilic Design is an essential part of the solution.

Jojo Mehta is the CEO and co-founder of Stop Ecocide International, the organization working to create a new international crime of "ecocide" to protect the environment from severe damage. The goal of ecocide law is to hold companies and governments accountable for the worst acts of environmental destruction, similar to how genocide and war crimes are treated as international crimes.

Jojo explains that ecocide law aims to shift the mindset around the environment, moving away from the perception of nature as an infinite resource to be exploited, towards a more holistic, interconnected view. By making severe environmental damage a crime, it would force decision-makers to consider the consequences of their actions on the natural world.

She sees ecocide law as a crucial tool to complement initiatives like biophilic design, which seeks to reconnect people with nature through the built environment.

Designers, architects, and others in the built environment sector have a vital role to play, not just in implementing biophilic principles, but in advocating for the legal frameworks that can drive systemic change.

Individuals can get involved by raising awareness of ecocide law in their personal and professional networks, encouraging its inclusion in policy discussions and industry publications. Jojo emphasizes the importance of building a broad conversation around the need for such legislation, as politicians are more likely to act when there is clear public support.

Ultimately, Jojo envisions a world where people and nature are deeply interconnected, with decisions made with the wellbeing of the natural world in mind.

She believes that by aligning our laws and cultural attitudes with this biophilic worldview, we can begin to heal the damage done and create a more sustainable future.

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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How can Biophilic Design be used to create happier and healthier environments? Ben Channon is an architect, author, TEDx speaker and mental wellbeing advocate, and is well known as a thought leader in designing for happiness and wellbeing. As a Director at the wellbeing design consultancy Ekkist, he helps clients and design teams to create healthier places, and researches how buildings and urban design can impact how we feel. He also offers talks on workplace mental health, productivity and company culture, sharing his philosophy that happier staff are better staff.

Ben developed an interest in design for mental health, wellbeing and happiness after suffering with anxiety problems in his mid-twenties. His search for solutions to his personal issues led to him unearthing lots of amazing research including in the realm of environmental psychology, which proved that the environment we spend time in has a huge impact on how we feel, think, behave and interact with other people. All this led him to research the relationship between buildings and happiness, which formed the basis of his first book: ‘Happy by Design’. Ben’s second book ‘The Happy Design Toolkit’ - which offers more practical advice on how to create buildings for our mental wellbeing (published in March 2022) which gives people the tools to implement the principles of Happy Design.

Ben makes it clear that progress towards Happy Design doesn’t have to be in big steps. He advocates using ‘nudge’ psychology; making small but significant changes that encourage healthier, happier behaviours, to add “little bits of joy” wherever we can, creating uplifting places and spaces that add elements of joy.

Biophilic Design is increasingly more widely embraced, but long-term thinking and better education are required for the benefits of a biophilic approach to be fully realised. Listening to this podcast is a fantastic way to start that journey as Ben’s advocacy of the benefits of biophilic design is clear and compelling.

As he says:

“ We have to live more in balance and in symbiosis with nature. We have to not see nature as something we can plunder and keep taking from, but actually something that we need to support, and that actually, if we support nature, nature will support us back. “

https://www.ekkist.co/designforwellbeing/

https://www.ekkist.co/healthyhomeschecklist/

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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Have you got a copy of the Journal? You can purchase a copy directly from us at the journalofbiophilicdesign.com or Amazon. If you like our podcast and would like to support us in some way, you can buy us a coffee if you’d like to, thank you x

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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There is strong evidence that strong green environments can improve educational outcomes as well as improving focus and concentration restoration levels, and for Nicholas Artherton, a chartered Landscape Architect and qualified Urban designer, Biophilic Design is a core tenet to create connections with natural elements and outdoor spaces through diversity, movement and multi-sensory interactions.

Nick is founder of Natural Dimensions, a multi-award-winning landscape architecture and urban design practice. For Nick, Biophilic Design is: “a way of incorporating into design a balance of ecological planning and planning for mental well-being and responding to systems which encourage human health.”

One of Nick’s most celebrated designs was for Merstham Park School where, Natural Dimensions were appointed to design extensive ground around a ground-breaking new pathfinder secondary school that is a template for low carbon technology and biophilic landscape principles.

From the entrance to the school and throughout the grounds, Natural Dimensions created a beautiful space with varied spaces incorporating many different habitats, spaces and an overall feeling of the school sitting within nature.

With a rich variety of planting, and so much thought gone into choosing a mix of species that change throughout the seasons, the school is nestled in a beautiful “hug” of colour, shapes and biodiversity. But not only is the landscape beautiful, with the deciduous trees, it maximises solar heating in winter and solar cooling in summer. Nick has also optimised the use and preservation of rainwater through some clever tech under the permeable pathways and planting areas which is then used for irrigation and recycling it for toilet flushing.

Nick shares his passion for increasing the awareness of Biophilic Design and believes it should be adopted as the de facto approach to design. In fact, he explains that he can't think of a better location into which to bring biophilic design than schools. With kids being super aware of environmental issues, Nick believes there is no better place for them to be really engaged in really well-designed schools, which represent those values for them, and encourage them to engage with environmental stewardship.

His view is that if you are advocating for responsible behaviour towards climate issues, and also mental well-being, it makes complete sense for schools to be the locations for that advocacy. He believes that they can act as community hubs because they are representatives of spaces where there is a focus for environmental stewardship, and that could reach out to the rest of the community.

Nick’s personal mission is to enable landscape architecture and urban design to be at the heart of development, with the many benefits it brings for all, including an increasingly important positive ecological impact. Natural Dimensions aims to help companies, organisations, communities and individuals reap the rewards of design in the form of landscape aesthetics and features, natural systems, environmental enhancement and the wellbeing of citizens.

With every design, new build, school refit or refurb we have a choice to make, and I think that Nick’s passion for creating well thought out, meaningful spaces and enlightened planning through the adoption of Biophilic Design prove that we can transform public sector design.

To find out more about Nicholas Atherton and his practice, Natural Dimensions, visit https://www.naturaldimensions.co.uk

Also come and see him speak at our conference www.biophilicdesignconference.com

Pick up a copy of his article in our EDUCATION issue of The Journal of Biophilic Design Ebook or lovely printed edition

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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Andrew Waugh is an architect with a passion for using sustainable materials in construction projects. His practice, Waugh Thistleton Architects, is a London based architectural practice producing thoughtful and sustainable projects both locally and internationally.

The practice is a world leader in engineered timber and pioneer in the field of tall timber buildings. Of particular renown is the Black & White building in London that has been short listed for a RIBA London Award in 2024. The build was described by RIBA journal as 'a major step forward for the development and construction industry’ and is the tallest engineered timber office building in central London.

In 2023, Waugh Thistleton were named Architect of the Year in AJ Architecture Awards 2023. The Architect's Journal recognised the practise for their long standing advocacy for timber saying that 'In the face of the climate crisis, Waugh Thistleton is a worthy winner for its ability to work within the constraints of very challenging policy yet create cutting-edge, sustainable architecture. Not only that, it is also prompting the whole industry to raise its game.’

In this podcast, Andrew explains the different types of engineered timber and how some have superior structural strength while others have the mass required to offer superior acoustic performance. The choice of materials, as he outlines, is determined by usefulness, cost and how they fit into an overall objective of using as few materials as possible.

Andrew’s passion for the use of sustainable materials shines through as he explains how the wood used is sourced from forests planted with biodiversity in mind. The forests are not monoculture forests, they are planted with FSC of PEFC licences, and the harvest used for producing construction materials is a long way short of the overall capacity of the forests to produce sustainable timber.

From a biophilic design perspective, Andew details some of the many health and well-being benefits of using wood in the built environment. The better acoustics, the hydroscopic nature of wood creating better air quality and the calming properties of sawn timber are among the benefits discussed. He also describes how the external wood design, creates Solar shading on the building which reduces energy use for heating and cooling by about a third.

Talking of the Black and White building, Andrew says:

“IIt is important for us to ensure that this move towards low carbon construction, low carbon architecture is not a peripheral occupation. It is not just for birdwatching centres, and National Trust museums, it has to be mainstream. The entire building, which was built for a commercial company, Blackstone, is above the ground floor slab made of timber. So, it's timber staircases, timber, lift shafts, timber beams, columns, floor slabs, external wall curtain walling is timber, and the external cladding is timber as well. A completely timber building. It was built very quickly in 83 weeks. So very fast construction. It was cost equivalent to concrete. We were obliged to track the cost of the building all the way to tender with the main contractor against a concrete equivalent building and we were able to demonstrate that it was cost equivalent.

So fast, inexpensive, and letting extremely well - the client’s very happy, which is really nice.”

Each piece of timber has a QR code, so it can be placed exactly into place. So it’s not only fast but also quiet and clean. Put that against the usual cement trucks and building site cacophony. In fact the whole building took only 70 deliveries

The overriding message from Andrew’s advocacy of sustainable building, using the example of the Black and White building, is that using these technologies and approaches is a positive advance in construction with myriad benefits. It is no longer necessary to wear a metaphorical hair shirt to build in a way that is sympathetic to the environment. Fast, quiet and quick construction of modern buildings filled with biophilic design is the route to happy owners and happy occupants.

To find out more about the projects visit: https://waughthistleton.com

To download the free ebook he mentioned, click here:

https://info.thinkwood.com/download/100-uk-clt-projects

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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Did you know for every £1 you spend on even simple Biophilic Design enhancements, you could get £2.70 back? So reveals the new research conducted by Joyce Chan Shoof Architect and Sustainability Lead at the UK Parliament.

Using a scientific approach with control environments, adding biophilic design elements to test the effect and then removing them to further test the effect of their absence, Joyce explains the rigorous approach she took over a seven-year period to arrive at her conclusion.

This is a phenomenal breakthrough for those of us working in Biophilic Design.

You can read the whole report here: https://plplabs.com/reap-what-you-sow-2/

And come and see Joyce present the research in person at Workplace Trends in London on the 18th April 2024 https://workplacetrends.co/events/wtrs24-prog/

We often have struggled trying to articulate the economic benefits of Biophilic Design, this research can be used to support arguments why businesses need it in the workplace.

Joyce has also developed a framework to help designers work out what we need and the impact it will have. Using existing frameworks, like the Flourish model (as advocated by Professor Derek Clements Croome) and others, she has woven a great new model we can all hang our designs on.

From a career as a practicing architect, Joyce explains that transferring to the client side within the Parliamentary Estate has been transformational in the way she sees building design from feasibility study through to construction. The change and the opportunity it gave her has inspired her to incorporate multidisciplinary approaches and to study the impact of taking a biophilic design on efficiency, productivity and well-being within the workplace.

Just like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, one interesting outcome that she highlights during the podcast, the study concludes that an immersive approach to incorporating Biophilic Design in the workplace is less effective overall than a more measured approach. But she explains that the immersive effect was preferred by people. The results showed that the moderate Biophilic Design intervention (that which we could normally advocate) seems to be the best.

Joyce sees academic rigour as an important part of her role when leading a complex development. Since 2017, she has been conducting this doctoral research with the Design School at Loughborough University, focused on Sustainable Well-being in the workplace with a particular interest in biophilic and social value. She is a keen advocate of how Architects can make positive impacts towards allowing people to live happier and healthier. Her team sits within the Design Authority who are a group of design professionals and specialists who are managing the estate in Westminster, and their objective is to inject new thinking into the adaptive use of new and heritage buildings within the Parliamentary Estate – a UNESCO site.

Parliament’s vision is amibitious; it aims to set an example to lead the early adoption of Zero Carbon (Scope 1, 2 & 3), Healthy Buildings, Social Value and Circular Economy through our own refurbishment projects and procurement. The team manages the design, construction and operations of the Parliamentary Estate of 20 buildings including the Palace of Westminster.

Joyce discusses her study of the economic benefits of incorporating a biophilic design approach to workspace and gives many insights into her approach and into how she found a way of attributing economic value to the benefits.

Her wish is that we reconnect with nature, the sources of food, the feeling of being part of nature rather than living lives that separate us from the natural world. She wishes that all of us benefit from an improved environment, and her research is a massive and welcome step in that direction.

To register for Workplace Trends and meet Joyce in person on the 18th of April 2024: https://workplacetrends.co/events/wtrs24-prog/

Reap What You Sow: What’s the value (£) of Biophilic Design? (14.40)
– Joyce Chan-Schoof (RIBA), PhD Research Researcher, Loughborough University and Sustainability Lead, UK Parliament

Given employees are the largest cost for a business, to what extent can biophilic design save companies money by ensuring that staff are healthier and happier at work? We explore these questions by delving into the monetary benefits of biophilic design. This presentation presents new ways to capture the tangible well-being and environmental values of connecting with nature in the workplace. This project is part of a doctoral research project at Loughborough University in collaboration with PLP Architects, Benholm and Reading University. Joyce’s research is funded by the Design Star (AHRC), and the BCO sponsored the pilot study.

Read more and follow up on the research:

https://plplabs.com/wearables-in-the-workplace/

https://www.bco.org.uk/Research/Publications/Use_of_Wearables_In_The_Office_-_A_review_and_examples_in_practice.aspx

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Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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https://plplabs.com/reap-what-you-sow-2/

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The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries and this fact is yet another reason we need more Biophilic Design included into urban planning, architecture, design, and every environmental facet of city and town life. Robert Delius, Associate Director, Architect and Head of Sustainability at Stride Treglown is doing just that. Aiming to maximise biodiversity through design, Robert has a passion to create an Eden, where buildings and landscapes come together and there's a feeling of abundance, where there's nature and birdsong and insect life and a powerful sense of well-being. Robert’s background in housing design and master planning has set him up in good stead to create good design and great places. Distinctiveness and place making are a thread through his career. He also has a particular interest in regenerative design and how great design can have a measurably positive impact on climate, ecology and people. In short, he is a brilliantly creative proactive advocate for Biophilic Design. He believes that forging a closer connection to the natural world, is extremely good for our well-being as well as being good for the planet and good for nature, and his passion for Biophilic Design is life-long. One of the projects he discusses is his Great Bow Yard project in Somerset from 2008. This had gained media attention because it had been flagged as the most energy efficient scheme in the UK. Having recently revisited the project, Robert notes that residents, are not only pleased with the low energy costs, but were actually most enthused by the shared garden and the feelings of well-being that stem from it being a beautiful spot. In this podcast, Robert talks of his background and upbringing and how that has led him to his passion for living in harmony with nature. He discusses how on his projects, and those of his colleagues, he always looks to introduce as many opportunities as possible for planting in designs, both internally and externally to reduce hard space and introduce a softer more natural element. This passion is carried through to the present day. As we said at the beginning, Robert is concerned to note that the UK is the most one of the most nature depleted countries in the world and this fact has inspired him, and others, to create a public event “Code Red for Nature” (link below), a funeral for nature in Bath on 20th April 2024. The event is open to all, even Chris Packham will be there supporting and Dan Pearson design studio will also be taking part. Great Bow Yard: https://stridetreglown.com/projects/great-bow-yard/ Code Red: https://www.coderedfornature.uk/ 2pm on Saturday 20th April 2024 in Bath, TAKE PART IN ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL AND AMBITIOUS PIECES OF STREET THEATRE YET TO BE ENACTED ON BEHALF OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS If you like this, please subscribe! Please register for our newsletter on our website https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcasts-journal-of-biophilic-design Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts. Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds? Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Twitter https://twitter.com/JofBiophilicDsn LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/journalofbiophilicdesign

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Robert Gardner is CEO and Co-Founder of Rebalance Earth. With over 20 years of experience in the financial industry, he has a unique expertise in sustainability, pensions, and wealth management and believes that money can be a force for good.

Rebalance Earth, is a fund manager that redirects the flow of private capital to protect and restore Nature. Their mission is to drive the transition to a nature-based economy by enabling the flow of private capital to protect and restore nature. Rebalance Earth achieves this by creating opportunities for investors to achieve sustainable financial returns from projects to restore Nature.

Robert is passionate about the idea of “natural capital”. He believes that investment in the environment shouldn’t simply be about climate change but should take a broader approach. He sees a future in which biophilia is prominent and discussion of environment-conscious investment should include reduced biodiversity loss, rewilding, and all aspects of being in tune with nature.

Robert sees nature as the most valuable asset class on the planet. It provides everything from clean air to carbon capture and biodiversity; not forgetting that a balanced ecosystem is essential to create pollination and soil fertility for our food.

The investment community currently operates an extractive financial model that has been using all of nature's resources for free, not valuing them and, worse than that, destroying them. Rebalance Earth is taking steps to build and propagate a more sustainable, biophilic approach.

In this podcast, Robert talks about how he studied Geography at university and how his passions are hydrography and glaciology. He notes with sadness that a glacier he worked on as part of the Alpine Glacier Project during his studies is now gone. He sees glaciers as the canary in the coalmine of climate change and nature loss but sees the good news as being that this can be turned around with money used as a force for good.

Robert explains how his background, growing up in Holland and travelling all over the world with his parents led to his interest in geography and how is career in finance and 25 years of learning how money flows around the world has led him to establishing Rebalance Earth. He says that there is no point having a great pension if we have no coral reefs, rivers are filthy, there are no fish, and the air is polluted. There’s nothing to enjoy!

He sets out his idea that nature should be valued. He explains that assets have utility, scarcity and cashflow in order to be valued. He gives us the example of the humble bee and how it has been estimated that it would cost £1.8bn to pollinate crops if the bee were to disappear. Using this and other examples Robert observes that the concept of valuing nature is currently an intangible and how by making the intangible tangible, people will value nature and therefore will look after it. Because people look after things they value.

The five key problems that Robert sees in the UK are: Flooding, Drought, Water Quality, Biodiversity and Carbon. He goes on to detail how each of these problems represent significant opportunities for companies to make a return. The essence is the idea that companies can charge customers for reducing the customers’ risks across these areas.

He is excited by his dream that pension funds allocate 2% of their capital to invest in nature (enough to bridge the nature deficit), companies start paying for services to reduce risks from the five problem areas and the UK becomes a place worth living in.

It would be amazing if we all look at the successful ideas around the world, which Robert shares with us in the podcast, and see how they work, so we really see the value of investing in Nature. For instance, nature-based towns and cities, a countryside with nature back in it and a farming system that has nature at the heart of it. Once people see that it works they will do more.

Rebalance Earth: https://www.rebalance.earth/

White Paper: https://www.rebalance.earth/s/Rebalance-Earth-The-Nature-Opportunity.pdf

have you got a copy of the Journal? You can purchase a copy directly from us at the journalofbiophilicdesign.com or Amazon. If you like our podcast and would like to support us in some way, you can buy us a coffee if you’d like to, thank you x

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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The British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) is the only professional institute for interior designers in the UK. Our growing membership represents both the commercial and residential sectors, from heritage to cutting edge. In addition to rigorous entry requirements which assess training, experience and professionalism, they require our members to continue their professional development throughout their career to ensure their continued expertise in design process, practice and regulatory matters.

For those wishing to find an interior designer or to confirm the credibility of a potential interior designer they offer a directory of our Registered Interior Designers.

Each year BIID celebrates the very best of British interior design through its awards program. The BIID Interior Design Awards showcase the best interior design projects completed across the UK.

Winners are awarded across 7 regional categories ranging from the largest commercial project to the smallest residential dwelling. In addition, there are two landmark prices – the Interior of the Year Prize, which is awarded to the best interior design project in the UK and the Anna Whitehead Prize, which is awarded to the best achievement in sustainable interior design. 9 awards will be given out in total, along with acknowledgements of Highly Commended projects.

In this podcast, we are joined by two previous award winners and one of the judges of this year’s awards to discuss the value of the awards programme. If you are reading this on an RSS feed, try and visit https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcasts-journal-of-biophilic-design to view the visuals from these brilliant projects.

James Gavigan is co-founder of House of Kin (houseofkin.com) who were the Greater London winners for 2023 with their Riverside project. The Riverside is a unique nursery that preserves the character of the original church building, whilst combining clean aesthetics, soft colours, and simple lines with homely and interactive touches. The judges praised its harmonious and child-friendly design, emphasizing sustainability with cork-clad walls, wood waste flooring, and recycled plastic bottle tiles. The space is imaginative, thoughtful, and perfect for children's learning and growth.

Susie Pfeiffer founded Pfeiffer design who won the Anna Whitehead Prize in 2022 for their design studio. The studio was designed with sustainability at the forefront; it uses a wide range of the latest sustainable technologies, sourced locally and is an inspiration to others looking to use similar sustainable elements within their own homes and offices.

Asif Din is one of the judges for the 2024 awards. He is the Sustainability Director at Perkins & Will. He has worked across the world as an architect and is a keen advocate of Zero Carbon design projects and the use of circularity in design.

Susie and James explain the importance to them, as past winners, of the BIID awards. How, the bring kudos and opportunity to their businesses but also how they bring the design community together and elevate design standards, especially when talking about sustainability and fostering creativity so that design doesn't become bland.

From a judge’s perspective, Asif comments on how it is often clear that biophilic aspects such as sustainability and environmental factors have been considered from the start as clear elements in any project. Such projects stand out and are key to achieving success at the awards.

Throughout the discussion it is clear that just adding sustainable materials to a design doesn’t make the overall design sustainable. Consideration has to be given to materials being appropriate for the design; the design can’t simply include “box-ticking” elements.

Durability is mentioned as a major factor in materials choice for many sustainable designs.

The participants are all clear that a sustainable design doesn’t involve a compromise on aesthetics. Indeed, taking a biophilic approach to design can enhance the look and feel of a space and contribute to a deeper, more meaningful aesthetic that resonates with the principles of balance with nature.

Overall, the conversation brings to the fore the joy and inspiration that great design that fully embraces biophilia brings to those who use the spaces created. Oh, and you might also win kudos and recognition in the form of a BIID award!

https://biid.org.uk/biid-interior-design-awards

https://biid.org.uk/winners-23

https://biid.org.uk/judges

Chapel Barn: https://www.pfeifferdesign.co.uk/our-approach/sustainability/

Riverside: https://biid.org.uk/design-practice-house-kin

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Steve Tonkin is the Dark Sky Advisor to Cranborne Chase National Landscape, in Wiltshire. Cranborne Chase is a designate Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that, since 2019, has been recognised as an International Dark Sky Reserve.

Steve can pinpoint 4 October 1957 as the first became aware of dark skies. His family were, at the time, living 8 miles outside Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and his father took him outside to see if they could see Sputnik which had been launched the previous day. It was his first time looking up at a pristine dark sky and it triggered a life-long passion for astronomy which has made him aware of the effects of light pollution, and he has been raising the issue with anyone who will listen for the last 30 years.

After a first career as a telecommunications engineer, he did a BSc in Human Environmental Studies, then postgraduate work in technology policy, before training as a teacher. He taught physics, maths and astronomy in a variety of settings for 35 years, before retiring from teaching to concentrate on astronomy outreach activities. He has written several books on practical astronomy, has a monthly column in BBC Sky at Night Magazine, and is a regular speaker on astronomical topics.

Starting with a programme he made for BBC Radio Bristol in the 1980s, Steve has long been an advocate of reducing light pollution. He supported the Cranborne Chase’s International Dark Sky Reserve bid as a volunteer, taking sky quality readings and supporting the stargazing evenings by giving talks and showing people the night sky. His primary task as Dark Skies Advisor is to continue and consolidate the good work that has already been done and strengthen the Cranborne Chase’s standing as an International Dark Sky Reserve.

Light pollution is a global issue. The pollution itself is known to affect human health and wildlife behaviour and that is before considering the wasted energy involved in sending light upwards instead of downwards to where it is required. To take a Biophilic approach to the design of lighting is to reduce light pollution with direct and indirect benefits to nature.

Steve explains that there are 21 International Dark Sky Reserves across the world that have been recognised as being of distinguished quality. He explains that these spaces are not about no lights but about the right light in the right place at the right time to preserve the area for heritage, educational and enjoyment purposes.

Dark skies are relative. A truly dark sky is defined by Steve as one in which the Milky Way galaxy casts a shadow. In the context of Cranborne Chase, it means the ability to see the Andromeda galaxy with the naked eye. Steve expresses his excitement at being able to see something that is 2.5 million light years away and has been visible to earth since before humans were even around and was visible to all humans ever until light pollution started to be introduced 200 years ago.

Steve explains in some detail why it is important to take account of the circadian rhythm of light and darkness and how there is always a negative effect of introducing artificial light. He discusses the impact on the reproductive cycle of birds and relates that 8 to 10 million birds a year are killed by lit communication towers.

Moving to humans, Steve tells of studies linking light pollution to

· increased susceptibility to cancer;

· increased incidence of obesity, diabetes and hypertension due to the impact of poor lighting on leptin levels (leptin being the hormone that tells you if you feel full);

· the impact of the wrong sort of light on mental and physical health; and

· the huge reduction in insect life (both pollinators and composters) and its impact on food production.

Across a wide range of examples Steve explains how the wrong light can have disastrous consequences. He introduces the idea that not all light is the same and sets out what to look for in order to achieve healthy lighting.

Steve enumerates the five principles of responsible lighting:

if lighting doesn’t have a clear purpose, don’t do it
lighting needs to be targeted
don’t use light brighter than is needed for the task
use as warm colour as possible (i.e. low colour temperature)
only have lighting on when it is needed

This leads to a fascinating discussion of lighting design, how it has improved over the last 30 years and of ways to achieve better lighting solutions.

Listening to Steve, you learn that Dark Sky movements are not just to keep astronomers happy. It is really a heading that focusses thinking on lighting design and the health and environmental benefits of biophilic lighting design.

https://darksky.org/Darkskies.uk

https://darksky.uk/

https://britastro.org/dark-skies/

THE DARK SKY MANIFESTO - JOHAN EKLÖF

Publisher: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/447865/the-darkness-manifesto-by-eklof-johan/9781529116106

Kindle: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Darkness-Manifesto-pollution-threatens-ancient-ebook/dp/B0B41NCKRY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Have you got a copy of the Cities issue of The Journal of Biophilic Design (you can purchase a copy directly from us at the journalofbiophilicdesign.com or Amazon. If you like our podcast and would like to support us in some way, you can buy us a coffee if you’d like to, thank you x

*due to bereavement at the JBD HQ there has been a delay in the final editing, many apologies. But like a late flowering bloom, there is much to be learnt from this podcast, and we are incredibly grateful for Morgan and Greengage’s expertise and patience. x

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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Morgan Taylor leads the biodiversity side of Greengage, a multidisciplinary environmental consultancy who cover everything from energy and carbon assessments, sustainability, health, wellbeing, socio-economic assessment, and EIA management as well as the whole gamut of biodiversity assessment through to planning.

As designers, architects, or planners, we all need to be mindful of the impact our ideas, advice and decisions have on the world around us. We recorded this interview in the summer last year* Their work is focused outside of the legislative and planning policy sphere in the world of natural capital and ecosystem service value assessment. So rather than working with developers where they are only brought in because there is a potential impact on biodiversity in the first place, they're working with a lot of people with regards to asset management, land management, informing how financial capital is put towards recovery of natural capital across managed assets.

We’ve got hundreds, maybe thousands of years of degradation and we need to take measures and understanding to address the impacts of our actions, and account for the significant loss of biodiversity particularly since the Industrial Revolution.

Morgan outlines all the different levels of legislation and planning policy that impact biodiversity in the built environment. He highlights three aspects of legislation and regulation that particularly drive positive change:

the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
The Habitats and Species Conservation Regulations, and
the Environment Act, which is from 2021.

These three pieces of legislation, he says, drive most actions with regards to protected species, protected habitats and importantly, the Environment Act is the legislation that will require all new development as of November 2023 to deliver measurable gains in biodiversity.

Morgan explains how Greengage guide development and design teams to incorporate biophilic design into their projects to improve biodiversity and meet the legal requirements. He explains that the scope can be as narrow as simply integrating swift boxes and house sparrow boxes or as broad and complex as approaches such as recreating woodland.

Moving away from the regulatory “stick”, Morgan explains how the requirement for financial disclosure by FTSE 100 companies resulting from the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) has created a “carrot” where positive disclosure on areas such as urban heat islands, surface water and all aspects of climate change can improve the prospects of securing investment.

Greengage, says Morgan, are particularly excited about the sister disclosure recommendations from the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosure (TNFD). With a similar “carrot” companies benefit from how they implement biophilic design and how the economic benefits improve investor return.

He lays out in some details the potential for improved building performance that comes from delivering a living roof in terms of energy performance for both cooling and heating, reduced surface water meaning lower flood risk and contributions to net zero strategies.

The approach Morgan outlines is focused on the key driver for business, capital growth, and explains how biophilic design and improved biodiversity help them achieve that fundamental goal as well as being able to be proud of their green credentials.

Morgan expands on his theme covering urban and rural developments and the application of a biophilic approach in many aspects of ecology. He concludes with his personal desire to see an integrated green infrastructure in which grasslands take the place of lawns and the landscape in both town and country is managed as a habitat for nature rather than predominantly as a human playground.

To find out more visit

https://www.greengage-env.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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We speak with Marco Gastoldi, interior designer and Associate at Gensler, who in collaboration with some amazing partners have created the theme of the Workspace Design Show in London this year. The Theme is “Bloom”, and we speak in this podcast about the growing awareness of Biophilic Design, how it has environmental and psychological benefits, that it is based on science, neuroscience and also the many different ways of integrating nature in the built environment.

Marco celebrates the fact that Biophilic Design is important for us, that we have a primordial innate connection to nature, an instinct. This connection produces hormones that support feelings of belonging and collaboration which are crucial to performance and connection. Humans are biological organisms and Biophilic Design supports the mind body system in terms of health and wellbeing.

“Deep down we are aware that our connection to nature is vital. We forget that recreation is recreating and restoring ourselves. We spend 90% of our time indoors and there is so much data and evidence to prove that Biophilic Design is good in the workplace. For instance the Human Spaces report that proves Biophilic Design can improve productivity by 6% and creativity by 15%. We know that connection with nature, improves individual self-esteem and mood, the presence of water for example creates a relaxing and calming effect.”

Marco also talks about Ecological Balance Theory which refers to how we prefer nature resembling colours like green and blue, but not all natural environments are green, so it’s also important to tailor to local colour pallet and ecosystems – so it’s place based.

Marco also shares quite a few examples of where Gensler has installed Biophilic Design. For instance views that integrate nature in the environment, that connect people, to bring them together in moments of wonder. He talks about the permeability of outside and inside and the power of Micro restorative experiences. These are small pockets of nature, which might be more accessible than large interventions allowing frequent exposure to small intervention results in compounded restoration response. When a long exposure to nature can’t be achieved, positioning Biophilic interventions along areas of high levels of traffic is beneficial. The Workplace survey carried out by Gensler research institute in 2023, allows Gensler to look at the data and help shape certain choices. You can read it here LINK

Biophilic Design can help companies meet the BREEAM and WELL certifications.

BREEAM is the widely used environmental assessment method and certification for buildings. It evaluates and certifies the sustainability performance of the building, on criteria such as energy efficiency, material selection and ecological impact. Biophilic Design helps in a positive way by creating indoor environments beneficial to health and wellbeing as well as ecology. Integration of Biophilic Design supports energy efficiency, comfort of the occupiers, overall sustainability and therefore aligns with the overall BREEAM code.

WELL is a performance-based system for certifying features in the built environment that impact human health and wellbeing, building design and construction as well as operation. So it looks at air quality, water, fitness, light and comfort, and obviously Biophilic Design interventions supports companies in achieving all these, for instance introduction of natural light, access to outdoor views and greenspaces.

We also chat about making #biophilicdesignawarenessday National Holiday..

Marco is speaking at the Workspace Design Show in London on 28th February 2024, free entry. The title of the panel is :Bringing energy back to the workplace, nurturing social capital and increasing happiness/productivity in the workspace" https://workspaceshow.co.uk/speaker-marco-gastoldi https://workspaceshow.co.uk/workspace-design-talks-2024

To buy a copy of The Journal of Biophilic Design visit our website www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com or from Amazon. If you like our podcast and would like to support us in some way, you can buy us a coffee if you’d like to, thank you x

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, and most if not all the RSS feeds.

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How do we design schools so not only children are inspired, teachers want to come to work, places are healthy, the building sustainable, the landscape regenerative, and supports biodiversity? The answer is Biophilic Design. De Verwondering is a primary school in the Netherlands, designed by architecture firm ORGA. The design won the 2023 Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award from Living Future Europe in 2023, and justifiably so and is featured in the Education issue of The Journal of Biophilic Design.

The name of school means ‘sense of wonder’ or 'amazement', referring to the sensation of curiosity in children that is triggered when they come into contact with the natural world. Any parallels with ‘The Sense of Wonder’, Rachel Carson’s timeless publication from 1960, are coincidental, but both very much speak to the same sentiment.

In this podcast we speak with Gijs Bruggink, Chef de bureau of ORGA and discuss the importance of using Natural building materials, and how we need to push boundaries for sustainable and regenerative buildings.

Gijs describes the school for our listeners, and you can see visuals of it here on the Journal website. There are three squares, with a triangular area between them, leaf shaped roof across it central area for the kids, there are big wooden steps up to the second floor, a specially designed naturally playground around he school, and there’s lots of greenery. Plus the façade has big wooden grids which allow climbing plants to grow up, so the whole school will be covered in green. There are columns in the central area, stripped tree trunks carrying the structure, sanded and oiled. Plus there is natural ventilation, separate access hatch, outlets, where a chimney effect draw fresh air 24hrs a day into the building smell of new cut grass, or smell of rain on the earth.

The difference the Biophilic Design of the school has made to the teachers, staff, and children is phenomenal, and it also shows when an organization wants to do something better with nature deeply embedded into it right from the start of the project. The difference it can make to the business, the reduction of staff and student absenteeism, the improved recruitment, overall wellbeing, air quality, acoustics and so much more.

Generally, clients are seeing the benefits of Biophilic Design, and more and more Gijs and his firm are working with them from the start, rather than fight the battle.

“It is an interesting time for designers. There are a lot of problems which need solutions nowadays with climate change and biophilic design just has a lot of answers. Not only is it beautiful but it's interesting from the health perspective and it's beneficial from a business perspective because if your users of the building are able to perform better to be more productive and they feel better, it's good for your business. There's a lot of research and science supporting these these ideas and these benefits,” says Gijs.

One of the wonderful things about the Der Verwondering design is that they have created a really healthy learning environment for children and the people working there to help them get a good education. There are also all sorts of connections to nature in the building which builds affinity with nature, and children can discover things on their own, they have a natural adventurous inquisitive nature.

We also discuss how wood lasts a really long time, and how you can use different types of wood and natural wood finishings that protect the materials of your buildings.

The Principal was at the previous school and now also at this one, and has said that the children are right at home right away in the new school with no long adjustment period. They kids can really focus on work after a break outside in nature and this focus is a big change than before. There is less absenteeism and attendance a lot better, so that along with improved recruitment it makes financial sense too.

To read more about it and see more images, Gijs also wrote in our Education issue of The Journal of Biophilic Design Printed copy https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/shop/pre-order-journal-of-biophilic-design-issue-7-education-paperback-printed-version

Ebook PDF. https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/shop/olwe3aq4uukmg3k3o65o1n4k1fhvww

ORGA architect: https://www.orga-architect.nl/

Gijs Bruggink: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gijsbruggink

A quote from Gijs article in Education Issue 7 of The Journal of Biophilic Design

Printed copy https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/shop/pre-order-journal-of-biophilic-design-issue-7-education-paperback-printed-version

Ebook PDF. https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/shop/olwe3aq4uukmg3k3o65o1n4k1fhvww

“The school as a biotope - The way the spaces in the building work together is analogous to the system of natural habitats: shared spaces in nature that allow species to both thrive and coexist. Pupils spend most of the time in an ‘ecotope’ with children of the same age, the classroom. Three clusters of classrooms, including a small gym and an outdoor classroom on the roof form ‘habitats’ where pupils meet children of adjacent ages. A couple of times each day they venture outside of the familiar surroundings of the habitat, into the larger ‘biotope’ of the school complex. For example, to the central gathering area for school meetings or to the playground outside, where they can learn more about nature and the world.”

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Dr Leighton Phillips Director of Research, Innovation and University Partnerships for the NHS Wales, Honorary Professor Aberystwyth University, and director on the Hywel Dda University Health Board joins us to share how they are bringing in Biophilic Design into healthcare in South West Wales. Part of his role is about questioning what we want the future to look like.

Dr Phillips shares with us how fundamentally important the natural environment is, how it profoundly influences our health and wellbeing. What he finds captivating about biophiilc design, is that there is an opportunity. “With over 1200 hospitals, and a million staff and nearly everyone in the UK having some interaction with the NHS services just imagine the health and planetary impact of the NHS embracing biophilic design.”

Hospitals historically have been designed with a particular modernist design approach, where it was thought that clinical settings which were white, were sterile. Of course, sterile environments are exceptionally important, but these environments do not put us at ease. We feel stressed in that setting and it doesn't aid recovery if we are talking about our hospitals.

Then if we consider that 90% of us interact more with primary care, the same can be true there. Leighton suggests that we can still maintain safe clean fantastic clinical environments while introducing colour, introducing fresh air, views of nature. We should not compromise all that we knew was good within that modernist period, but we can harness, within our current estates, the things that we know promote health and well-being and use every investment decision that we make as large organisations to do more of that, to support people and create environments that aid their recovery. Embracing the concept of Biophilic Design will drive this change.

The 10 year strategy with millions spent on healthcare infrastructure, which also sets out the future of healthcare, INCLUDES the aim to undertake activities promoting health and wellbeing. “We do more than provide services in hospitals and healthcare facilities.” It is important, he says, to “accept a wider role, in promoting health and wellbeing, and that the Biophilic approach and design is part of that. Biophilic Design keeps people healthy and well. Giving people access to fresh air, ability to walk in green spaces.” It is also important for staff to have their own decompression time, whether it is in the facility or in their own environment. Biophilic Design can help blur these boundaries personal and professional life, how we spend our time outside of work influences how we spend time in, and vice versa.

A change is happening

Things are changing in the UK, looks at the new Alder Hey Children's Hospital Trust in Liverpool, England, or the new Velindre Cancer Centre in Wales, these include the principles of Biophilic Design. While we can and should plan and build new hospitals inspired by Biophilic Design, we should also bear in mind that we still have to live with the current estate because that will still be with us. We're living with facilities that result from choices made 60-70 years ago. There's still life in those buildings and patients will still receive care, so we should also be mindful how we re-design and renovate our current estates as well. And if you think about it, ensuring success within current estate will give people the confidence to make wider changes.

Change happens within organisations because people want it and understand it. Of course you need high level ownership, but it filters down through the tiers of the organisation. To make a real shift you need 100s of people taking this on board, taking it into their personal day to day responsibility. Working with Professor Geoff Proffitt of Swansea University, Dr Phillips and his team have been adopting action learning, the application of knowledge approach. By bringing professionals together, from architects to medical professionals, building engineers, etc, they took them through a structured process over a few months. It was important that they step out of their busy environment and afford them some time to open their minds to biophilic design, and then critically to take that into their day jobs. To think about how a different future could look for our built environment.

How do we think differently?

Green groups and others within the organisation are starting to run with it. They have the National Botanical Garden of Wales on doorstep. “We are directly working with them on biodiversity and creating spaces for staff and patients to spend time in, and I believe to evidence change sustains the change and motivates people.” Show them this rapid evidence.

How do we encourage this take up on a wider scale? Show people and through every investment decision.

“Show people the positive impact biophilic design has. There is a pool of people out there who know the powerful impact that the natural world has on us. Within the Trusts or organisations, keep it real and applicable, ask them what environment they would like to work in, what are the restrictions, argue the case for change, they will have the answers.

Also, think about every investment decision as an opportunity, try and remember that you are working in systems that are under a lot of pressure, where creating space to think about how that environment can change in the future is difficult. Think how can Biophilic Design can be part of hundreds of discussions. Recognise every opportunity. Every investment decision is an opportunity. Think about the value that Biophilic Design delivers within healthcare, and all aspects of life.”

Regarding procurement, how do we value longer term investment, and battle all those tensions within a financially constrained organisation, there are tough discussions, and the supply chain has a duty of care as well, not to just peddle the same chairs, but to offer other options. We all need to be working together.

“Action learning is so important, bring all experts around the table, we do this journey together”.

To find out more about the projects Leighton is involved in visit https://hduhb.nhs.wales/

To buy a copy of the Healthcare issue that Leighton has written about this action learning programme he and his team have been running in the NHS West Wales, visit this link for the Ebook version https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/shop/journal-of-biophilic-design-issue-3-healthcare-hospitals

or this one for the printed version https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/shop/journal-biophilic-design-healthcare-design-magazine

To buy a copy of The Journal of Biophilic Design visit our website www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com or from Amazon. If you like our podcast and would like to support us in some way, you can buy us a coffee if you’d like to, thank you x

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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From designing a detailed picture of the New York Skyline in moss to how we need to design with biophilia for helping mitigate climate change this great podcast with Lily Turner explores how we are just starting to realise the very real benefits that Living walls can bring to our cities, and our work and healing spaces.

Lily Turner is an environmentalist, biophilic designer and living wall specialist. She's also director of green walls at Urban Strong, the design build maintenance firm offering services for green building technology solutions. In 2013, she co-founded urban blooms a non-profit to bring large scale, publicly accessible living walls to dense urban environments. It was after Hurricane Katrina she was rebuilding homes, restoring landscapes, repairing drip irrigation systems and fields and got to do a lot of great community projects and inspired her to launch urban blooms, which aims to bring greenery back into the built environment to benefit people in the community.

We chat about sustainability, and how policy and regulation is needed to implement green spaces, an also how “new language and concepts need to be introduced. Sustainability has become rhetoric and clouded our view of the actual state of things in our products. So adding to our lexicon is also a major part of it.” Lily also advocates like we do, that it is vital to “break down silos when looking at the built environment. Adopting a more collaborative and holistic approach, is really the only way forward. If we look at Singapore's journey, I think it represents an actual a nice beacon of hope and their government's response should be seen as inspiring to the United States and other major offenders around the world.” Shifting our lexicon from just sustainability to regeneration will also shift people's behaviour and also create more awareness.

As well as the political, we speak how Living Walls and preserved moss walls can be seen as striking forms of art, especially when you add a frame or incorporate colourful foliage, and how they offer a myriad of environmental, psychological and physiological benefits as well.

Lily has been working with Biophilic Design for almost 10 years. It has to be the way forward, it has to happen. “I don't know how we're going to survive without it.”

We also discuss the practical benefits plants bring, from creating relative humidity, especially if they're of scale and how you just feel more relaxed. When you bring that into a high stress environment, like an office or even a rehabilitation institution it is extremely important. “And I think we'll see this more and more as our healthcare system changes. And our education systems change as well.”

Even a sightline view to the outdoors, we know there's significant benefits, you have reduced stress levels. Direct connection to nature is one of the most powerful of the Biophilic Design Patterns, being surrounded by something natural and green can boost productivity, enhance creativity and cognitive function, and ultimately that leads to increased sales so there's also ROI associated with that. “If people aren't sold on environmental or the aesthetic benefits, let's look at the ROI and try to push that conversation forward And then also just having a statement Living Wall in your lobby or office you're communicating this message of progressiveness and sustainability to your investors, your clients, your partners, everyone involved in supporting your company.”

To find out more about Lily and her work visit: https://urbanstrong.com

Her work features in our “Cities” issue of the The Journal of Biophilic Design, it is a case study of multi-sensory living wall that UrbanStrong installed in a corporate office in New Jersey.

https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/shop/journal-of-biophilic-design-issue-4-cities-ebook

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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Tying in with Issue 6, our Blue Mind edition of The Journal of Biophilic Design we speak with Nick Hounsfield, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer at The Wave in Bristol. The Wave is an inland Surfing destination.

After working in the healthcare sector and realizing that not only one of the key aspects for people was that they were lonely but that they also were missing a connection to nature, Nick wanted to create something at scale that would have a positive impact. He also wanted to reach out to people who didn’t have access to a private healthcare system.

“How can we democratise this? How can we make it more accessible for more people?” Nick explains how he went on to create The Wave. He had a very clear purpose and mandate, wanting to appeal to everyone, be accessible in all seasons and ensuring he addressed barriers to accessing to green and blue space. “We have to break down those barriers through design, through great landscaping, a good business model, and also make sure that we're not destroying the planet and local ecology either.”

Roll forward 10 years, and they’ve managed to build it and deliver exactly what they wanted to deliver blue and green spaces for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

So what is The Wave? If you could imagine a huge slice of the ocean or imagine a really amazing Cove down by the beach. It's like taking that cake slice of the ocean and lifting it up and dropping it right in the middle of the field. There are absolutely perfect surfing waves, and lighter ones just as you get at the beach, and then you've got really nice whitewater waves on the inside for people who just want to splash and play around or bodyboard. The water is Caribbean in colour so also looks perfect. People come just to walk the pier which stretches out across the waves to enjoy the sound of the waves.

Nick and his team have created a beautiful space where people can connect with water as observers or enjoy an immersive and active connection. Being close to the city of Bristol, partnerships were an important part of the vision. Working with groups who do not have access to green and blue space and who have mental and physical health issues, they bring them to the wave. By growing the adaptive surf community they have made sure that the whole space was designed so it is truly accessible. And with surfing now part of the Olympics we might see that surfing will also be part of the Paralympics. “We've now got the most amazing training facility for these athletes, and have genuine medal contenders in our midst so hopefully that whole sport will grow which is good.”

“That's the key thing, really, it's about that partnership because we will never profess to know everything about the challenges and issues that different sectors of society have. So, it's about partnering up with people who do really know what's going on, and we're just providing a facility. We break down the barriers together.”

Why is that nature connection important?

“It's everything.” Nick goes on to describe how we felt that nature was taken away from us during Lockdown, and even now “there are young families stuck in high-rise apartments with no access to green or space blue space at all, they walk along a concrete road to get to school and it's a concrete playground, there's no green space there. And that is their life. That just doesn't feel like it's a healthy existence.” It’s important to democratize that open space, green space, blue space, “just having some horizons around us to be able to lift your head, lift your mind, lift your spirits. If you're surrounded by things that have been designed to encapsulate you the whole time, that just creates such a closed-minded spirit as well as an attitude. And I think that's a real shame, particularly for the younger generation growing up in that space.”

We need to re-establish those connections that have been lost and look back historically when that connection was intrinsic. “We are not better than nature, we are nature. And actually, nature has got so many of the cures for our ills. And we have to be mindful of that and get back to promoting it, that being natural isn't some kind of woowoo but that it is something for the people.” This is where biophilic design comes in, “if we want something to be sustainable for the long term, to have real longevity, we need to go back to nature for that design brief.”

What is it about Blue Mind?

There is some really good research now that shows how Blue Mind, Blue Health really has a positive impact on physical and mental well-being. From being around water to being in water and experiencing that feeling when gravity is taken away from your body. There is also that penetration of blue, which reduces heart rate and cortisol levels it calms everything down.

What about Surfing?

“There is a sort of ebb and flow where you're doing something incredibly focused, particularly an activity where you have to be in the moment and you can't think about anything else apart from having to catch this wave, you've got this locked in focused moment. It’s quite Zen-like, all those other worries in your world, just melt away because you're so focused. Then I love where there is the peaceful calm when the wave has passed, and maybe you're paddling back out, or when maybe you're down by the beach, and you're sat waiting for the next wave, you're just looking at the big horizon. There is that moment of calm, the sort of peacefulness with it. I love the juxtaposition of the two. And that's why surfing I think brings so much and especially wave riding, you don't have to stand up on a wave. It could be bodyboarding it could be just splashing around in the water. I think that's the lovely sort of ebb and flow of the emotions.”

“…this is a place and a space for me to find the best version of myself.”

Nick calls for similar concepts to spring up in other cities and other countries because he thinks “everybody should have an access to these kinds of facilities. So in terms of designing, master planning and huge developments, I think it's something that we should be mindful of going forward. Building a future that is much more sustainable for our society, learn from mistake, and incorporate really good design when master planning cities, towns and settlements in the future. I think what's been great is The Wave has demonstrated that actually, you can do that triple bottom line where you're doing right by the planet, you’re looking after the people along the way, and also having an economically viable model.I just would love that thinking to be replicated in other places, whether there's a Wave there or not, but that triple bottom line, philosophy really can work if it's if it's properly committed to.”

The Wave could be coming to a city near you, watch out for developments, sign up to their newsletter, go visit, enjoy the food, music, camping, and go catch a Wave at The Wave visit:

www.thewave.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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Building on an earlier conversation we had in 2020 with a co-founder of Skogluft, we speak today with Morten Kvam, CEO of Skogluft. Not only does it sound beautiful and uplifting, in Norwegian it means “Forest Air”. We talk about how plants are essential to have in the built environment and how the main founder of Skogluft Bjorn Virumdal was a mechanical engineer and realised that biological models were needed to explain the effects of nature indoors. NASA had conducted some research on how astronauts would be affected by the lack of nature. After speaking with them to explore their findings Bjorn then conducted further scientific research to prove how different plants and different light affected people in different working environments. His research looked at three main aspects: the feeling of being awake, headaches and respiratory problems and he took readings before and after the intervention.

The results showed the positive effects of having nature indoors. Tiredness reduced by 40%, headaches reduced by 35% and concentration problems reduced by 16%. Morten says they have over 7.2kg worth of printed evidence that nature is good for us!

There is evidence that plants in a room may reduce the dust level of the air, as found by Lohr and Pearson-Mims (1996). The dust content of the indoor air is often too high and might irritate mucous membranes in eyes and respiratory organs (throat, nose). When plants are healthy and are in your workplace, home, school or healthcare space, there is an increase in air humidity which may bind more of the dust, and as a result reduce some of the health complaints associated with dust (and maybe also pollen). The large leaf surface of plants probably promotes sedimentation of dust from the air, which will reduce the dust level. Just imagine if we place plants close to the computer – where both dust level and the level of static electricity is often high, we might see a reduction in irritations in respiratory organs. This could be really useful in healthcare environments especially receptions and schools.

Feedback from users who have installed Skogluft say that one of the benefits is that acoustic levels really improve. They are also ideal in dentist waiting rooms, or anywhere you might feel stressed or anxious because the green walls create a feeling of calm. On the other side of the coin, there is a very large Skogluft wall in a library north of Oslo, who now want to implement it in all libraries in the city. We discuss how we could install green walls in university and study spaces. They have already installed many in the working spaces in Healthcare environments for the employees. If we think of all the halls, rest areas, outside treatment areas, receptions, and so on, there are many places we could implement green walls so many people receive the benefit.

Morten shared that the Skogluft Green wall is a best kept secret for one of the Norwegian football clubs who feel it gives them the advantage to compete and win games. It is important for that club to feel the vitality and life of nature, instead of the usual naked walls you get inside clubs.

The more plants you have the more positive effects you earn! For Skogluft, their plant of preference is the Golden Pothos, which research has shown that these are very positive and have a greater effect than other plants. One hypothesis is that they produce lots of chlorophyl per time unt per square inch. This is still a hypothesis, but it seems they are better than other green plants. Also they are very robust, look good, and are easy to maintain year after year. They survive even if you forget to water them for a week or two!

We also talk about the importance of light. The positive effect of light reflecting on nature. “We are programmed to stay in nature, we have always been surrounded by plants and light together,” Morten says. “It makes people react more positively when we see light reflected on plants.”

In his magic brush of biophilia, he says we should be looking to install nature everywhere, and “just like toilets are compulsory in buildings so should nature be compulsory nature indoors everywhere.” I think I’ll be sharing that last thought many many times. It’s straightforward and simple to grasp - nature should indeed be compulsory in every building.

Skogluft creates living walls which are super simple to install and even has an app do you don’t kill the plants! We all have a choice when it comes to who we work with and the companies we represent. Morten tells us that while his background was not nature-based, he chose Skogluft because as a company they are making a difference to people’s wellbeing.

To find out more about Skogluft: https://www.skogluft.com

Have a listen to our the podcast we did with Stine Wettergreen way back in 2020 which this one today builds on that initial conversation! https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcast-journal-of-biophilic-design/skogluft-forest-air

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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Change is about people and when it comes to people, there is no formula and there is no one way, this is challenging and hard. For designers, architects, planners who are trying to convince people to do something different, to do something maybe that business has never done before, what tools do we need to help take our clients on that “change” journey with us?

I was lucky to catch up with the Change Master, Jennifer Bryan, who will also be speaking at Workplace Trends in London on 18th October 2023. Jennifer shares with us some tips to help you lead that change, for her there is “no change without learning and no learning without change,” and it has to come from a “people centric perspective.”

Jennifer, gives us some sound advice. She describes what she calls the “end person in mind approach.” If you think about the person who is the furthest away from the decision making room, when they first hear about the change (whether that the watercooler gossip or a town hall) if you can make that initial moment for that positive then you will have a positive initial moment for everyone else in between.

There are 8 different reasons why people resist change. Jennifer outlines some with us here. Sometimes it’s because they don’t understand the change, or it could be how they perceive it, it could be fear or emotional, or historical. If you want to fine tune your potential to lead change, get your hands on her book: “Leading People in Change”. Understand where that “resistance” might be coming from. Ask the questions so you might understand why they might be resisting. Take them on a bit of a journey. Help people understand the “so what”.

We forget that other people aren’t in that same space, and we need to be able to articulate that “so what” but it has to be that “so what” for them.

Think of this podcast as the essential spanners in your “Toolbox of Persuasion.” There’s a lot of good advice in this podcast for those involved in bringing Biophilic Design into the mainstream. We can help leaders and managers understand that Biophilia is not just fluff, help them to visualise a positive outcome and from a different angle.

Jennifer says there are three key questions you need to consider, and when you know the answers you have to articulate the solutions from the heart. Firstly, what is it you’re trying to do, secondly why now, and finally how are people going to think and feel about it?

Remember we all have the passion within us to bring about change, learning how to lead that change is a skill, which is why advice from consultants like Jennifer are helpful in encouraging your clients build that change muscle internally.

Why not come and meet Jennifer in person on 18th October 2023 in London, where she will be speaking about “Adopting Foresight” at Workplace Trends event, and presenting results from a research project with Henley Business School. To register your place at the event visit:

https://workplacetrends.co/events/wt23-programme/

USE CODE JBD20 for 20% off the published delegate rate at https://workplacetrends.co/events/wt23/

To find out more about Jennifer, visit

linkedin.com/in/jennifer-l-bryan abchangeconsultancy.com

JenniferLBryan.com (Portfolio)

inspirationalspeakers.co.uk/speaker/jennifer-bryan/ (Portfolio)

And don’t forget to buy her book “Leading People in Change”

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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Are you an agent for change? What is the barrier to designing better? Sometimes it is the apparent complexity of legislation governing ecology, planning and design that prevents people from discovering the best way of doing something. Fortunately, there is a simple award scheme that helps developers, builders, planners and designers navigate the myriad of paperwork and advisory bodies.

We speak with Dr Gemma Jerome, Director of Building with Nature, which helps define what good looks like in terms of green infrastructure (the way planners talk about nature). What I particularly love about Building with Nature is that it also helps give nature a seat around the table, especially at the beginning of the planning process and helps nature become a specification driver in planning and development. Building with Nature has an open-source Standards Framework, a one-stop-shop for all sectorial knowledge and expertise including Nature recovery, Sustainable water management through nature-based solutions, wellbeing, access and inclusivity to open and green spaces.

Gemma is also an environmental planner with a specialism in the design, delivery, and stewardship of green infrastructure. She is a Fellow of the Landscape Institute and co-chaired the British Standards Institute panel for the BS8683:2021 Process for designing and implementing Biodiversity Net Gain, and recently supported the RTPI/RSPB design code. In addition, Gemma has sat on various government roundtables and advisory panels offering expertise on design quality and is currently supporting the development of the Natural England Green Infrastructure Standards Framework.

We talk about how planners and designers can use the Building with Nature Award Scheme as an external verification to tell the story of what they’ve done, to share learning, and to reassure key stakeholders who want better outcomes for people and wildlife. For instance, if you need to reassure communities that the developer has thought about all these things, or the local authority needs external verification, or investors need assurance. The Award Scheme is measurable and so offers this metric-based assurance to help you demonstrate to stakeholders you are planning and designing with the goal of reaching net zero, supporting nature recovery, as well as supporting people’s health and wellbeing.

In an ideal world, before we build, we would watch a space for a year. This would be best practice to understand constraints. But we rarely do that with development, there is always a real rush to approve the master plan, to construct and implement. But then when it’s all done, most of the stakeholders leave, and other people (mainly the residents) have to develop a relationship with it and steward it over time. Gemma encourages us to focus on the front end, let’s start with nature rather than trying to consider it at the end of the process, where it can often cost more money to rectify should issues arise.

In the podcast we also look at retrofitting and how it can be done incredibly well. Gemma shares with us as a case study, the Queensland Court in Glasgow https://www.buildingwithnature.org.uk/project-list-blog/2022/9/29/queensland-court-amp-gardens-cardonald

There are many more more case studies on their website which showcase best practice and the successs of the Building with Nature Award scheme; visit “projects” and you can filter them by region www.Buildingwithnature.org.uk

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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When we design spaces, we need to consider how beautiful a place looks, how useful it is, is it fit for function and so on. We should also consider how the sensory elements of the space also stack up. In other podcasts and also in the Journal itself, we look at how our senses are impacted by sound, light, smell, even the haptic elements (those things we touch), smell (is the air fresh and clear) and many other things. All of us are affected by the impact our environment has on our senses, some of us more than others.

In this episode, we speak with Dr Keren MacLennan, Assistant Professor in Neurodiversity in the Department of Psychology, Durham University. Her research focusses on understanding how autistic people’s sensory processing differences relate to their mental health and experiences of different environments. She is co-producing research to support mental wellbeing to make environments more enabling for autistic individuals.

We walk about how we all process sensory experience slightly differently, and how those of us who are neurodiverse might find certain sensory environments really challenging.

So what is Sensory Reactivity? Where ‘Sensory Processing’ looks at what’s happening actually inside the brain, ‘Sensory Reactivity’ looks at people’s reactions to the space, and therefore we can then make inferences about what’s going on in the brain itself.

Keren talks about ‘Sensory hyper-reactivity’ where people might react more strongly to sounds, taste, touch, who might find some as overwhelming or painful. From this negative response we can infer that something is processing differently in the brain than others might process it.

In her research autistic people shared that a lot of environments are disabling because of the sensory input. If you think about public transport, healthcare, restaurants, supermarkets, these can be heavy sensory burdensome environments. The Sensory landscapes in those places are challenging, lots of sounds, people, smells, lights, colours. It is important to design with the people who are using it in mind. In cities we can reduce sound and cacophony, creating zones and spaces for people to take a moment, to take a break and recover. If we look at the spatial design avoiding having just enclosed spaces, include also open spaces so people aren’t going to get funnelled through.

There is a high prevalence of sensory sensitivity among autistic people, but it also prevalent among people with ADHD as well as PTSD, OCD or who are experiencing anxiety. For instance someone who is anxious is in a state of fight or flight all the time, and therefore might over process their environment, and so might react to the various stimuli in a similar way.

How can we bring in Biophilic Design to support neurodiversity and autistic people? 22 mins

From her research we know that the top enabling spaces, are outdoors places like parks, beach, woodlands. The effects of nature on autistic people are positive, and especially for children they help support sensory, motor and social developments.

If we also bring in natural elements in design, we are making the spaces more enjoyable. Biophilic colour schemes and patterns tend to be more aligned to our innate processing, for instance, we process nature and natural patterns easier.

There is a new BSI Design guide for neurodiversity, which outlines advice on how to make spaces sensory inclusive, and it mentions biophilic design on a number of occasions, suggesting more greenery in spaces, which of course absorbs sound, and our brain enjoys processing nature information. Also in a pilot study she did, videos and sounds from nature were rated as being very enjoyable for autistic people.

As always, when designing, don’t just go in with theory, which of course is a good starting point, make sure you also consult the people who are going to engage in that space. Is this going to be a beneficial space for them? Make sure engage with the stakeholders to make sure it is going to work for everyone. There are always different skill sets in a business, and of course these also can be quite varied in personality types, and everybody has expertise. Co-design, collaborate, everyone who shares that spaces, everyone should have that input.

To connect with Dr MacLennan,

https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/keren-maclennan/

To read her research:

“It Is a Big Spider Web of Things”: Sensory Experiences of Autistic Adults in Public Spaces

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/aut.2022.0024?journalCode=aut

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Plants to the Rescue #PlantsatWorkWeek2023 An ambulance makes an appearance at the Oxford Business Park. Everyone is keen to know who’s in need of medical help without appearing too nosey. Watching from afar one person noted something wasn’t quite right – plants kept appearing, peeping out of the back of the ambulance and round the corners of the doors. Where was the patient? And what had happened? Searching for the bed and the patient in the ambulance was difficult as the back was full of plants not patients! Proving that visible signage #plantstotherescue is very apt. NPWW Ambulance LR An ambulance brings #plantstotherescue for National Plants at Work Week 2023 This is how National Plants at Work Week opened in 2023. The brainchild of plants@work ambassador Ian Drummond confirmed, “The ambulance felt like the perfect tool to confirm the importance of plants to our health and wellbeing. Ian at the ambulance lr Ian Drummond of Ian Drummond Botancia Designs who dressed the Ambulance “Research over many years has shown that plants improve our moods and reduce stress levels and generally help our work flow. They can stimulate and improve our performance and concentration plus they lessen noise around us by deflecting and diffracting sound.” Shirley Smith of Botanica Nurseries who has several clients in the business park and looks after their plant installations with the same care as doctors and their patients, commented, “Plants make us more productive and help our creativity as well as reduce our stress levels.” James and Shirley 2 LR James and Shirley Smith of Botanica Nurseries who supplied the plants and helped dress the ambulance Ian added, “The ambulance is a great symbol to show how we should respect the work that plants do for us in the same way as we respect the National Health Service including ambulance crews.” Inside the ambulance LR From 10 – 14 July we will be celebrating the positive benefits of having plants in the workplace. Plants@work members will support this event with stories on the web using the hashtags #plantsatworkweek and #plantstotherescue. Find more information on our website and our social media sites. We hope you’ll join us to celebrate this special week. ends Editor's notes Ian Drummond is a renowned award-winning botanical designer and author of At Home With Plants. A regular contributor to many publications, such as Living Etc magazine, Ian has won multiple awards at Chelsea Flower Show and trade awards. With a client list that includes The Elton John Aids Foundation, London Fashion Week, Bafta, Harrods and Warner Bros., Ian Drummond Botanical Design is in hot demand for design work, planting schemes and events. Botanica Nurseries has been installing and maintaining interior and exterior plant displays for over 35 years. They have worked on the last two National Plants at Work Week installations, supplying space, plants and containers as well as helping with the set up. This year their contact with the Oxford Business Park enabled us to use their space for our Ambulance display. So it’s literally Botanica Nurseries to the rescue!If you like this, please subscribe! Please register for our newsletter on our website https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcasts-journal-of-biophilic-design Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts. Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds? Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Twitter https://twitter.com/JofBiophilicDsn LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/journalofbiophilicdesign

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Have you got a copy of our Cities issue of The Journal of Biophilic Design (you can purchase a copy directly from us at the journalofbiophilicdesign.com or Amazon. To buy a copy of The Journal of Biophilic Design visit our website

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It seems that in the 21st century we have even more challenges, from tackling climate change and biodiversity decline to an ageing population. Dr Wei Yang, influential thought-leader and a powerful advocate for climate action and nature-based solutions, advocates a people centric approach to community and environment. It is fundamental to create a balanced system for people, nature and society to exist in harmony. When we are dealing with so many different complex issues, we need to take a simple approach, with the main focus being that without nature we cannot survive. We need a mindset change when it comes to civic planning especially.

As human beings we have taken from nature and not given back to nature, and Dr Yang argues, as the Garden City Principle celebrates, we are missing a trick. There is a misunderstanding of garden cities. When we say “garden cities” people think, lots of trees. But it is a sophisticated, yet simple, social economic model. Using a land value capture model. Through development the land value increases and that can be captured providing social economic support to the community.

Dr Yang discusses how state run Social welfare can be a very top down approach and not necessarily what the community needs and there is a frustration in general with the Town Planning profession. Dr Yang opens our eyes to the fact that planning is in fact multi-disciplinary, not only is it an applied science discipline but it is also an art discipline. This highly sophisticated profession cuts across so many different disciplines, but, she argues, we need to ensure we maintain compassion and selflessness when we are planning our towns and cities. In fact, town Planners should be Doctors for Mother Earth

“As planners we can ensure we bring the beauty of nature and wildlife corridors into cities. At the moment, our approach to Cities, is almost like they are cancers, solid concrete blocks. That’s why we have so many troubles, mental and physical health issues, if we do bring nature in, we can treat the whole environment in a totally different way.”

She tells us about the first garden city Letchworth which used that approach, and we can see that the city is thriving. There is connectivity to local agricultural land. It is called a “Garden city” not referring to the “gardens” as in our households, but the agricultural belt, and of course this relates to local food production.

Dr Yang also discusses the 15-minute walkable neighbourhood, and says in the 21st Century garden city you have that walkability from your house to work on a daily basis bedded into the very fabric of the city design. The Garden City is a social network, they are Social Cities.

Milton Keynes example uses garden principle on a larger scale with flood attenuation and wildlife corridors. The parks Trust, manage the land using the land value capture model to look after the green space. About ¼ of the land is green. The city generates income from the premises on the land and they use this income to look after the green space professionally. Self-sustaining. We need this long-term integrated approach when it comes to town planning.

Accessibility to green space affects our behaviour and physical and mental wellbeing. Generally expensive areas are leafy, but Green space is important to everyone. If we remember the pioneer Octavia Hill who helped protect green spaces for those from disadvantaged backgrounds to enjoy green space. It should be accessible to everyone and we should continue this in town planning. 74% of children only play outside. When you compare this to Prisoners who by law have to have at least 1 hour a day outside, children have less freedom than prisoners! If we want the next generation to protect nature we need them to understand it, otherwise they won’t. Let’s bring garden cities right to someone’s doorstep, improve biodiversity, and also improve the porosity of the earth. Let’s have a Place-based approach, work with different professions and maintain a multidisciplinary approach

Nothing is more powerful than nature. There are no age or gender differences in planning, if we believe something we can just work on it and we can all achieve something collectively…

Dr Yang is an influential thought leader and a powerful advocate for climate action, nature-based solutions, health and well-being, and social equality. Wei was named as a Net Zero Hero by Digital Leaders in 2022.

https://www.weiyangandpartners.co.uk/about/team/dr-wei-yang

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Sustainability matters, it is a matter of survival. For Carlo Battisti, President at Living Future Europe this is essential. We cannot design or build without considering this.

We already know the solutions, we need to implement them.

Carlo co-founded the Biophilic Society and coordinates LFE biophilic design strategy. “There are so many global issues to solve, our responsibility must start from the built environment, we know that 40% of emissions come from built environment and these have an impact on global issues.”

Each time we build, we start from scratch which means it’s difficult to standardise the processes, also the sector is so slow to change, but the built environment shapes the way we are living.

Carlo tells us about his experience and also about the Living Building challenge framework which was developed in 2006. We are now at the 4th version of the standard which was published in 2019. Biophilic Design has always been a core part of this framework. If we design and build with a better connection to nature, using natural light, better airflow, etc, there will be better energy consumption, greater energy efficiency. Also of course, there are lots of studies which show that bringing sufficient daylight into enclosed spaces, for instance in schools or hospitals, patients recover quicker, students learn faster in classrooms. There is such interesting and robust data.

The Biophilic Summit is taking place on 7th June 2023. The details of the summit programme and how to register can be found here: https://lfeurope.regfox.com/biophilia-summit-2023

Our editor, Dr Vanessa Champion will be moderating the Round table at the close of the event. Also speaking at the event will be two Stephen R. Kellert award winners from 2022 and 2023. The designers of the Railway station in Japan, JR Jumamoto Railway Station (2022 winner). Also the architect who worked on the school in the Netherlands, De Verwondering which won the SKBDA 2023 both European and the Global category. Check out the SKBDA 2023 Europe finalists videos (link on the JBD website too).

Do have a look at the Biophilic Society, which, Carlo describes as a living system of passionate people all over the world, meeting once a month, looking at best practice, etc. https://www.living-future.eu/biophilic-society/

Some helpful links:

Living Future Europehttps://www.living-future.eu/

Biophilia Summit 2023https://lfeurope.regfox.com/biophilia-summit-2023

The Biophilic Societyhttps://www.living-future.eu/biophilic-society/

Sign the Manifesto

Biophilic Design at LFE

Biophilic Design experts (filter by BD)

Biophilia Camp 2022 highlights

Biophilia Camp pre-registration list (22-25 Sep 2023, South Tyrol)

De Verwondering wins the SKBDA 2023

SKBDA 2023 Europe finalists videos

Marion Fire Station Iowa (2023 co-winner)

JR Jumamoto Railway Station (2022 winner)

To buy a copy of The Journal of Biophilic Design visit our website

www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com or from Amazon. If you like our podcast and would like to support us in some way, you can buy us a coffee if you’d like to, thank you x

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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Nature is home. Nature is where you can think, rejuvenate, it constantly gives to you. There is nothing man made that can replace the benefits of nature. Edna Odhiambo, is a Climate Change Lawyer based in Nairobi Kenya. Edna was speaking at the brilliant 8th Annual Sustainability Week conference, run by The Economist [PUT LINK IN]

As an undergraduate law student, she witnessed one of worst droughts in the Horn of East Africa, and she asked herself “what can the law do about this?” She realised then that one of the main keys to unlocking the solution is through a focus on policy and regulatory frameworks across different sectors.

In terms of sustainability, Kenya leads in Africa. For example, more than 85% of their electricity comes from clean energy sources like solar, wind, hydro and geo thermal. But there are many challenges. For example, there are millions of Kenyans who lack access to clean energy sources, some are still using firewood and charcoal, dirty cooking fuels, which also increase respiratory illnesses and people are cutting down forests. 87% of Kenya is arid and semi-arid. If you consider then there is very little arable land and then couple this with climate change impacts, water scarcity we should be looking at opportunities to find solutions locally while we wait for access to innovative and affordable technology. Edna explains there are many basic low-cost solutions which can be done by local communities such as water dams. We need to make a difference as fast as we can.

One of the main themes of this podcast is how we need to bring in an integrated approach to transport, we need a multi-modal approach which seamlessly connects walking, bus and public transport, dock-less bikes, cycling lanes and walking pathways. Globally transport is the cause of 15% of emissions. The time has come to stop putting highways before people, building cities around transport, we should be putting people first. Traffic is a major cause of outdoor air pollution, which causes asthma in children, and there are even studies looking at there being an increased risk of dementia event early studies,

Edna makes a call for improving our overall quality of life. We are upright creatures, when we are away from our natural set up, that’s when we get very anxious. We also have to remember that in developing cities, more than half of the population walk, they are not using cars, they use public transport when they can afford it and half the time they cannot so they walk. Increasing walking and cycling structure is important. We need to good walk paths cycling paths. If half of the population walks, then let’s aim to make our cities equitable to ensure we are catering for our people.

Biophilia, as well as our connection with animals, birds, nature and trees, this symbiosis also extends to people, our interconnection with each other. It is the love of living entities, life..

For Edna her focus on civic environmental improvements includes walking and eco-friendly modes of transport. This closer connection to other people gets you speaking with others, community, maybe even starting friendships. Also consider the sound pollution, the auditory impact traffic noise has on us, it raises our stress levels.

Challenges are always there, the good thing is that when you know them then you can address them effectively. In finding solutions you need to ensure you allocate and understand the budgetary requirements. Transport is the responsibility of national and subnational governments, and there is need for coordination, we need to look at them as one system, we need infrastructure to make our lives better, including the deliberate allocation towards walking and cycling. We need policy and regulations, legitimising walking and cycling. Plus we need to bring in citizen awareness, allowing for a constant motion of educating masses of their rights to walking facilities, when we realise how poor environmental transport solutions affect our health, this becomes a personal concern and changes the game.

Cities are very central to climate action, by 2050 68% of the people of the world will live in cities. We need to engage more inclusively for the needs on the ground, addressing climate change in all sectors. For instance, in the built environment bringing let’s bring in biophilic solutions, for example, vertical gardens, these improve aesthetics, are air purifiers and sound absorbers.

In Kenya everybody tries to have a kitchen garden wherever they can, even growing vegetables in a sack. It’s a culture, everyone grows a few greens in their backyard, even with more and more people in apartments, nature is so resilient Growing your own, allows us to feel closer to nature, to nurture it, giving us a greater appreciation of nature. Think about underserved communities, helping them have access greens and improve their nutrition while also mitigating climate crises, reducing food miles and the loss of nutrition along the way. Growing food can also bring communities together. Biophilia should be right at the core.

In urban and peri-urban areas, let’s bring in trees. Trees play a critical role in our cities. Let’s put in more boulevards and vertical gardens, which will help reduce our energy costs. Use local Indigenous plants as these will be resilient to the climate that’s there. We try and force things, to make things that don’t work. There is always something that works in a particular area. For instance more palm trees in a tropical climate. Always a solution, even when it comes to food. We can get all the needs dietary needs from what’s around us, we should encourage people to use what’s local, and build on that.

Biophilia is a great way of bringing us back to nature and helping us address climate change.

For more information and to contact Edna visit www.ednaclimate.com and more information on the Economist Impact Events visit: https://events.economist.com

To buy a copy of The Journal of Biophilic Design visit our website

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buy our magazine from our websitewww.journalofbiophilicdesign.com and if you like our podcast and would like to support us in some way, you can buy us a coffee if you’d like to, thank you xhttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/biophilicdesign

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What if we could foresee the future of work? For Bertie van Wyk, Insight Program Manager for MillerKnoll, the workplace will be somewhere we come to “connect”, where ideally, we spend 2-3 days in this environment where we are physically together. Listen to our teaser podcast which introduces some of the themes Bertie will be touching on at Workplace Trends Research Summit this Wednesday 19th March 2023.

The recently published data from the Future Forum Consortium, of which MillerKnoll is a member, is interesting. This Consortium interviews 10,000 knowledge workers every quarter. 81% employees want the flexibility to say where they work, but interestingly 93% want flexibility for WHEN they work. The answer is a balance, something that works well for both the employee and the business.

Wellbeing and sustainability for Bertie, are two completely different entities. At Miller Knoll, they even split Wellbeing into three. For instance, there’s your physical health within a working environment, whether that is your co-working space or working from home. Then there is the cognitive side, which is fantastic, and biophilic design plays a big role in this, how we try and make better decisions faster within the environments that you are in and also help decrease your stress levels.

The cognitive design element is incredible. When we change our environments, this has a really big impact on how you feel and if you combine that with great wayfinding, our stress levels reduce too. With really great design, we can understand what the purpose of a space is for without having any stress of looking for a sign of trying to figure out.

The last facet of Wellbeing is social welfare. What we mean by this, is “how can we help people have better connections, better feelings within the environment through designing social behaviours within a floor space within a layout. Helping people have those connections so they can choose how much privacy they want to have and how much they want to give.

As designers, when we are designing the workplace, we need to consider TWO places. The “office” and the “home”. As a business, you have a responsibility to ensure that your staff have the correct ergonimcs, lighting as well as ensuring that you are reaching your CO2 targets. Bertie starting sharing some figures with us before we ran out of time, it seems there is a danger that working from home uses more CO2 than working from the office. There are some perameters of course, which Bertie shares with us here, but if you are working from home, consider where you source your electricity from, how you insulate your home, how much electricity you use, which mode of transport you use when you do go into the office..

If people are working fom home 2 -3 days or working week, that’s half their productive time, then we are not just designing people for working environment, but also their homes. We need to help our employees understand that need to take breaks, spend time in nature, have better chairs, and air quality, acoustics, but we must also now be aware that we need to mimic that for their home.

Bertie goes on to share some surprising statistics, and it is worth looking at the reports from MillerKnoll. And that is where we wrapped up our interview… so if you want to find out more about how much a video call uses in terms of energy use, what we should be doing to create sustainable offices, come and ask Bertie in person and join us at The Workplace Trends Research Summit, or sign up on their website to watch the post-event video streams to find out more.

To contact Bertie visit https://workplacetrends.co/register-of-workplace-consultants/bertie-van-wyk-2/ follow him on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertievanwyk/ and MilerKnoll https://www.mkinsightgroup.com

Bertie will be speaking at the Workplace Trends conference on 19th April 2023, in London

https://workplacetrends.co

To buy a copy of The Journal of Biophilic Design visit our website

www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com or from Amazon.

buy our magazine from our website and if you like our podcast and would like to support us in some way, you can buy us a coffee if you’d like to, thank you x

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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Harvesting the energy of our people, is a key message in this great podcast with Jaime Blakeley-Glover, founder of Orientate.earth and a collaborator with other businesses all working towards the same goal, to make our world and our environment a better place to live and thrive. We talk about his the “Social benefit of buildings”. For Jaime, we have a huge responsibility in relation to how we create our built environment, the decisions we take will have an effect for years after we’ve gone. We leave a legacy, and a choice. Do we create amazing awe-inspiring connected places or create dull and lifeless ones? It is only by understanding and engaging with all the stakeholders, from the building owners to the people who work, visit, use and supply the buildings that will allow us to think about the place our buildings and places have in responding to the needs of people now and in the future. We need to broaden out how we think of things. Buildings are more than just Units and assets, these are places where people live, how we build and design affects their lives and wellbeing. Let’s look at the Social-economic indicators as well as the “warm” data, this collective imagination to assess this broad set of information, and then respond to it. Biophilic design and nature-inspired design does support a more sustainable way of living. It is proven, that if we care about something we do more to protect it, if we bring nature more into our sense of view, we will do more to protect it. We can also be inspired by nature and look at how buildings and cities are living systems. We are part of the living system, in terms of cities, and nature. We can’t think about it in a linear way. All living systems are wonderfully adaptive, they change in response to their surroundings. That’s how we should be looking at how we designing materials, organisations, buildings. Nature has feedback loops, and if we genuinely listen to a place, really understand what is going on in the workplace and a make a commitment to work with what we see, we will flourish. We also talk about the Most Sustainable Workplace Index. There was a report in 2017 that stated that 98% of sustainability initiatives fail to deliver, for Jaime, most of this comes from human factors and we need to reduce that. But we can’t just scatter seeds on stony ground. We need to think about the soil in an organisation which is the culture, the relationship, the purpose, our meaning. Which in turn allows things to grow, the index, helps us understand that so we can sow the seeds, and select the right ones. With a more human centric measure of sustainability based around motivation. If people are motivated, we would not be getting those stats. With the index we can understand our people and respond to what they need to step into action and help build motivation for sustainable behaviour and action. If we use Biophilic Design as a way of working, combined with a process of Adaptation (mimicking nature), we can contextualise what we do, and grow from the inside out. And things will change for the better.

To contact Jaime visit www.orientate.earth and www.mostsustainableworkplace.com

Jaime will be speaking at the Workplace Trends conference on 19th April 2023, in London https://workplacetrends.co

To buy a copy of The Journal of Biophilic Design visit our website www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com or from Amazon. If you like this, please subscribe! Please register for our newsletter on our website https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcasts-journal-of-biophilic-design

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How do you design to incite a feeling? We spend five days of our week in the workplace, and it impacts our psychology massively. When we walk into a space, how do we design to excite that sense of awe. For Becky Turner, workplace psychologist for Claremont General Interiors, they have conducted research to examine how we replicate that feeling of “ooh” in the workplace.

For many it is the sense of sense of connection that drives people to the office, what else will encourage the workforce the consider the cost of the commute whether it’s financial or time? Claremont researched office-based workers to find out what types of things invite people back to the office. With an overall low occupancy at 30% businesses are feeling the pinch when it comes to workforce presence.

That feeling of connection to other living beings, comes back to Biophilia and Fromm’s expounding of being connected, that love of life, and sense of freedom. It’s a complex thing.

How do you design to incite a feeling? Becky talks about colour theory, employee journey, brand experience, and how you drive people into the space for those spontaneous connections. Create a variety of spaces and of course the benefit of Biophilic Design is so widely researched that if we create a variety of spaces, to help increase employees mood we are going to have healthier and happier and productive workforce.

Becky describes how important it is to create choice, and freedom to explore in a workplace, so people feel a sense of control, but it is vitally important to ALSO so important, to ensure that the organisation empowers that control. Micro choices are a way forward too.

Human centric design of course, also ensure that we take into consideration, job roles, personalities, neurodiversity and physical challenges mean that people are going to use the workplace differently.

Overall, Becky is optimistic, there is a progression towards consideration to the human experience in the workplace, and that people are not just commodities. There is so much data to show, that Biophilic Design has a great impact on bottom line performance. Space can impact wellbeing, happiness and healthiness, mentally physically and socially.

We also speak about activity based workspaces, and offering prospect and refuges areas, as we would also experience and seek out in nature itself, spaces where you can gain information and also have shelter and protection. Businesses are understanding that we need different workspaces for different tasks. Looking at the Five Factor Model – OCEAN (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism), it is important that we all design with everyone in mind. We need to put safe spaces in, defining these for refuge, so it’s important when we come back to the office, that we use those principles found within nature, to create a similar landscape to satisfy that need we have internally. To connect with Becky visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-wilkins-claremontgi/ or download a recent report click here: https://www.claremontgi.com/balanced-workplaces/

buy our magazine from our website buy our magazine from our website and if you like our podcast and would like to support us in some way, you can buy us a coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/biophilicdesign if you’d like to, thank you x

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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Here’s a big question, how do we inspire more people to come back into the workplace? For Steve Brewer, founding partner of the design agency, Burtt-Jones and Brewer, we need to create a workplace EXPERIENCE which works for you as an individual. Having worked with HM Treasury and so many other businesses transforming their workplaces, for Steve the most important part of the conversation is with the individual. Rather than go through a company and blitz a design with a hammer and chisel, for Steve, the keys are workshops. “We benchmark where that company is and where that company wants to go in the future. It’s a very tailored response, and very much we see ourselves as Co-designing workspaces.” The better experience at work, the better the end-result. “The more you can run through that process, the better the foundations you can build.” Steve sees that his role is to pull all the “Jigsaw pieces together and try and make it the best-looking picture that everybody agrees to”.

What about Biophilic Design? For Steve, he has always tried to bring outside experience inside the office. Sometimes, businesses might see biophilic design and plants as a sticky plaster solution. If you think about it the buildings are often already there “glass sealed boxes with air conditioning. Maybe you’ve been on tube, rushed to work, grabbed a coffee, no breakfast, kids were screaming, then you are in the work environment. If we can bring more biophilic design into those spaces, then that experience is going to lift your wellbeing, calm you down by not seeing white walls, glaring light, bad acoustics…”

Steve goes on to explore how to introduce Biophilic Design early as you can into the design consultation process, but most importantly being sensitive and understanding how and when to convince stake-holders who might have a thousand other things on their mind when they are sitting around the table.

His design consultancy implemented Biophilic Design into the Headquarters of Shelter, the Housing Charity, in Old Street in London. “We introduced a lot more control of their own workspace. There were 5 floors, and had a traditional way of working. We ran workshops with them, and we encouraged Shelter to change the way they worked. We helped them explore how they could chose alternative work settings, adjust lighting levels, find alternative workspaces, how they could upcycle products. They embraced the concept of “Community” and “Home”.” And one of the most wonderful things, is that the “staff group look after the planting and champion it.”

Visit https://www.burtt-jonesandbrewer.com for more information and to view their inspiring portfolio.

Also note Steve Brewer will be speaking at #workspacedesignshow and I'll be chairing a panel discussion with him on too. Join us at the UK’s biggest workspace event bringing you networking, thought leadership, and the latest products to transform our country’s offices, taking place 27th & 28th February 2023 at Business Design Centre. Register FREE to attend here https://invt.io/1exbb5fmtdj #WDS23

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Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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For Paula Rowntree, Head of Workplace Design for LLOYDS BANKING GROUP, the office very much plays an important role in the workplace. For her it is the human connection, the corridor moments, saying hello, being creative, having conversations, seeing when someone is not ok. So when it comes to designing spaces, the focus is very much on the wellbeing of the people using the space, as well as the sustainability aspect, which is why Biophilic Design is such a positive element in a designer’s bag.

“Biophilic Design is incredibly important. It is that Deep-rooted connection to nature that we all have. To breathe fresh air, that emotion you get from being connected to nature.” Paula goes on to explain how years ago, the historic design trend was to take nature out of buildings, and make them a little more sterile and austere. Fortunately, that trend is shifting. Bringing in more greenery and timber elements, we feel calm and relax very quickly in a space. “Planting, naturally makes you feel better”.

Paula will be speaking at the Workpace Design Show, taking place on 27 and 28 February 2023 in London. “Often, when we come to implement real planting, we might need to create a business case for it (we need watering systems, so there’s a cost to install and maintain). But there is a whole array of plant elements we can bring into a space, from pretend plants, to preserved planting which may be simpler to deploy and gives illusion of planting.”

Fortunately, Lloyds Banking Group have a strong sustainability agenda, so for Paula, nature-inspired design is a key to helping reach net-zero targets and encourage sustainable behaviour. With our planet in crises, temperatures are rising, it is a big overwhelming problem. “We are trying to get everyone in the bank thinking about sustainability. What can you do? That’s where I started from, what can I do?” In one of the flagship branches of Lloyds, notably the one on Oxford Street (near Bond Street), Paula pushed the boundaries, as well as changing heating systems, lighting, furniture and fabrics she looked at planting. She installed High-raft moss discs, Preserved planting up at ceiling level, Plant pots with ground-level plants all putting oxygen back into the air, plus a Living wall on the outside with the brand element on the fascia. As a result, the bank colleagues feel very proud to explain what it’s all about, especially the sustainability aspect.

“Biophilia and planting becomes a visible statement” something that says that this company is committed to sustainability. “Also by putting planting back into the environment in branches, we are helping make people feel a little bit better in the work environment.” The spaces feel good, there’s re-oxygenation, alongside brand messaging. “There is something so joyful, it makes you feel: wow this in an amazing space. We want to make them timeless, make them last, to be there for future generations, because planting does that right, it doesn’t just stop.”

Also note Paula will be speaking at #workspacedesignshow and I'll be chairing a panel discussion. Join me at the UK’s biggest workspace event bringing you networking, thought leadership, and the latest products to transform our country’s offices, taking place 27th & 28th February 2023 at Business Design Centre. Register FREE to attend here https://invt.io/1exbb5fmtdj #WDS23

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With such a depletion of wildlife in the UK alone, with so many schools, cities, towns, and housing estates being built so far removed from our natural world how on earth does the next generation stand a chance to learn about the natural world and be sympathetic to it?

At the same time, we also are demanding literally the earth from our natural world, and the way we extract from the natural world is getting more intensive and damaging. As we move further away from it how do we fill that nature gap in society? We speak with Environmentalist, Producer and Writer Mary Colwell who has campaigned and devised a NEW Natural History GCSE designed to help bridge this chasm, helping put nature and the wonderment and fascination of nature into education.

“Nature is for everyone, it is there for YOU to engage with, that’s why putting it into the school system is important, making it open access and free to all, for everyone to engage with. We know from the COPs recently that we are looking at a very difficult time ahead, and those young people will have to live in this difficult time, and if they are going to make the right decisions for themselves, people and the planet, they need to be more knowledgeable, more engaged and more connected to this planet we live on.”

Research by Miles Richardson of the University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research department has shown that by the time children reach secondary school, there is a marked drop off in connection to the natural world. It happens at around 13, it gets crowded out, school gets very academic, and nature is side-lined, squashed into Biology, and then it’s only picked up again when we are 30.

With 80% of us in the UK living in urban environments that means only 20% of us live in anything you can call countryside. We have shifted our cultural attitudes, our language, everything has shifted away from nature. All this is creating a perfect storm of disassociation and lack of emotional response and emotional intelligence when it comes to dealing with the natural world.

Up until now, through the current education system, we are handing over to the next generation a fractured view of nature. We live in this disassociation, we are just taking what we want, and it’s not even much to pay. This is what we are passing on to the next generation and it must stop.

One of the beautiful things about Biophilic Design is that it brings nature and nature-inspired design right under the noses of everyone, it reconnects us to nature. How wonderful would it be, if alongside, the next generation learns how to identify, study, record and monitor the natural world, understanding how habitats make the nature of Britain: how the animals, plants and birds that we live with thrive, that they learn what its job is, how for instance how an Oak Tree fixes the soil, provides habitats, how it interacts with us. We are all part of the same thing, the outside world, we are nature, we are one.

The Disgupta review emphasised the importance of learning about biodiversity and ecology at all levels of education. I interviewed Dom Higgins Health and Education director for the Wildlife Trusts, a few weeks back and I was really thrilled to learn that Mary has campaigned and designed this new Natural History GCSE. “We need a nature-literate, engaged, and eco-sensitive generation, we need to start helping fill that gap”.

It’s showing up in our culture as well. In literature We use a lot fewer nature words in use of nature fiction poetry song lyrics since the 50s, use of personal pronouns, me, my, mine, has increased by 50% in the language we use on a day-to-day basis, we have become more inward and individualistic and a lot less community and open to the natural world.

Nature is everything hopefully it will encourage a general greening in the curriculum.

Let’s change that, through design, through education, through inspiration.

In this podcast you’ll also learn some interesting facts to tell your friends:

Did you know Cabbage White butterflies, migrate over the North Sea. We also see an influx of Painted Ladies from Europe, “I think it’s wonderful to imagine a whole host of Orange butterflies come skipping their way here over the grey North Sea.”

A swift never lands unless it comes into nest to breed, drink, eats, mates on the wing, rides out the storms and tempests of the planet and only lands to have its babies.

And how about the Curlew, with their most haunting and bubbling call? Did you know it can dip its bill into soft soil, the end of which moves? It acts like a pair of pincers, it feels around. It’s called rhinokinesis. The end of its bill opens independently, like a great pair of tweezers with a sensitive tip helping the bird find food on the water shore.

“Your Biophilic Design magazine is important, we need to be inspired by nature to help us live full and fascinating and very beautiful lives, that's really important because we mustn’t give the impression that the future is all about hairshirts, and not doing anything, not eating this and not going there. It’s not about that, it’s reorientating our desires and wonder towards what enhances all of life not just our own, that’s why I think your magazine is really really important, and the fact that it’s beautiful is really important as well.” (thank you Mary, ed.!)

We also discuss how schools should be designed. Full of flowers, and moth traps, when children go outside, let’s not have them just sit on concrete, but why not help them experience seasons and nature? Let’s reignite that childlike wonder and help them enjoy and learn that sitting on the grass has something beautiful to show them, something intriguing in it. The earth has so many menageries of wonder. Why not on a city level, as they walk to school, how about nature following them right up to the school door? It is essential that we are linked emotionally to nature as well as data collectors.

Mary calls on the best designers to think about school settings. That all that grey and concrete and hardness we often see in schools changes our state of mind, and this must affect kids at school.

So, this podcast is a call for designers to bring opportunities for biodiversity and also a spark of inspiration that everybody can do something… “every single person on this planet can do something, through what you buy, getting a bit more educated about things, or supporting organisations. On a personal level, just pick one thing and love it… because everything is connected to everything else… give it your all, care of it, campaign it, promote it, draw it, raise awareness, get engaged on an emotional level and you will be amazed at who comes to stand by your side.”

To find out more about Mary visit www.curlewmedia.com

https://www.curlewaction.org/natural-history-gcse/

mary@curlewmedia.com

Buy her new book, The Gathering Place, Bloomsbury Publishing, April 2023

https://uk.bookshop.org/a/6777/9781399400541

Other books by Mary

John Muir (fabulous book!) https://uk.bookshop.org/a/6777/9780745956664

Curlew Moon (just love the title) https://uk.bookshop.org/a/6777/9780008241070

Tooth, Beak and Claw (a must read for all nature lovers) https://uk.bookshop.org/a/6777/9780008354794

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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Tying in with this issue of the second issue of our magazine's theme, HOME, we speak with Award-winning Interior Designer Nuria Muñoz who tells us about her journey into Biophilic Design and why she decided to follow her dream path start her own company and do something good for the planet.

Nuria is a Wellbeing Interior Designer, Consultant, Speaker and Educator based in Valencia Spain and works all over the world. She founded Habitarmonia, a consulting and design studio that offers both B2B and B2C services, has won awards and is passionate about our beautiful planet, and designs interiors that respect our world and brings harmony and happiness to the families who live in them.

"We heal people by using Biophilic Design." Giving us an example where she transformed a home of a couple who had stressful jobs and children who were struggling on different levels, she explains the importance of co-creation, working with the family, asking them lifestyle questions, finding out their challenges, listening and also, and this is important, explaining HOW the design changes will help them.

"It's important to make people aware of the benefits of biophilic design. We create room and space, but our challenge as interior designers, it's not just about looking saying and showing it looks nice, it is important also to communicate that the Biophilic Design solution helps you with well-being and happiness."

Finalist in the Golden Trezzini Awards 2022 for Best Implemented Private House Interior Design Project, Nuria was Award Winner of Wintrade Global and won the Best Service Award in Houzz 2022. For Nuria, Biophilic Design is NECESSARY, to help mitigate climate change by implementing Biophilic Design, helping us reconnect with nature as well as helping the health of people, of families.

It is understanding we are nature, and that we can make something. Just like bees help the ecosystem, we too should be a positive cog in the environmental wheel, our biology needs to connect to nature and sustain life. Continuing the connectivity theme, Nuria explains how important this is for her.

If people could understand this language of Biophilia, get connected to nature, and go to nature, if they would feel it themselves, then Biophilia could be this common language. Yes, we can create beautiful cities but we also need to understand what we are doing.

To find out more about Nuria visit her site https://www.habitarmonia.com/ Why not also visit the link where you can download a free checklist to create a well-being interior (this brings you to the ebook - 144 pages of examples, pictures and worksheets to create your own well-being space): https://www.habitarmonia-academy.com/wellbeing-checklist

Did you know our NEW printed and eBook journal is out now https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/journal-of-biophilic-design-1

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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Biophilia is more than plants, light and air, it’s also about surrounding ourselves with living beings and our living natural world. If we think about it, E.O.Wilson’s seminal book, Biophilia celebrates all aspects of our living planet and is a call for that direct connection with nature. Wilson’s book examines our inherent connection to living species, the fascination of life, and how other living societal systems can inform our own. In fact, his lifelong interest in ant colonies emphasises this. Creating those moments of intimacy with nature has a really important place in our modern world where there is a disconnect with getting out there.

In this wonderful podcast, we speak with Michael Potts, who has spent more than 30 years as a wildlife cameraman, mostly for the BBC in more than 50 countries worldwide on major series including working alongside David Attenborough filming Life of Birds, The Life of Mammals and many programmes in the Natural World series. We discuss the importance of nature connection, why we need to introduce and educate the next generation, and also how audio-visual connection to nature through our TVs and devices is a positive thing and how we could take this one step further and introduce it into our built environment. “If you see something and understand it, then you care about it, then you might do something to protect it and encourage other people to do the same.” The messaging, inspiration and education you experience through wildlife films inspire people, and footage of birds in flight for instance has a calming effect as well.

Michael regales us with tales of animals, where he has filmed birds of paradise in New Guinea, Grizzly bears in Alaska, Termites in Namibia, Caribou migration, Polar Bears and more. He has spent many hours, up close and personal, feeling the heartbeat of a bird as it sits in his hand, feeling the strength of it, studying the intricacies of plumage which adapted to that way of life, their piercing eyes, incisive bills which continue to fascinate him: “every species is so special, they are all so different, so supremely adapted to where they live.”

He has also seen so many changes, reduced habitats for farming birds for instance where prairie-style farming is destroying land and habitats. We can do more to improve the habitats of birds and animals, and the built environment, cities, towns and communities can do much to change how we build and design our communities.

Biomimicry is one aspect of nature understanding that has a positive impact on our built environment, he mentions filming Termite mounds, huge, 12-15 feet high, made from mud, clay and sand. “They have incredible internal temperature control systems. It is +40 centigrade during the day, but to near freezing at night, but with a system of chambers and ducts, the termites maintain constant temperatures inside the mound to within 2 degrees.” This was for a study by Loughborough University which were using the knowledge garnered from the filming to use the design as an example for cooling systems in modern buildings. Nature provides us with so many answers, if we have eyes to see.

Michael has a fascinating book out “Untangling the Knot, Belugas and Bears: My Natural World on Film” which you can buy directly from all good booksellers, and also directly through Michael, contact him via his website:

http://michaelpottsphotography.com

He will also be at The Global Bird Fair in July 2023

https://globalbirdfair.org

Did you know our NEW printed and eBook journal is out now https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/journal-of-biophilic-design-1

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/

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As many of our listeners know, the concept of Biophilic Design brings our contact with nature closer into our lives in the built environment, whether that’s at home, work, hospitals, schools or our cities. In our podcasts we speak to people whose life’s work has been to design and work with nature and also to understand more deeply how and why our connection with nature is so profound and why it has the positive impact it has on us. The underlying factor is our inheritance from our ancestors, how for hundreds of thousands of years we lived outside, close to nature. We are still dependent on nature for our food, air, water, life.

In this podcast we speak with Mary Reynolds Thompson, founder of Live Your Wild Soul Story, and who is an award-winning author, internationally recognized speaker, and a pioneer in the spiritual ecology movement, her focus is on the transformative power of landscape archetypes and nature metaphors to reveal our true purpose and right relationship with the planet. We discuss how the way we are living now alienates us from real life, from the living planet, from each other, and from our own authenticity. It’s not just a philosophy, it's proven that time in nature really heals you emotionally, psychologically, and physically, the effects are lasting – it has an accumulative benefit, extending into the stresses of the week. Therefore, simply put, the more connected we are to nature the happier we are.

“It’s an unfolding comfort, we feel the warmth or cold of the earth, almost like the heartbeat of the mother, security and happiness. For all human history we lived outside, it’s part of our lineage, and we don’t just cut it off. We don’t lose that desire.” Mary goes on to describe a concept, Shadow wild – this disconnection which leaves such a gaping chasm that we tend to want to fill it with whatever is at hand because we want to feel alive (Joseph Campbell, the mythologist said – more than anything humans want to feel alive, and most of us feel alive when we are outside in the natural world.

We are part of the earth's 4.5-billion-year history, everything that comprises us was there even before the big bang. There is a deep knowing that changes how we feel about ourselves, we are not inconsequential, we matter, we are matter, we have meaning. Mary takes this one step further in her practice, she helps people reconnect with themselves and this realisation is part of the beginning of this return to our passion for what we want to do. For her landscapes are archetypes, and they are inside us, we emerged out of these places.

Have a listen to the different archetypes which Mary describes. For instance if we are constantly mountain woman or man, there are times in our life when we need water, or desert. As Designers, I imagine some would find this interesting, as we go on to discuss how we could take an office and create zones, creating spaces that resonate with different elements to help users of a space work through a project. The desert is calm and allows thinking time, the forest is an imagining space where we follow threads, we allow our passion to come into its own with the ocean, we manifest on mountains and then we take to the grasslands to share and serve the community, our purpose.

Finally, we talk about the environment. Nature and what we’re doing to nature mirrors what we are doing to our own psyche and souls. Razed forest is devastating, in many ways we are felling the most fecund creative aspects within ourselves as we do it, we are cutting down diversity, creativity, and rootedness. What we are doing to the earth is not unrelated to what we are doing to our psyches and souls. We as humans have a deep kinship with all of life. We are not just hurting the planet we are hurting ourselves in very profound ways.

Did you know our NEW printed and eBook journal is out now https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/journal-of-biophilic-design-1

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/

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Dom Higgins, head of Health and Education for the Wildlife Trusts. We speak about Nature connectedness, biodiversity, purpose, people, place, Cone Snails and the new Natural History GCSE… among other things.

We talk about how we need active environments, and how it goes back to when we were hunter-gatherers. If you remove people inside and then we remain stationary, then we stress. We should be outside, away from artificial lights and all the accoutrements of the modern-day office (unless it has biophilic design woven into its very fabric). Take anyone away from connecting with nature and we get chronic stress. The disconnection detrimentally affects us physically and mentally.

We discuss this nature-connectedness, that feeling of understanding what is going on in the world, that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. We need that daily thought, that sense of knowing that everything has a place, and is connected back to everything else. This is our life-support system essentially. If we don’t design with that sense at our core, then our planet and our health are doomed. If you don’t have that feeling, that sense of connectedness with nature innate within you, then the decisions being made around the world are skewed, everything from creating fair and sustainable employment to the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. It has consequences. And not good ones.

Nature is our key to solving the climate crisis, if we reconnect people with nature, bring nature and natural elements closer to people then everything is more joined up. Better decisions will be made. We need to give nature a chance, we might be too late to prevent climate change, but we can mitigate against the challenges such as cooling cities, carbon sinks, cleaning our air, and ecosystems that can mitigate the issues. We need people to take action, so we need to hear it on the Stock Exchange, Factories, taxis, it should be the business of everybody.

Dom tells us about the 3 strategic goals of The Wildlife Trusts, the first one is the aim to see 30% recovery in land and sea by 2030, second is to see 1 in 4 people taking action in nature or climate change “we can’t do it alone, we need partnerships, new communities and voices” and finally demonstrating the societal value that nature has, for instance, nature-based solutions to the healthcare social care challenges, and we could add Biophilic Design falls into that last goal.

Change has to be mandatory, we need legislation, there is always a cheaper way of doing something, we need to “weave in nature to design resilience to climate change. Nature is there for you.”

To find out more about Dom and The Wildlife Trusts

Get involved: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/get-involved

Find a Wildlife Trust near you: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-trusts

Did you know our NEW printed and eBook journal is out now https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/journal-of-biophilic-design-1

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/

Twitter https://twitter.com/JofBiophilicDsn

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Follow Dom: https://twitter.com/DomCHiggins

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Merging nature and design together, Outsidein, as their name suggests, does exactly that, they bring the outside in. They were Platinum winners in this year’s 2022 Biophilic Design Awards with a project they designed for a large litigation firm in New Zealand, where the CEO had given them the specification to bring the experience of the wilds of New Zealand into the office to help give their workforce respite and relief during what is often a pressurised workday. Not only does this give relief, but also it is an amazing space to be in, people want to be there, they are drawn to the area. With the recruitment of the best and most talented staff a challenge in many countries, we might be wise to take a leaf (excuse the intended pun) out of this book.

We sit down with Ryan McQuerry, Creative Director of Outsidein, who dialled in at 5am from New Zealand to speak with us to find out about his journey into greenscaping and discuss how Biophilic Design when incorporated into the built environment and cities transforms lives. From his first forays into his grandpa’s garden in America to starting his first landscaping business at the age of 17, to being inspired by Patrick Blanc and seeing someone hanging off a building installing plants. He and his family live and breathe the biophilic life, their home is in the countryside, where every window has a view of nature, and materials are organic and natural, it’s no wonder that his work, installations and vision for design is sensitive to the beauty and benefits our natural world brings to us. He shares with us how they designed the winning greenscape using a change of temperature, natural light, indigenous plants, local rocks, terrarium concepts and so much more. It is beautiful, have a look at the images on our website www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com.

Ryan describes how architects are intentional about the materials they use for a project, and can be lost when it comes to someone maybe with no design background who hires a “pot” from a plant company and in effect, it is the pot that is hired rather than looking a cohesive design. Ryan took a fresh approach, he hires designers not sales people, and they understand the architect’s vision, and how plants and design integrate into the architecture of the building.

With more companies concerned about climate change, wellness and sustainability as well as staff retention, there is actually a downside to NOT implementing Biophilic Design. We even discuss how a visionary in factory design could create biophilically designed areas of respite and give their workers the opportunity throughout the day to use these regularly. I was also thinking this would work in hospitals and even education, some of these spaces are designed functionally like factories, with no “areas” of calm to unwind and come down from a heightened stress level.

One of the most lovely things Ryan said, was that he feels designers using Biophilic Design, are giving people a “gift”, a gift of calm: “People might not know why they are drawn to the spaces, and won’t consciously know what you’ve done, but you’ve given them a gift, an ‘ah’ moment, where they can have a pause for a moment, somewhere that feels nice and is comfortable.”

To find out more about Ryan McQuerry and Outsidein visit:

https://www.outsidein.net.nz

https://www.outsidein.net.nz/case-study-mc

https://www.instagram.com/outsidein_plantscaping/

https://www.facebook.com/outsideinplantscaping

https://www.linkedin.com/company/outsidein-plantscaping

Read the article on the winning project in the Journal of Biophilic Design ebook Magazine https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/shop/journalofbiophilicdesign-issue1-workplace or Printed copy https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/shop/journalofbiophilicdesign-issue1-workplace-magazine

Please register for our newsletter https://mailchi.mp/4001fc945c4f/untitled-page and view previous podcasts with images here too: https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcasts-journal-of-biophilic-design and be the first to hear about our new online and printed magazine which launches in October 2022.

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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We are diurnal species, we were born under natural light, we have an ingrained ability to imagine and contextualise natural light in our heads. A Biophilic approach to lighting pulls on those cues inwards into the built environment. We spend hours and hours inside, and in the workplace we need spaces that will empower us to do our best work, to flourish, to keep us healthy and as a simple baseline, to also enjoy coming to work. Gary Thornton is speaking at the Workplace Trends “Evolving Ways of Working” conference on 18 October 2022 in London and we catch up with him beforehand to discuss just how should we be applying Biophilic lighting to our Workplaces.

A lot of things in the workplace are static, but what can shift during the day is lighting. It can influence our behaviour, the look and feel of a space, more so than any other discipline. That is one reason why lighting is so important, but is also one of the unsung heroes of a space. Historically, we have lit spaces for paper-based work, instead of considering a great deal of our work is screen-based, so there is a lot of overlighting. In this podcast, Gary outlines a lighting schema that considers first how people use the space, how to enhance not only the horizontal space (desks etc) but also the verticals (the walls which can look drab and dull if not lit properly). He suggests lighting spaces which create an experience, a destination to enhance the wellbeing and also positive perception and feeling of a space.

We chat about Circadian rhythms, and how important bringing in an automated shift in brightness and colour temperature during the day is, so for instance it’s slightly warmer in the morning when you get to work, but it gets slightly cooler and punchier at lunchtime and then warmer and dimmer before you go home, it’s imperceptible but will support your eyes and body biologically, taking cues from nature does, to enable fit, healthy, productive and creative staff.

There are many reasons why we should be considering a better lit environment in the workplace, it draws in tenants and keeps companies there, so there’s longevity, but also staff retention, it supports everybody along the whole workplace chain.

To find out more about lighting design and the impact Biophilic lighting can have on us, join him at Workplace Trends on the 18th October at Workplace Trends (in person and online), book here: https://workplacetrends.co

Gary wrote an excellent article in our NEW Journal of Magazine now available on Kindle and as a Hardback and Paperback book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BH8D23LF?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

To connect with Gary at Nulty, visit https://www.nultylighting.co.uk

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/

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We often advocate that we should be incorporating wood, views of trees, wood grain, wood textures and wood veneers into our built environment as part of a Biophilic Design solution and we might also understand why from a psychological point of view and have discussed that elsewhere, but the question is HOW should we be selecting woods to incorporate, what woods should we use for instance for flooring, are they different to those used for outside timbers, are they sustainable? This is a definitive podcast on all things wood and trees. We were lucky to speak with Criswell Davis, TED speaker and internationally recognised expert on American Hardwood. He is also co-founder of the Timber and Forestry Foundation, President of Mighty Oaks Consulting and lectures all over the world on Biophilic Design and how we should be incorporating wood into our built environment. In this podcast, he shares with us, his very personal journey, and how a healthcare issue led him first-hand to experience the very big difference Biophilia made to his recovery.

At 5.50, Criswell describes the beauty of wood, how these slow-growing majestic entities are doing good things for the environment, how they absorb carbon, and he celebrates their sustainability and aesthetics. He goes on to share his personal journey here, how he had been in an ICU surrounded by nothing other than stainless steel and tubes, how it was “terrifying”. He contrasts that with a subsequent experience, also as a result of cancer, where he woke up in a completely different environment, which was clad in wood and looking out onto trees. He felt “intrinsically and viscerally” that this environment was better. He later was invited back to where he had his first hospital stay to give advice on how to design the space better. Along with other patients they all chose the mood boards with trees, wood, views of nature.

Maggie’s cancer care centres are discussed in this podcast there and at 57:42 as well (see here for our podcast with the CEO Dame Laura Lee or search for it in your RSS feed here). We don’t just talk about wood, he also mentions that they installed a 4K video loop of the sky for people about to go into a CAT scan (something we do too here the JBD as part of our Virtual Nature Walls movement).

His knowledge of trees, wood, veneers, finishes, biophilic design and sustainable aspect of forestry and the lumber business, was wonderful and I’d like to highlight his discussion from 21:50. He describes how both humans and trees are 60% water, 18% carbon, and reach the peak of life at 80 years, when we become more susceptible to issues, less productive, just like trees. He mentions the book “Search for the Mother Tree”, which highlights how the whole forest is connected, and how younger or sicker trees are cared for. He celebrates that the most important job trees have in the biosphere is to absorb carbon. How we live in symbiosis with the trees: we breathe out Carbon dioxide, the trees breathe it in, and give us back oxygen. The trees then hang on to the carbon which is then sequestered and kept forever in kiln-dried lumber. And when the trees have done all their brilliant work, and it’s time to render them into beautiful pieces of furniture, flooring, and cabinetry we can then still live with that end product from the trees.

At 29:00 Criswell urges designers to add “the beauty of wood to your artist palette”, and especially please avoid all woods which come from around the world and cannot be certified as legally harvested. “It is incumbent on all of us to check the legal custodianship of the wood you’re using, is it FSC (or other internationally recognised body) certified.”

25:22 he explores the cell structure of woods, including the difference between white and red oak… and how white oak was used in ships and barrels, how the trees draw up nutrients and also at 31:23 how the JANKA scale is used to measure the softness or hardness of woods (which will help you choose which wood to put where in your designs), at 45:30 he discusses how technology is being used in the industry including generating microthin veneers can be used, but of course only if the substrates are non-toxic.

There is so much more in this podcast, if you use woods in your practice, this is definitely one to listen to. Reach out to Criswell and also email us too to share any designs where you have used wood in offices, homes, schools, healthcare facilities, we’d love to hear from you.

To connect with Criswell visit: criswell@mightyoaksconsulting.com

https://timberandforestry.org/

And look out for his article in the forthcoming PRINTED and ONLINE edition of The Journal of Biophilic Design.

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What do you think of when people say "ergonomics"? You, like many others, may think 'comfortable chairs and sit-stand desks', but as Guy Osmond, MD of Osmond Ergonomics explains in this podcast, it is more than that. Incorporating Biophilic Design into workplace solutions, ergonomics covers the physical and mental wellbeing of the individual. The word itself comes from the Ancient Greek "ergon" meaning "work" and "nomos" meaning natural law, so ergonomics is the practice of designing a work environment optimised for the individual so they can be the most attentive, most productive and most comfortable at work.

In this podcast Guy gives us, at 00:13:00, THREE TIPS you can do at home to improve your home working. He also shares information from a NASA study on how and why we should move to trigger your anti-gravity muscles.

Millions of people are still working from their kitchen, with a whole bunch of them suffering from neck, shoulder and back problems, as well as mental health issues. If you have ever heard of the term "Magnetic Office", you will probably know that it is a term referring to the pull of the office. If you want your staff to return to your offices, well, just take a look at their design. Can they can work comfortably? Are you considering the well-being management of your workforce? Up your game and think of the bigger picture, and remember the key takeaway from this podcast: the mental and physical health of your staff are interconnected.

Osmond Ergonomics are running an event, "Hybrid Working" on 19th October 2022 at Orangebox showroom in London, visit the link bit.ly/oe-hybrid to find out more.

Guy is writing for our new online and print-on-demand magazine which comes out at the end of September (do sign up for updates https://mailchi.mp/4001fc945c4f/untitled-page ), sharing insights and research, tips and discussions on how you can bring improved Biophilic Design and Ergonomics into your interiors.

To view lots of free resources on ergonomics visit Guy’s company’s website: ergonomics.co.uk/pages/biophilia or connect with Guy here: linkedin.com/in/guyosmond/

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Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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How can we encourage more local greening? Where does Biophilic Design fit in the climate change picture? What can we learn from Paris and its free and equitable access to fountains and water? These and other questions are discussed in this great interview with Ross O’Ceallaigh, founder of the Green Urbanist podcast. With much of the world experiencing unprecedented heat waves this summer, we need to accelerate how we bring Climate Adaptation into our behaviours and city infrastructures. Ross is an urban designer and planner and calls for architects and fellow designers to refocus our aims to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Local greening could be a key solution, but, he says, we need to reduce the bureaucratic barriers that stop communities from planting trees and greening their spaces, the whole process needs to be streamlined to make it really easy. Did you know that 48% of London’s surface area is green and blue? That’s nearly half of the city covered by parks, gardens, canals, ponds and more. This surprising fact emerged as a result of a mapping exercise. Three years ago the Mayor of London formally designated London as a National Park City, which came about after a grassroots campaign took hold. Adelaide in Australia has followed, and there are more cities looking for similar designation. This is exciting on many levels. Changing the mindset that the city is indeed green, should hopefully also add weight to decisions to plant more trees, and reduce the desire to clear the tree canopies in the city which we desperately need. There are many really interesting projects taking place in London. So if you’re in the city, why not check some of them out, from Fruity Walks to the London Fungus Network (or check out the links below). We discuss how it wasn’t that long ago that we were living as hunter-gatherers, living in tune with nature and its natural cycles, and that we need to maintain that connection. Biophilic Design in the city also helps reduce temperatures in cities, from increasing tree canopies (we need at least 40% tree canopy cover to create a balanced temperature he says) to including more water. Let’s reimagine what nature in cities actually means. Together we can design greener, healthier, wilder. To find out more about Ross O’Ceallaigh and his work check out the Green Urbanist Podcast: https://greenurbanistpod.com/ Design South East: https://designsoutheast.org/ and follow him on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-o-ceallaigh/ London National Park City: https://www.nationalparkcity.london/ and Twitter: https://twitter.com/LondonNPC London Fungus Network: https://www.londonfungusnetwork.org/ Fruity Walks: https://www.instagram.com/fruitywalks/?hl=en If you like this, please subscribe! Please register for our newsletter on our website https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcasts-journal-of-biophilic-design Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts. Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds? Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Twitter https://twitter.com/JofBiophilicDsn LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/journalofbiophilicdesign

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As National Plants at Work week comes to a close, we celebrate all things plants with this great interview with ambassador and passionate interior and exterior planting designer, Ian Drummond. Plants at Work week takes place once a year, and aims to promote the many benefits of having plants in the workplace and in the past the designers for Plants at Work week have decorated all kinds of things from a Thames Clipper to a London black cab.

In this really passionate interview, be inspired and learn which plants are good where, why we need plants at every stage of our lives. Ian has worked with so many really interesting people, including Elton John, Chelsea Flower Show, BAFTA, London Fasion Week, I left the interview feeling ‘what a cool job he’s got’. Seriously, if you are thinking of working with plants, have a listen to this podcast or share with someone who is considering a career in plants, you’ll definitely leave the podcast impassioned too.

Ian started his passion for plants at a young age. He grew up in a council estate surrounded by concrete. One of his family gave him a house plant and it grew from there. One of the most powerful things he said, was how wonderful it would be if there was an opportunity for everyone to have living nature around them, if all communal spaces had a green oasis for everyone to spend time in. You don’t need a big investment, we need to open up our minds as to what’s important, developers and architects need to consider “green”. Not everyone can get outside, so bring the outside in, let’s fill schools, classrooms with plants. It should be an automatic thing, we should grow up surrounded by plants.

Ian shares with us some research he started with Dr Craig Knight of Exeter University where they showed that there was a 37% increase in productivity when people could design their own space with plants and artworks that meant something to them. No one wants to be in a lean empty box, you wouldn’t chose to live like that, so why would you chose to go into an office like that? One of the positive things that came out of Covid, was that to entice people back to the office, business owners realised they need to make the office a nice environment to come back to. As a result interior landscaping is booming, and it’s an easy way for corporate clients to change the look of an office. It’s cost-effective and there are lots of benefits from productivity and creativity to wellbeing.

We are naturally drawn to nature, as was proven during lockdown. And in fact, during Lockdown, Ian describes how he transformed a simple public seating area with pots and planting with grasses and summer bedding and how it became a haven for people. People are drawn to beauty, nature, plants, and as Biophilia refers to, LIFE, our inherent “love of life and living things”. We do so need it.

He shares with us how we can create “shelfies”, why Vanda Orchids are terrific, why we need Monsteras and how Zamioculcas are hard to kill! So some tips there for newbies to planting! His new book “At Home with Plants” shares ideas for what to plant in every room in the house. As he says, and I agree (!), every room should have plants!

To look at Ian’s wonderful designs and find out more about him, visit his website www.iandrummond.com and Instagram @plantman_about_town

To buy Ian Drummond’s book “At Home with Plants” visit all good bookshops, or click here if you’d like to support our Journal https://uk.bookshop.org/a/6777/9781784721947 (thank you if so!)

If you want to become a member of Plants at Work (either as a supplier or as a business wanting to support what they do), visit: https://www.plantsatwork.org.uk If you are an office manager stuck for ideas what to do, have a look through, it’s full of lots of ideas.

And also visit their website to buy their third book: “Plants, our Perfect Partners”

To view some installations, including their recent NookPod planting, see some of their blogs including this one with some great images: https://www.plantsatwork.org.uk/index.php/item/transforming-workspaces-with-plants

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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When you climb up a tree, don’t we see life from a different perspective? We realise we part of something bigger than ourselves, we see an overview of everything and it helps us understand our place in the world more. It is also true, that generally many people and businesses seem to have a distorted relationship with nature, but as Environmental Psychologist and Design professional Anicee Bauer of “Humans in Trees” puts it: “we are nature”. Can Biophilic Design really encourage a more sustainable lifestyle, and why should the Workplace include Biophilic Design in order to help reach that NetZero target?

Anicee is going to be speaking about “How to Design Sustainable Habitats for Sustainable Habits” in the NetZero Workplace taking place on 7th July 2022 in London (for more information and book a space, look here: https://workplacetrends.co/events/the-net-zero-workplace/ ). What is inspiring, is that Anicee’s whole business model is to encourage a more Biophilic way of life not only in the external design of a space but also in the inner landscape within each one of us.

In this podcast, she shares with us the three fascinating levels in this process. We touch on Wabi-Sabi design strategies, Aristotelian intellectual moral virtues, spirituality, reconnecting with the fun we feel in nature and Einstein.

Biophilia is indeed our innate connection with nature and living things. We touch on studies that show how Biophilic Design stimulates pro-social behaviour, trust and empathy in employees. Also how Biophilic Design encourages us to be more predisposed to want to be in contact and to care for nature, which in turn encourages sustainable living habits.

We also talk about those “awe”-inspiring moments in nature, how they make us feel humble, and how they encourage us to think less about the ego, the “I/me” and open our focus towards the collective good, our social surroundings and therefore our environment.

Imagine a workplace where everyone is fulfilling their purpose. We need more people to be visionary. Question is, are you one of those free-thinking business owners who already do or want to do things better, not just for the greater good of people but of the planet too? Contact us and share your story or better still join us at The Net Zero Workplace: https://workplacetrends.co/events/the-net-zero-workplace/

For more information on Anicee Bauer and Humans in Trees, contact her on:

https://humansintrees.com/english/

To read the chapter in the book Anicee mentions, “The Eudaimonic Workplace, A Plea for Change”, you can view it here: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-658-33519-9_3

If you would like to learn more about how to reach Net Zero in your workplace, have a listen to our recent interview with Jeremy Campbell and Ian Baker of Emcor, who are also speaking at the NetZero Workplace event here: https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcast-journal-of-biophilic-design/biophilic-design-and-net-zero-targets-in-the-workplace

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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So how do we design workplaces and maybe more importantly maintain our workspaces and offices during the course of the building’s life span and use to help create happy, healthy and also sustainable places to be? We speak with Ian Baker, Head of Workplace and Jeremy Campbell, Executive Director Marketing and Business Development for Emcor UK to find out their direct experience as facility managers just what is happening in workplaces, and also how we can improve what we’re doing now to also hit that NetZero target.

We talk about how worried they are about climate change and the IPCC report. We are at a turning point, there is no Planet B, if we carry on as we are doing there aren’t going to be future generations, we have moral obligations as business leaders to solve these problems So how can business owners start to address the issue of trying to reach Net Zero? A recent survey Emcor carried out revealed that 50% of business owners were not ready or not yet on a journey to meet their Net Zero targets.

We discuss how we can retrofit solutions into buildings. The EPC ratings will come into play for the workplace, and this is going to force companies to really think about that retrofit decision. Before the pandemic we just used our buildings and didn’t really think about HOW we were using them. Now we have an opportunity to really create workplace that we chose to come to, and also to responsibly consume the buildings themselves. We need to really think WHY we are using a space and manage that accordingly.

The Journal of Biophilic Design is a media sponsor of the new event THe Net Zero Workplace, which is taking place on 7th July 2022, Cavendish Conference Centre in London. Find out more here and to book tickets. Ian and Jeremy are both speaking there too on “Responsible Consumption in the Workplace”.

Biophilic Design is one of the key elements in helping companies meet their targets. How we attract and retain talent, so our workplaces are destinations of choice, we want to create workplaces that make us feel great, that stimulate our personal feeling of wellness and wellbeing and also inspire our creativity.

To find out more about Emcor visit: https://www.emcoruk.com

And to find out more about the Net Zero Workplace event visit https://workplacetrends.co/events/the-net-zero-workplace/

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/

Twitter https://twitter.com/JofBiophilicDsn

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/journalofbiophilicdesign/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/journalofbiophilicdesign

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/

Twitter https://twitter.com/JofBiophilicDsn

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How can we work with the landscape more as architects and designers to not only create beautiful spaces but ones that also have a positive impact on our and nature’s wellbeing? We speak with Stephen Melvin, of Atelier Architects who desribes himself as a “landscape facilitator”. How he looks at how the landscape itself is structured and presents itself and then see how to weave the design into the natural space. He has developed the “Pioneer Nature Method” which he tells us about in this podcast.

Steve highlights the need to respect that underlying process of nature that will outlive us, how we need to build in and with the landscape and really consider how our buildings can live with nature. By talking through images shown in the video accompanying this podcast (viewable on YouTube and also on the Journal of Biophilic Design website here), he shows us a project as a case study, so we can follow his thought processes from concept through to render, looking at different aspects from materials, light, air to how people will use the space and also how it represents the client’s aims too.

These are beautiful airy, light, inspiring spaces that positively impact the environment they are in, rejuvenating land that had been weakened by former use, and also redirecting attention to ancient woodland and more.

Steve also shares with how his personal meditation practice alongside his love of rock climbing, particular ice-climbing has really made an inherent difference to how he perceives and senses landscape and therefore influences how he designs and builds.

To find out more about Stephen and his practice visit his website or contact him directly:

Atelier Architecture & Design www.atelier-architects.co.uk

steve@atelier-architects.co.uk 01442 828201, mobile 07970 701130

Atelier Architecture + Design Ltd: Company Page Admin | LinkedIn

Stephen Melvin | LinkedIn Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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With our countryside fast vanishing under concrete, there is much we can do to mitigate the loss by placing the natural world at the heart of development and planning. “Housing developments and houses themselves should be designed to provide space for both wildlife and people” – The Wildlife Trusts. But how do we get to this mindset? We were very excited to be joined by Chris Packham, naturalist, television presenter, writer, photographer, conservationist, campaigner and filmmaker. A very much respected presenter of BBC’s BAFTA Award-winning Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch series.

In our discussion, we talk about Biophilic Design and he makes an urgent call about why we need to bring nature into our built environment. “If we are not in contact with nature, how are we ever going to learn to love or recognise its true value.”

We were joined in this podcast by the insightful environmental correspondent Hartley Milner, who right at the start of the podcast asks about the current government legislation, policy change, the new watchdog being set up and how much is government spin. Chris, with his extensive knowledge of ecology, explains that really the governance is not enough, we need a collective sea-change in political attitudes, where those who govern us recognise an urgent need to address these issues. “Does it have to hurt us a lot more before we do anything? We are brilliant at cures, but not so good at prevention, which is an indictment of our collective intelligence that we wait to fall over before we pick ourselves up”.

This is one of the compelling reasons for Biophilic Design implementation. It is an integral part of that prevention I would argue. Surrounding ourselves with nature and patterns of nature, encourages positive memory, association and understanding and appreciation of nature. If we experience it in our everyday built environment we will naturally want to protect the living world we share our planet with, and depend on. “Our planet is on fire,” he says. “One to one contact with nature is essential”.

Chris also gives us ideas on how we can bring nature up close and personal in our own gardens, however small. “You might have a tiny patch of garden, but collectively, they are not. Did you know that all the gardens in the UK add up to an area the size of Suffolk?” Chris says that if we can help enable the individual to make a difference, then communities, then collectively all together, we can make a significant difference enabling us to live and survive more sustainably.

We talk about how we can design and build good quality affordable housing, new developments and communities with nature in mind. “Ask for help, reach out to those ecologists for help, let’s work in partnership. If you have the energy and ambition to build more sustainably and green, don’t just go 60% to make it green, go 100% and make it green and fruitful,” he says.

Wouldn’t it be amazing to see a whole raft of architects, developers, planners and designers who are able to create amazing spaces, offering everyone access to nature, even in intensely urbanised areas, improving health, and air quality, reducing temperature, encouraging biodiversity? We are running out of time. A better way of designing needs to be mandatory.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if every new build had swift bricks (which cost the same as ordinary ones), bat boxes, and fruit trees for instance? I suggest that maybe we need a simple “takeaway kit” for some developers to just plug and play an implementation. We need to build housing that will work today and tomorrow.

The whole ethos of Biophilic Design is summed up when Chris says how we should be giving people the chance to live an harmonious co-existence with nature. When we have first-hand experience of nature, it surprises us, it fills us with awe and wonderment.

We have discussed elsewhere on this podcast series, just what happens in our brains when we are close to nature (sights, sounds, smells, light, air, senses, evolutionary psychologyl, and physiological changes for instance), it is humbling to hear first-hand from someone so passionate about the natural world, that together we can really make a difference.

So, listeners (and readers), I’m going to ask you. What will you do today?

To find out more about Chris Packham, visit his website on https://www.chrispackham.co.uk

If you like this, would you like to register for our newsletter? https://mailchi.mp/4001fc945c4f/untitled-page

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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Can we make the world a better place by design? Nicole Craanen definitely thinks so (and so do we). Nicole is founder of Rooted in Nature and believes that connection to nature, especially through Biophilic Design supports human wellbeing. Quoting E.O.Wilson “the crucial first step to survival in all our organisms is habitat selection. If you get the right place, everything else is likely to be easier”, she explores in this podcast, just how we are rediscovering how we can design close to nature to help create better spaces for us to live and work in, and this is especially true in healthcare.

Just how important is it that everyone understands the impact that design has on us? Should we be using biophilic design as a tool for equity? How can we design spaces where people “flourish”, because, as Nicole says, there is a lot of “not flourishing” going on.

We have many studies proving just how beneficial Biophilic Design is, which underlines that deep innate connection that we have to the space around us. All this research is helping us determine habitats that support us in the built environment. It is also helping advocate the environmental stewardship aspect of Biophilic Design as a sustainable design practice.

When she travelled to India, the experience shifted the way she looked at design. Her love of learning and specialisms in anthropology and architecture, alongside her love of photography, all came together in the school of human ecology at Wisconsin and she has gone on to inspire many architecture practitioners to see the interconnectivity of spaces and people in them.

How are we not designing for the people who have to be there? In this podcast we also discuss Healthcare. What is the single most important reason we need Biophilic Design in these spaces? Stress. We need Biophilic Design to relieve stress. Nicole has spent many hours working in hospitals she says: “Hospitals are heavy places. It is the one place where the entire lifecycle is experienced. Staff experience stress alongside patients. She’s seen it where staff lose a patient and then have to turn around and go straight to the next room.” How can we relieve that?

Maybe one of the underused design traits is “prospect and refuge”. It is something, here at the JBD, we advocate. Creating spaces where, particularly in healthcare, emotion can come out. We want to be creating environments, where people can feel ‘held in space’. It’s not just the physical side, the economic side, we need to put at the forefront the emotional side of the space. There is a different way. We just need to feel it, to experience it, once we have, we don’t want to go back.

Nicole also takes architects and design practitioners into the forest, where (just as an anthropologist would do) she encourages people to look, observe, explore, not judge, just witness, to explore the senses. There are subtle shifts we then experience, and when we walk back into a building, we look at what’s missing.

To find out more about Nicole, visit her website: https://www.rootedinnature.org To find out more about Biophilic Design, visit: https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com

If you like this, would you like to register for our newsletter? https://mailchi.mp/4001fc945c4f/untitled-page

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/

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For Elliott Bennett, editor of i-Plants Magazine and founder of The Biophilic Design Awards, Biophilic Design gives us an holistic approach to bringing positivity and energy into the built environment on multiple levels, and if we can make it affordable and sustainable, then even better.

Plants can be a luxury item, but, Elliott, argues, they really boost the overall environment. Coming from a B2B background, actually selling and installing plants into buildings, he descirbes just how "alive' people become when you install living plants into a building. It's simple, plants are alive, when you bring plants into a space, you bring life.

It's the same with the wider principles of Biophilic Design, bringing patterns of nature and our living planet into a space, you bring life and energy of the outdoors. Last year's winners of the Biophilic Design awards were Plant Designs London who installed a multi-level atrium with 10,000 live plants throughout the offices and building. We've included images on www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com if you would like to take a look.

If you're looking for some Biophilic Design inspiration for your interior landscaping installations, why not take a look at the previous winners of The Biophilic Design awards. You can also enter THIS year, BEFORE 15th May 2022. Link below.

We speak with Elliott Bennett, editor of i-Plants Magazine and founder of The Biophilic Design Awards on how he got into the plant world and why, for him, Biophilic Design is a key to unlocking better interiors for companies and staff. To apply for The Biophilic Design awards, BEFORE 15 MAY 2022, click on this link: https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarships/Biophilicdesignawards22 For I-Plants Magazine : https://iplantsmagazine.com/

To apply for The Biophilic Design awards, BEFORE 15 MAY 2022, click on this link:

https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarships/Biophilicdesignawards22

For I-Plants Magazine : https://iplantsmagazine.com/

f you like this, please subscribe! Please register for our newsletter : https://mailchi.mp/4001fc945c4f/untitled-page

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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In Biophilic Design we speak about the importance of how the environment we are in affects our senses. This sensorial approach is a key feature of a human-centric mode of design. Why we would consider designing spaces which harm our minds, physical health and negatively affect our ability to focus or be creative is beyond me. Thankfully, this disconnect between understanding how to create spaces harmonious to our senses is losing ground, with the advent of the Biophilic Design movement. This was one of the main reasons I was excited to interview Dr Giacomo Savani, who specialises in ancient Roman balneology. What is that you might ask? Balneology, as he explains in this podcast, is the study of baths and bathing, how water, springs and spas also can heal. Readers of our Journal and listeners to the podcast, will probably have some understanding of the concept of the “Blue Mind”, how water has such a positive effect on us. Dr Savani has taken this a few steps further and looked at the physical and sensorial aspects of ancient Roman bathing, and we discuss in this podcast, how we might learn from their experiences and design practices and bring aspects into our designs today. Dr Savani gives us a description of what a Roman bath would look like, how it was designed, what elements of bathing it included (the experience of moving from the gym area, to hot, to warm, to cold temperature differences for instance) but makes an important point that they were EVERYWHERE from small towns and villas to military outposts and cities. It was a real social centre, and the experience in these baths was shared by people of different social and cultural backgrounds as well. He also describes a bathing house in Pompeii where in the baths themselves in the area closer to the pool, they created a more natural environment, a nature simulation. They painted trees, bushes, and natural elements with the experience of bathing. It would have given the bather the impression of being in a natural pool. In the Renaissance, there was literally a rebirth in interest in the ancient world, physicians were reading ancient medical treatises. Then, the remains of the ancient baths in the city of Bath were discovered in the mid-18th century which further inspired the interest. If you listen on, you will find out where you can visit and experience an ancient Roman bath. What if there were places we could all go to in every city and town, even now, to hang out, unwind, and meet with friends and business colleagues, but the focus and purpose is water? We go on to discuss how we can bring this ancient practice into modern-day environments and how we might benefit from it. To contact Dr Giacomo Savani giacomo.savani@gmail.com University of St Andrews: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/classics/people/gs245/ To view his art: https://www.giacomosavani.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GiacomoSavani Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giacomo.savani/ Link to the digital edition of the book Life in the Roman World: Roman Leicester: https://romanleicester.com/roman-leicester/life-in-the-roman-world-roman-leicester/ Link to buy a physical copy of the book (all money goes to support outreach activities in Leicestershire): https://shop.le.ac.uk/product-catalogue/books-and-gifts/leicester-leicestershire/roman-leicester If you like this, please subscribe! Please register for our newsletter on our website https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcasts-journal-of-biophilic-design Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts. Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds? Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Twitter https://twitter.com/JofBiophilicDsn LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/journalofbiophilicdesign

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Listeners to our podcast will likely really love this. There’s a great free event taking place on the first bank holiday here in the UK, from April 30th to May 2nd 2022. Planted Country is being hosted at the beautiful National Trust property here in the UK, at Stourhead with its 600 year old chestnut trees. It’s free to attend, and if you love nature, love design, good food and you love beautiful spaces, then come to Planted Country, you're going to love it.

Based around the principles of biophilic design, Planted Country will be exploring the health and creative benefits of connecting with nature, presenting sustainable design, a high-calibre talks programme entitled Save our Soil, nature-based workshops and a botanical market. The event will be exploring the importance of looking after the land for farming, for food and for nature, and the role that design can play in designing spaces which are much more sympathetic and empathetic to nature and part of our city and wildlife.

We speak with the co-founder Sam Peters and biophilic design advisor, Oliver Heath to find out how the event builds on their inaugural event, Planted Cities, which they held last year in London’s Kings Cross, and what Planted Country will explore in this more Rural setting on the Wiltshire-Somerset border.

The theme is Save our Soil

We are in a climate emergency. Planted Country is also going to be looking at things from literally what is the land beneath our feet, what is soil? Why is it so important, why should we protect it? What does it give us? What does it give the planet? What can we store in it? Conversations around carbon capture, biodiversity, water. What does farming look like in the future? How can farmers be part of the huge solution here?

There will be a series of talks, looking at regenerative farming, rewilding and more. Also exploring how architects and designers are really starting to look at local vernacular materials and the role they play in mitigating embedded carbon, as well as the beauty and sense of place they bring.

As Oliver says at the end: “It's essential. If we strengthen that connexion to nature, there are benefits for the way that we live in cities and the resilience that it can bring to the spaces that we live in, but also how it can support our physical, mental and social wellbeing. Nature plays such a fundamental role in how we're going to shape happier, healthier, more resilient futures.”

To book tickets and find out more visit:

https://planted-community.co.uk/events-country

For more information about Oliver Heath visit our previous podcasts with him, such as this one: https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcast-journal-of-biophilic-design/oliver-heath-designing-a-healthy-home and https://www.oliverheath.com And our previous interview with Sam Peters who gives us a background on what Planted is all about: https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcast-journal-of-biophilic-design/planted-cities

To view other podcasts and more information and the journal itself visit www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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My Green Pod started off as an ethical lifestyle publication circulated with National Geographic Green in 2009, and now it's distributed to over 77 million people with the Guardian. The journey of the founder, Jarvis Smith, is a fascinating one, and one that is inspiring to fellow environmentalists. We chat to Jarvis about his Shamanic training, his epiphany on the set of an observational documentary on a rubbish tip and how we can each make conscious decisions that will help this beautiful planet we are living on.

We also look at his office which was designed by Biophilic Design expert, Oliver Heath, and explore some of the features, from the living wall to the paint colours and materials used, and importantly what it feels like to work there.

Jarvis’ life journey is incredibly inspiring, after having a life changing experience which was caught on film, he has made it his life’s work to try and help make our planet a better place to live on.

“I committed that I would dedicate my life's work not only personally, but in business to educating, transforming, inspiring other human beings to live more consciously and become aware of what we now know is a climate crisis. In 2006, when this show happened, or when we won there, no one really even knew what sustainability meant, let alone climate crisis.”

So he put all his skills and experiences together, from publishing, brand relationships and advertising and now My Green Pod works with some of the biggest ethical, sustainable brands in the world, like Patagonia, Interface and others.

My Green Pod is like a home, where you can come back to, learn from the excellent blogs and content, and also benefit from the research they’ve done on the brands there. Jarvis, like us here at the Journal of Biophilic Design, advocates that if we all lived our purpose, if we committed that purpose to mitigating the climate crisis, and if we were totally willing to give that time to fix the problem the world would be a completely different place.

That's part of what my Green Pod is about, it is not only inspiring people to make life choices which are better for people and planet, but also to try and underwrite an opportunity for them to be able to connect with their purpose and then offer that skill set to mitigating the climate crisis.

We talk about switching out your normal cleaning products for eco-friendly ones. While each “product” you might be using has a small amount of toxins in it, it’s the amalgamation of a whole bunch of them which is harmful to your health, and especially to our planet.

Part of Biophilic Design, for me, is to bring in natural smells, materials on as many different levels as we can, to help us live better and healthier, not only for our own wellbeing but also for that of our planet.

Throughout the whole podcast, Jarvis gives a very impassioned and inspirational view of how we can live differently. It’s true change does start with us. We just need to know where to start.

To find out more visit My Green Pod www.mygreenpod.com and The Pea Awards: peaawards.com. For more about Jarvis and his Music visit: thephoenixrose.co.uk; jarvissmith.com

To scroll through our other podcasts, have a look here on our main podcast page. www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com Please do subscribe to our FREE newsletter on the site.

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/

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Did you know that the principles of “Biophilic Design” have been around for a long time? We might not have called it that, but architects were using the concepts in their built environment. We speak with expert Dr Patty Baker on the ancient world places of healing, particularly the design of the Asklepeion which were buildings and spaces sacred to the god of healing, Asklepios. In this podcast you'll learn who Asklepios was and how his sanctuaries and places of healing were designed to help aid rest, recuperation and healing.

We speak about how the ancient Greeks and Romans had healing centres everywhere, how they brought the “outside” in, how nature played a big part in providing the positive and beautiful setting for these health centres.

If you fancy a Google, have a look at the Asklepios sanctuary at Epidaurus. As with all the Asklepeia (plural of Asklepeion), they are set in beautiful tranquil locations, sometimes there would be sounds of water as a trickling stream gurgles past, there would have been a garden where the trees, and scent of the flowers and herbs would have floated softly to the visitor of the sanctuary.

Part of the healing ritual was that you were required to take a bath and sleep in the healing space. Rest and sleep were deemed important part of the healing process, and the peace afforded by the location and design of the sanctuary would help this.

They felt that the whole body needed treating, inside and outside the body and also that our senses were key to all this. So it wan’t just what you heard, and could smell, the fresh air but also what you saw. These sanctuaries were surrounded by green and that “fresh” and healthy view was a key to healing. There was one school of thought which believed that everything we looked at, including colours, actually “entered” you, so it was important when you were healing that you saw only wholesome views (nothing sad, dirty, disturbing). Even then, they understood the importance of peaceful and beautiful nature views, even if they didn’t quite understand the cognitive processing back then.

There were water gardens, colonnades to walk along in the shade to shelter from the mediterranean sun, wall paintings, gardens and places to relax (interestingly we would call this zoning in Biophilic Design).

So what’s the point of all this? The simple, elegant and breathable design plus the embracing of nature in these spaces could be used as inspiration and maybe even templates in some aspects of our healthcare centres today, and maybe even our homes and schools. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could have Biophilic Healthcare centres all over the world? The Maggie’s Cancer Care centres are examples that they really do work and can transform people’s experience into a positive one when dealing with healthcare issues (see our podcast with the CEO of Maggie’s on our series too: “Why Biophilic Design should be essential in Healthcare”, and is the reason I began this podcast series).

CONNECT - If you are interested in finding out more about health in the ancient world and also how nature played a big part in the Ancient Greek and Roman world, have a listen to our earlier podcast with Dr Patty Baker, Biophilic Design in the Ancient World on the Journal of Biophilic Design podcast series. AND be sure to check out Dr Baker’s website and connect with her at : www.paxinnature.com or Linkedin. Her YouTube series is excellent too.

p.s. we touched on the medieval Islamic period when Galen was writing in the 9th century AD and their garden designs, but we will revisit this in another podcast another day, so be sure to subscribe on here, our website and maybe also YouTube?

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We all have a choice how we can design. How can we make things better? How can architects and town planners design differently? When we are faced with a “blank canvas” how can we create a building and environment that will benefit the people, views, wildlife and our planet? It’s all possible.

I interview Robert Bedner of Cura Design who shares with us his fascinating journey working with Renzo Piano, and Sverre Fehn. We discuss Martin Heidegger, Kellert, Stefano Bolero, Terrapin Bright Green and more. Robert shares that Heidegger said an architect should take a “walk in the woods”, and look back and see the marks of your feet in the soil. Those are the only steps an architect should leave.

Robert Bedner is an architectural technologist and founder of Cura Design, an architectural practice which designs with sustainability at the forefront of everything they do. Cura Design have been in practice for over 14 years and completed over 150 projects throughout the Southwest UK, London and abroad. Robert has spoken about Biophilic Design at the CESW Exeter Climate Summit 2018, The 13th Biennial European Town and Town Planners Conference 2019, and the Sustainable Earth 2021 - Climate Emergency - the Race to Net Zero.

Robert calls for architecture and design to enhance and protect nature, the more we are connected to nature, the better it will be for our wellbeing, health, spirits. It is what life is all about to begin with.

There are already strong movements across so many different disciplines. We need to stop thinking of the world as a resource for us. Rather we should be considering our role as shepherding, valuing the sun, the trees and birds. These aren’t things that you sell, we need to recognise our connection to them to remember why we are here. “If people can see the world more like that, the rest will follow.”

It is important for cities to design biophilically - it is future of urban design. We need to bring nature back into the urban environment. It is good for biodiversity, it is healthy for people. Simple things like green roofs do so much for wildlife, bringing the temperature down in the middle of cities, it also insulates the roof. It’s happening. For instance the Javits Center in New York now has a green roof, and it’s saving them money. It’s good for the building, and people like being up there.

Robert goes on to discuss various Biophilic City designs, what’s happening in Plymouth, Paris with its high rise urban farming (imagine having your salad from the green roof, from the same place you are), a hotel in Singapore which is covered in plants where a brown field site has now increased in animal and plant life by over 1000 per cent (even on the 20th floor residents can see squirrels walking by), in Vietnam he describes some spectacular architecture, how engineers created fantastic passive ventilation systems in Germany. Lots of positive designs, where once there was just concrete.

Everyone who is involved in Design and construction, planners, structural engineers, TV people, are building in the landscape and in nature. We need to design sensitively. Leaving the place better than when we started.

Did you know an Oak tree is home to over 3000 different life forms? Personally I really hope, that town planners, surveyors, commissioners, politicians, will increasingly feel emotionally involved at a civic level so they really understand why this biophilic change in urban planning needs to happen.

To find out more about Cura Design visit https://www.curadesign.com

Come and meet Robert Bedner and Cura Design at Future Build 1-3 March 2022, on stand B78 at ExCeL London.

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How do we reduce distraction at work? How do we entice our staff back into the office? Why do they need to come in? How can zoning help? What are non-rhythmic sensory stimuli? How can biomorphic shapes help us do our best work? What is the business case for Biophilic Design? These and many other questions are answered in this podcast with Oliver Heath and Tanja Künstler. Oliver is founder of Oliver Heath design, and co-author of a new seminal guide from Interface “Creating Positive Spaces”. Tanja is concept designer for Interface. Between them they share some essential insights from the guide and how, by employing a Biophilic Design and human-centred approach to refreshing our office, we can create a workplace where we we will do our best work.

We have an opportunity right now to rethink how we design the workplace as we bring people back to the office. How we cater for different sensory thresholds of our workforce is a key element in designing better.

There are essentially two different kinds of work activities: focus and collaboration. We need to design zones or spaces which allow people to carry out these tasks to the best of their ability. Did you know it takes 23 minutes to get back to the task in hand once we’ve had a distraction? The more distractions we have the harder it is to focus to get the work done, our cortisol stress hormones, we get tense. In fact businesses lose $588 billion due to distraction in the workplace. So how can we design better?

Have a listen to how the Allegro offices in Warsaw were designed using colours, contrasts, calm spaces and how the Linkedin offices in Paris included local place-making design elements to bring an holistic human-centred approach to these incredibly compelling office spaces.

The concepts and theories underlying Biophilic Design, from natural light to patterns, all inform an improved way of designing. Considering our 7 senses, which are the 5 we know plus 2 more: vestibular and proprioception. You’ll have to read the guide and listen to the podcast to explore these in greater detail, but essentially by designing for these two senses we link our design to our early evolution, walking through forests, over rocks and down rivers and streams. Putting soundscapes in at different levels, making zones, creating restorative blue spaces, etc. On pages 42ff you will see an excellent table to help design of different sensory thresholds. Be sure to check it out.

To read a copy download the link here: https://info.interface.com/whitepapers-en_GB#Sensory_Wellbeing or here https://blog.interface.com/en-uk/designing-for-cognitive-sensory-wellbeing/ For more about Interface and what they do, plus links to more essential Design Guides, have a wander through their main website https://www.interface.com/EU/en-GB/homepage?r=1

To find out more about Oliver Heath Design visit their website https://www.oliverheath.com

To register for their Biophilic Design course, visit his site here https://oliverheathdesignschool.thinkific.com/courses/biophilic-design-in-the-home?ref=e64a07

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What is psychoacoustics and why should we care about it? Paige Hodsman, concept developer for Saint-Gobain Ecophon explains how the psychology of how we perceive sound is essential for our health and wellbeing. She explains how humans react to sound stimulus directly relates to our performance at work for instance. This helps us understand how people respond to their environment and how we can design better spaces.

Did you know that biophilic improvements to a space has a positive impact on our brains through our hearing too? The vast experience of humans have been outside, in fact we are particularly suited to being in a natural environment, in fact neuronal activity is greater when we hear natural sounds.

Paige looks at how our physical world produces responses in our bodies, how the materials used in our environment affect how sound waves behave. When these sound waves enter our ears, what next? The pitch, quality and type of sound makes a difference to our brains. By using research conducted by pscyho-acousticians we can learn how different sounds are processed, what happens inside the ear, how the mechanical sound wave becomes an electrical impulses that then feed through the nervous system and therefore affect our brains.

At 14.10 Paige describes just HOW the sound waves enters our eardrum and how it then is translated into perception. If we soften the environment it is better for our brains. Lots of reflective surfaces, for instance in hospitals, some environments in schools, offices and homes, disorient us, which triggers responses in our brains saying something might be wrong. If you think about it, our early lives on the plains, we were constantly listening out for predators, attacks, thunderstorms, danger, threats, as well as where food is. Anything which is cacophonous triggers that perception of threat, and therefore also triggers our fight or flight mode. So being in a constantly noisy environment keeps our adrenalin levels high and our hormones racing, putting pressure on our nervous system, bodies and overall health.

At 34.38 Paige looks closer at good biophilic acoustics after having discussed the bre office project, which is a case study lead by Oliver Heath on how we can design a better office using human-centric design bringing nature, textures, materials, temperature control and more into an office environment. Essentially how we can bring “home” to the office. (We covered this here if you would like to watch the video - or search ‘bre biophilic office project’ on our ‘podcast’ page on our website www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com or on YouTube). How we can mimic nature in our built environment by bringing the best of an outdoor environment inside.

Did you know that opening a window is one of the best natural sound absorbers? But if you can’t open a window or door how do you recreate that “sound” absorption. You need the right levels of absorption in a space, and companies like Ecophon who produce sound-baffling panels (which we print images and virtual nature windows on) are excellent methods of creating better acoustics environments. Also you can introduce water sounds, bird song, wind in the trees. Paige makes an important point, you also need to think about where the sound is pumped out from. For instance you don’t want water coming from above your head, you want it emanating from a believable height (otherwise you might think you’ve got a leak in the building!), also from a psychological perspective, having a visual to enhance the sound is excellent (so images of what the sound comes from, e.g. a waterfall, or fountain, stream, seascape, etc) or a real water feature is excellent.

Let us know what kinds of acoustic environments work best for you, email us on editor@journalofbiophilicdesign.com or message our Linkedin page, or engage with us on Instagram or FB.

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One of my favourite things is picking fresh herbs from my windowsill. My erratic cooking skills are much improved by the addition of a fancy sprig of basil popped on the top of a pile of scatty spaghetti. While this might not be urban farming at scale, it certainly makes me feel good. This is one of the reasons I was excited to interview Square Mile Farms. They bring vertical hydroponic farms to the workplace. I spoke with Ben Dean, Chief Operating Officer at Square Mile Farms about the idea behind the company and what they are doing.

Being able to grow more food locally has to be an essential key to help improve food security and sustainability. One of the best ways to help reconnect us with food is to help us get closer to it, by encouraging us all to harvest our own. How do we do that? That is where Urban Farming comes in. It is literally just that, growing produce in a city or built-up environment, whether that’s a roof top, vacant walls, basements, indoors even. You can grow produce on any piece of land which is currently not serving a purpose. Ben shares with us in the podcast how Square Mile Farms are helping more people take part in urban farming even inside our buildings. He tells us how, by providing a simple facility, for instance in existing corporate environments, this can encourage community, fun and even provide mini moments of meditation and zen in a busy office, school, healthcare or any indoor space.

One of the advantages of a hydroponic system is that you can grow them up the wall, and the range of herbs and vegetables you can grow is amazing. From kale to parsley, basil to coriander and sage. Imagine picking the leaves for your own mint tea, of course you might fancy then branching out to farm bees on your office roof for the honey to accompany it! They take about 3 to 4 weeks from seedlings to a proper mature plant, which, when you cut some of the plant off for your salad, they grow back!

This is a lovely Biophilic Design solution, and one which for instance in an end-of-life care facility, seeing life growing around you is positive. Even in offices, where for decades we have had lead grey offices which might seem ridiculous now, but bringing Biophilic design into your office can also entice your staff back in. Square Mile Farms have been rushed off their feet recently, where office designers are looking for something different, and with COP26 echoing in our ears, the discussions of food sustainability, a hydroponic solution is a brilliant way of doing that. If you take a look at the images that accompany this podcast, you’ll see the beauty you can create with the lighting as well.

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There has been quite a bit written and discussed recently about the mental health benefits of getting out into nature especially in urban environments. COVID19 highlighted the relief that being outside in nature gave us. We speak with Dr. Melissa Marselle (see our previous conversation as well on Complex Patterns, Biodiversity and Nature Views”) on how nature especially in cities has helped us deal with stressors of the pandemic and the consequences of lockdown, how it has enabled us to meet other people safely, get out of our homes and also offer us the opportunity for physical activity. Melissa discusses over 40 years of research which consistently shows that a natural environment has beneficial and restorative effects on us.

She shares with us what types and qualities of nature are best for the health and wellbeing of people and the planets looking at greenspace, water, planting and spaces that promote biodiversity and more. We have just entered the UN Decade of Rewilding (launched June 2021), where we hope to see more nature being brought into cities and biodiversity encouraged. Improving our urban environment with nature is so important now more than ever. With urban stressors such as noise, pollution, crowding, etc contributing to poor physical and mental health we need something to counteract the negative impacts on us, especially as it is predicted that there will be more than 5 billion people living in cities in the next five years and we are losing more nature as we build on greenbelt and agricultural land.

Melissa makes a call for creating environments that are good for us, to have green and blue spaces within 100m of where we live. It’s been proven that having street trees within that distance for instance reduces the need to take anti-depressants. Having the beauty of nature around us encourages a sense of place, what is also referred to as “place identity”. In our previous interview we discussed the benefits of complex patterns, how biodiversity in an urban setting helps our wellbeing. In this podcast we chat about the awe and wonderment that nature inspires in us, which uplifts, brings joy and happiness to help us build the capabilities to help deal with life stressors.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have interconnected green spaces, encouraging active travel and physical activity, community spaces, and more including reducing city temperatures and creating urban farms for sustainability and further reduction in pollution. We are losing pollinators, our cities are getting hotter, bringing nature into cities has so many benefits. If we all pull together and share what we know with those who are deciding on how our future cities will look, from those who build them to those who will fund them (that’s mostly us the tax payer by the way…) then maybe our natural world will be there for use to help heal, inspire and flourish with us.

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David Kirkland is an architect, designer and co-founder of Kirkland Fraser Moor. He is also a photographer and co-founder of d-lab, a creative design lab which pushes boundaries and is inspiring a new generation of architects and designers. We discuss biomimicry, primitive design, architectural education, the Eden Project, Para Homes and much more. This is also a call for a “flourishing”, over and above just “sustainability”.

David talks about his early upbringing in a remote part of in Zimbabwe, exploring mud and experiencing nature, raw, first-hand which has informed how he looks at our relationship with our built environment. How, by stripping back to a primitive narrative, we get down to the foundation, we can get back to the stories which are elemental to being human. Regenerative design is central to his practice. Our built environment creates about 40% of our carbon emissions, and architects are at the forefront of helping solve this. His belief is that architects have a huge opportunity here, with head in the clouds but feet firmly on the ground, to think laterally to minimise this. For him, it is all about Life, with a capital L.

This is also a call for more beauty, and awe in our world. A respect for our planet. We discuss his educational, home and other projects; how natural light, plants, greenery, views all have a positive impact on the health of the people living and working in the buildings they create.

You might already be aware of the “Para” house concept? I wasn’t until he described what these are and how his architectural practice creates these iconic homes of the future. Listen to the podcast, but Para homes echo who we are, and are designed to be cultural assets for future generations to appreciate; they should also be exceptional.

Having discussed principles behind the creative architectural process, we also look at how architects can use economic triggers, such as showing the benefits of local materials, to help create arguments for improved design. David touches on some of the themes expressed at Rio and expands this by speaking passionately about how, when we design a space, we need to look proactively at how what we build can improve the economy, society, ecology, justice and equity.

To find out more about David Kirkland and follow his practice, look at https://www.k-f-m.com

To scroll through our other podcasts, have a look here on our main podcast page.

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

Did you know our podcast is also on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Stitcher, vurbl, podbay, podtail, and most if not all the RSS feeds?

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Alexander Verbeek is Policy Director of the EDRC (the Environmental Development Resource Centre in Brussels), he is an environmentalist, public speaker, diplomat and former strategic policy advisor at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I came to know Alexander through his independent newsletter The Planet (published on Substack). We spoke during COP26, Alexander was also speaking at the conference, but with Biophilic Design being such an important solution in the built environment to some of the climate issues, I wanted to speak with Alexander to hear his thoughts on how the climate crisis is shaking the foundations of life on our planet across the world.

So listen on, he sets the scene, starting with his early life camping in nature with his family, right through to his work on climate change as a spokesperson and diplomat. We also talk about COP26, and he discusses how climate change is impacting global security and that “there is no time to lose”, we need visionary leaders, more diplomats, and a system change.

At 44mins we introduce Biophilic Design solutions in cities and how this can help. “I am fully behind what you do”, he says. He says that in a recent survey it was found that 10% of youth in the UK over the past year did not spend even a minute in nature. This is not hiking up mountains, but even in a city park. He calls for proper education programmes in schools where we should learn to understand and respect nature. He also says, when we build a home or a new neighbourhood, we should plant trees, these are the best carbon capture and storage that the world has ever designed. This should not be perceived as a luxury, but as essential. We discuss how trees in cities have enormous positive impact on our psychological welbeing but also how with climate change impacting our built environment so harshly, tress can help cities withstand the heatwaves. He also raises the fact that poorer neighbourhoods often have less trees, which of course impacts on so many aspects of the lives.

Utrecht is a Biophilic City, Alexander describes how the city is greening. He also talks about the fabulous house designed by architect Cesar Manrique on Lanzarote, a volcanic islands, but which embraces and uses what nature has given him. He makes a very strong point, however, that Biophilic Design should not be just for rich houses, but that it should be incorporated in all houses. Design should include this synergy with nature, we should be closer to nature in our every day lives, so we are much more prepared to deal with the new demands on us in our rapidly changing climate. We will be seeing more extreme heatwaves, heavier downpours. We need environments to help sustain life.

This is very much a wake up call for Biophilic Design solutions in our built environment to help deal with the climate crises.

Follow Alexander’s newsletter on Substack, The Planet.

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From studying the fragile ecosystems supporting the threatened lives of gibbons, Professor Helen Chatterjee is combining that understanding of evolution and conservation, with her practice of raising awareness of the importance of sustainable green environments which can be used as “nature prescriptions” for us, especially if we live in inner cities.

Access to quality spaces is vital to our mental and physical wellbeing. She shares with us her personal story, as well as an impassioned call for the need to try to encourage social prescribing of nature-based solutions from GPs and healthcare workers. Whether it’s a walk in the park, gardening, or other connections with nature, there is extensive evidence for the bio, psycho and social health benefits to us.

Making life changes, behavioural changes sooner rather than later should be high on the agenda. Also she discusses the social predetermined health issues, some of which could be prevented if encouraged access to nature was given. Helping communities to use green space, providing access to nature spaces, whether that’s cycle routes, cheaper bus fares or creating pocket parks and green walkways for people to use should be considered when trying to plan for healthier communities.

Professor Chatterjee is also the founder of a new MASc, the first of its kind in the world. If you are interested visit the course details at my alma mater, UCL on this link here https://www.ucl.ac.uk/arts-sciences/study/postgraduate-study . “The MASc in Creative Health will create a new generation of socially engaged scholars and practitioners to meet the needs of a changing health, social care and voluntary third sector, where personalised care, social prescribing, health equity and the patient experience are mainstreamed into public health. This programme is the first of its kind in the world, both in terms of the qualification (Masters in Arts & Sciences) and the academic field of study (Creative Health).”

For more information on Helen’s practice see links on her UCL page https://www.ucl.ac.uk/arts-sciences/people/prof-helen-chatterjee

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How should care homes be designed? Should the places we spend the end of our lives be clinical and bland, or should they be places that are beautiful, inspiring and actually are something we look forward to going to. As Lori says in this interview, "you don't stop living just because you're in a care home, in fact you should start living better".

Lori Pinkerton- Rolet is a force of good, she is director of Park Grove Design, which focuses on creating comfortable spaces for our third age. In fact she also has a podcast, which I recommend you look up, ThirdAge.design. In our podcast together here, we talk about the origin of the Care Home is still stuck in its original format, that of a "hospital", and she shares with us some thought-leader suggestions on how we can design better spaces to create homes that are better.

Lori is also passionate about Biophilic Design, she is down-to-earth and practical but designs with such sensitivity and vision that I hope I end up in a home she has designed.

Have a listen to see how we should be designing with the people in mind, how we should be thinking what lives that generation may have had, what were their life experiences, how should we improve the acoustics, how can we incorporate getting outside into nature, maybe participating in producing food for the kitchens, what about the colourways of the floor to support those with dementia, how we can create the feeling of contentment, can we incorporate scents, sounds, views to create an experiential sensory home to uplift and create beautiful inspiring places.

You'll come away from this podcast, wondering why all Care Homes don't incorporate these design features.

Lori also talks about her experiences in Japan and some of her designs including that with the Royal Hospital Chelsea for the Chelsea Pensioners, where she is incorporating echoes of the Chelsea Physic Garden into the design. One of her loudest wake up calls though is for the supply chain to talk to each other. There are many solutions we can find together if we communicate.

Lori also is on the British Standards Committee for furniture fabrics, and is passionate about reducing the chemicals used in surface materials. I'm also in favour of that, because as we know, reduce the VOCs helps reduce health complications and also CO2 emissions. There are lots of more natural solutions that Biophilic Design encourages, so let's put our thinking heads, and our purse strings together and start creating Third Age Biophilically Designed Homes.

For more information on Lori's practice please do visit her websites www.parkgrove.co.uk and www.thirdage.design.

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How much do we love to be outside on a fresh bright day, clear blue sky, gentle breeze on our skin, fresh air in our lungs? Our whole body seems rejuvenated and reborn. Well, it's not just all in the mind, it is a physical reaction too. Living in harmony with nature and natural rhythms as we can, keeps us happy and healthy. Eloise Sok-Paupardin, occupant experience and sustainability lead for SageGlass, discusses how important natural light is, how views are essential to our wellbeing as well as regulation of temperature, and more.

When we mess up the natural rhythms of the day by using too much of the same brightness and colour light for hours and hours a day, we mess up our internal body clock.

Did you know that there are specific receptors in our eyes that process daylight to help regulate the internal "Master Clock" in our brain which tells or body that it is daytime and so therefore signals to it to move, wake up, etc and also that it is getting to night time, so slow down, relax, rest? These receptors in our eyes are known as the ipRGCs (intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells) react to light and are keys to helping the brain process the quality of light experienced.

We need more natural light in our buildings to help prevent sickness and ill-health on many levels and in this podcast we discuss how we understand the benefits of daylight, as it allows the natural functions of our body to behave in the way they need to: for instance, in the production cycle of some hormones, like cortisol or melatonin.

You probably know all about the importance of circadian rhythm in our bodies, and that we need to reset the clock by exposing ourselves to darkness and to light, but did you know also, that our core body temperature follows the circadian rhythm as well, its regulation is actually also conditioned by our exposure to light (and darkness) similar to the other circadian rhythms.

Eloise demonstrates the new Sageglass technology, an intelligent glass that reacts to sunlight, and which can be manually and automatically activated to reduce glare, heat through the glass, vary the amount of sunlight, etc, while still maintaining views outside.

With that in mind, we also talk about views, and the benefits of seeing blue sky, views of nature, how it evokes positive emotions, and echoes the early evolution of humankind, we evolved outdoors and we still have our preference for natural environments.

This is a really interesting video and podcast, as Eloise stresses the need for everyone's "right to light" and how it is important to create beautiful and good design, but never at the price of the planet.

To find out more about the technology of Sage Glass visit https://www.sageglass.com/eu

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Loss of biodiversity, loss of productivity of our lands, emergence of new disease threats, now, here in 2021 we are on a tipping point. COP26 is a focus of concerns and we hope action. Glen Cousquer is a lecturer on the MSc and MVetSci programmes in One Health and Conservation Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. This podcast expounds a passionate philosophy on how we should educate and collaborate, as well as understand and co-exist with our natural world, our home.

We talk about a Biotic and a wider connection to life. How Biophilic Design is a physical incarnation of that connection. How COP26 will see multiple generations speaking out more clearly than ever across our global village. We are seeing the emergence of a new discourse and Glen’s advocation of “Awareness Based Action Research” which he teaches, which is a fast-cycle learning through deeper listening, using humility and empathy. Glen also describes the COP26 Pilgrimage which starts at the birthplace of John Muir, who inspired the conservation movement, and which will end at Glasgow where COP26 takes place.

We discuss that sense of “awe” which we talk about creating in Biophilic Design, how we are born with that sense of wonder and that the way we relate to the world, out good health, our wellbeing, is connected and dependent on that. How engaging with that complexity that nature provides us with, with every element of ourselves, the way we move, the way we think, the way we breathe, we are constantly in relation to nature, we are not independent from it. We should also connect with “our” nature.

There are some excellent one line quotes in this podcast, we’d love to know your favourites. We talk about wholeness, and how in Biophilic Design, we encourage mystery as well as creating environments that calm and heal through nature connection. Glen talks about how it is important for us neurologically for fear to arise and then subside, but if as a species how in an activated state of anxiety, we don’t have sympathetic nervous systems activated and into that deactivation where our ventral vague nerve is active, we are better able to engage and connect. When we are in that calmer state, the work that we do has a completely different quality. The ways we create this state will almost always will be through some form of connection with our own nature and with nature itself.

Listen to Glen explain the significance of an Ecological pilgrimage, how it can expand spiritual and ecological intelligence.

Glen Cousquer Glen is a writer, photographer and has been lecturing on and coordinating the MSc and MVetSci programmes in One Health and Conservation Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.

He is also a recipient of this year’s EUSA Outstanding Commitment to Social Justice and Sustainability Award and the 2020 Social Responsibility and Sustainability Changemaker Awards in recognition of his work on sustainability across the University, including the embedding of deep listening and sustainability into postgraduate training courses for healthcare professionals.

We spoke last year https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcast-journal-of-biophilic-design/glen-cousquer (and listeners can search for it on your podcast platform or our website www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com From Veterinary Science to a Wellbeing Biophilic Economy Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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Julian Treasure is a leading Ted Speaker and founder of The Sound Agency. We catch up with him to talk about how sound affects us on four different levels: physiologically, psychologically, cognitively and behaviourally. He discusses dynamic biophilic soundscapes and how we can use nature in improving acoustics and how we should be using good sonic design and aural architecture to make the places we work in, learn in and heal in, better.

Sound is such a profound gift, our ear-drum is the size of the nail on our little finger, and yet this little membrane helps us decode the voices of our loved ones or Beethoven’s 9th. The sound is turned into impulses in fluid which is picked up by little hairs which respond to different frequencies, and as the move they trigger neural impulses which go to the brain. This physical, electrical, mechanical and neural process is a miracle when you think about it, and yet it is the sound of our environment which is often last on the agenda when it comes to design.

Musicians live through their ears, and as such are more sensitive to the soundscapes around us. Julian discusses the challenges of the open plan office (which we’ve discussed the negative implications of before on this podcast) and what we can do about it. He mentions research that noted that hospitals can be so noisy, that they can rise to 12 times the World Health Organisation’s maximum noise levels by day, and in schools, one German study found that the average level was 65db (projectors, fans, group work, all the technology, and so on), how on earth do we expect children to learn, when they are trying to decode that the teacher is telling them? He says it’s like watering your garden and missing the plants!

As a positive solution, his work at the Sound Agency and with one of his products, Moodsonic, he creates biophilic nature soundscapes. These beautiful biophonic sounds are used in different zones, for instance to encourage focus, relaxation or for blocking out the consonants of unwanted conversations (he describes how this works in the podcast).

This is a fascinating podcast and one that deserves a couple of listens to, it is inspiring for anyone involved in making spaces happier and healthier for everyone, whether that’s at home, town or city level, in healthcare, education, retail, any space.

Let’s reconnect with nature, embrace circadian rhythms and look at how we can make all our spaces better acoustically, designing without cacophony and embracing dynamic soundscapes that help connect people to the outdoors through responsive sound.

To find out more about Julian, visit his website https://www.juliantreasure.com

Or download his audio book which will inspire you to be better listeners and better speakers too: How to be Heard: secrets for Powerful Speaking and Listening.

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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Environmental Psychology is the study of the relationship between people and their physical environment. They look at how psychological processes (emotions, behaviours and cognitions) are place-related and place-dependent. In other words, they look at how environments influence people -- as well as on how people influence the environment. We speak to Melissa Marselle, academic, writer and environmental psychologist about patterns in nature and how creating a biodiverse environment has positive impact not just on the natural world but also us as human beings and our cognitive and physical health. We also speak about Goldilocks...

We all have preferences, and our preference for one thing over another can influence our behaviour. For example, your preference for a type of ice cream will influence which one you buy in store.

Likewise there will be physical characteristics of an environment (e.g. urban vs. natural, water, land use type, open spatial arrangement, spatial definition, tree size, tree density) that you have a preference. Kaplan and Kaplan’s “Preference Matrix’ is a theory about preference based on the information that an environment provides, rather than for its aesthetic beauty.

Think about the times when you need to understand an environment immediately – you just walked into a busy department store or get off a bus in the city centre -- in order to understand where you are and how we can get from here to there, you need to obtain information from that environment.

According to the Kaplan’s preference theory, that, generally, a preferred environment is one that supports quick information processing, understanding and exploration.

There are design aspects in an environment that can help provide information, such as an environment legibility, coherence, complexity. In the Preference Matrix biodiversity is implicitly mentioned as complexity. The Kaplan’s discuss an environment’s “diversity” and “richness” when describing the information quality of complexity in an environment. Complexity in this context refers to how much there is to look at and think about; too much complexity and the environment cannot be understood and is confusing, but too little complexity and the individual is bored and not motivated to explore.

The preference matrix would say that moderate amount of complexity would be preferred. Think about story of Goldilocks and the 3 bears, she chose the middle one. Stress reduction theory also considers biodiversity as part of an environment’s complexity, and also hypothesizes that environments with a moderate amount of biodiversity will be the best for stress recovery. A experimental study tested this by looked at whether biodiversity of a meadow could reduce stress. They measured people’s blood pressure while they looked at meadows of various number of herb and grass species for 2 minutes. The abundance of plants were all the same, the researchers just changed the number of species types. They found people were most relaxed when looking a meadows of about 30 different species, and least relaxed when looking at meadows with no species or 60 different species.

Melissa and colleagues created a biodiversity-health framework model detailing the various causal pathways—both beneficial as well as harmful— that link biodiversity with human health: (i) reducing harm (e.g. provision of medicines, decreasing exposure to air and noise pollution); (ii) restoring capacities (e.g. attention restoration, stress reduction); (iii) building capacities (e.g. promoting physical activity, transcendent experiences); and (iv) causing harm (e.g. dangerous wildlife, zoonotic diseases, allergens).

The restoring capacities domain of pathways refers to the recovery of adaptive capabilities that have been diminished through the demands of dealing with everyday life. Over time, lack of restoration of these resources can lead to mental and physical ill health. The restoring capacities pathway highlights how biodiversity can contribute to stress recovery and attention restoration.

To connect with Melissa Twitter: @MelissaMarselle | Google Scholar Website: www.surrey.ac.uk/people/melissa-marselle

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Daniel Bell is an award winning landscape garden design guru, he is also a pioneer of successful eco sustainable vertical gardens. We catch up with him to find out what he plants, why he uses the system he does and how it works. He gives us a demo in the video as well, which is really well worth watching. He was inspired by French botanist, Patrick Blanc, and went on to champion this incredibly low-tech vertical garden solution.

This vertical garden system uses recycled clothes as a two-layered felt carpet, into which you cut little pockets for the plants to sit in. There is an irrigation pipe at the top, and they don’t need compost, in fact they are better without. Watch the demonstration in the video here above, or on YouTube if you want to make it big.

The point of difference, and what makes his vertical walls unique are the designs. And oh..my…word… they are awesome! The textures, shapes, colours, heights of the plants within the installations are simply a jaw-dropping flamboyance of life.

We discuss the plants he uses, an they are not your expected living wall plants. You will find in his vertical gardens dwarf birches, juniper, fuchsia, mind your own business, lavender, solanum, fats, hebe…

The fact that these vertical gardens can go anywhere, means that for urban planners looking for a solution, as in Piccadilly central London where he did an installation, this system is sustainable, lightweight (it is only 25kg/sqm), they don’t damage a building, they can be used to cover an ugly facade of ductwork, or tired concrete. Rather than pull down old buildings which may have had their day visually, Daniel suggests, why not add nw life and add a garden to it. How amazing would that be, to literally breathe life onto old buildings. And just think of how it will help reduce pollution as well?

To find out more about Daniel Bell Vertical Gardens, visit his website and follow him on social media (all links are on his beautiful website).

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What happens when conservation and sustainable design come together? It naturally seems to manifest itself in Biophilic Design. We all know that the benefits of designing with our natural environment in mind, are many: not only in terms of our own physical and mental health, but also to lessen the impact on our beautiful planet. Our built environment has such an important impact on our daily lives that we should be mindful when we are designing urban spaces, civic architecture and homes.

The way we design buildings inside and out should result in a positive space for us to live and thrive in. This is something that architect Sumita Singha, OBE, embraces in her architectural practice. We speak with her to find out about some of the projects she's been involved in, including her own charity, Charushila (meaning Beautiful Foundation in Sanskrit). Putting the people who are using the space at the centre of design is important, as is our attachment to the natural world. She also tells us about the sustainable garden project she did in Ramallah, Palestine where children have since gone off and created over 100 small gardens inspired and based on the practices they learnt with her.

You might already understand what we mean when we talk about "passive" ventilation, passive houses and systems in design? Listen to Sumita explain how it works and also how she created natural ventilation into a property, and also used Solapipes to bring natural light into a space (she shows one in the video on YouTube and on our website www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com).

Sumita is founder of EArchitects for Change (the equality forum at RIBA) and was chair of Women in Architecture. She is founder of Ecologic Architects, a collaborative practice which uses agile and innovative ways of working. In fact her practice-based research has resulted in 6 influential books and research papers on the subjects of sustainable design, community engagement, healthcare and women in architecture. She won the UIA:UNESCO International design award, the Women In Business award at the House of Commons and the AJ Atkins Inspire award for Architecture.

There is a beautiful wish at the end of the podcast, in answer to the question I ask everyone who I interview, if you could paint the world with a magic brush of Biophilia what would it look like? She describes a Buddhist principle that we should be at one with nature, we can't flourish without nature and nature can't flourish without us. Listen to her wish at the end of the interview.

Ecologic Architects

Sumita Singha architect in conversation with Dr Vanessa Champion editor Journal of Biophilic Design

To find out more about Sumita Singha and Ecologic Architects visit www.ecologicarchitects.com Twitter: @Autotelic_Arch Instagram: @sumitasingha_riba. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumitasingha/

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Yes, you read that correctly! Over 2000 years ago the Romans were designing homes with outdoor spaces and were also creating virtual nature walls. They had ambitions to create healthier cleaner air, wanted improved scents and less noise pollution specifically to improve health and wellbeing. I speak with Dr Patty Baker, about her research on identifying the connection between Roman conceptions of “pure air” and physical and mental health in Pompeiian gardens, and especially on the mutli-sensory approach the Romans took to ancient medicine.

This is the first of a few podcasts with Patty, so be sure to bookmark the podcast or sign up to the newsletter on our website.

Why was nature so important in the ancient world? Even in the Ancient Greek world, way back in the 5th century BC, the pre-Socratics believed that we were part of nature and that out health was affected by our environment. They believed that we are made from the same four elements as nature: Earth, Air, Fire and Water made up everything: humans, animals, plants.

Later in the Roman period we see writers such as Pliny the Younger writing in the late 1st century AD, describing how he wants to escape the city of Rome, the pollution and noise. How he longs for his villas in the mountains, or by Lake Como, how he wants “pure air”. It is this search for what “pure air” meant to the Romans that has led Patty to research how they identified it, and for us interested in Biophilic Design in the built environment, the results are very interesting.

For the Romans “pure / clear air” was green, it was perceived as a heathy colour. White air such as bright sunlight, blue also was good, such as that you find on a clear blue day. Air that moves, so not stagnant and also not smokey. Scent was good, just a mild sent, such as mountain air.

Nature was divine. To revisit the Pre-socratic philosophers we are reminded that for them they believed that there were water nymphs for instance, and you didn’t want to annoy a semi-divine water nymph (if you’re bored go check out the retribution they wreak on those who do!). Maybe we could do well to feel a little more respect of our nature too.

One of the key things that I find interesting is just how important the ancient world considered their environment was to their health. How they felt it had a “direct” impact on their wellbeing. For the atomists for instance, they believed that little atoms of what you saw and experienced around you actually entered into you. So for instance, the small entered your brain through your tongue, sound theory your ears. They believed that your brought your environment “into” you. So you can see already why they felt having a pure healthy environment was a key feature of a healthy life.

Even Vitruvius, writing on architecture in the 1st century AD describes how you need to design buildings and spaces away from unhealthy smells, eg. sewers, fullers (who used urine), marshes, anywhere where there was stagnation and bad fetid air. This carried on through to the 4th century AD where Vegetius writing on a designing and location different spaces, this time for the military, suggests they also avoid such places for the same reasons.

Looking at the archaeology of the Roman gardens in Pompeii we can see how they positioned the gardens at the back of the house, away from the noise and smells of the Main Street at the front, creating a haven to eat, live, be at peace. They decorated their walls with murals, mosaics of nature, beautiful virtual nature walls, frescos of trees, plants, water, clear skies. They often had water features in them, so the sound of running water they realised was important to them. They had shade in the form of a portico running around the edge of them creating shade. I think for those who already appreciate Biophilic Design elements we can see how garden design in the ancient world was a forerunner of elements that we aim to incorporate now.

Patty describes the house of Olivia, the wife of Emperor Augustus which was built on the edge of Rome. The virtual nature wall is stunning, the detail is phenomena right down to showing how they pruned their plants (you can see the cut marks). The care and keep of the plants around them was important to them. In the images painted on the walls are citrons, pine trees, pomegranates, cypress, flowers, bird life, calming colours blues, greens and absolute fecundity in the colours of the plants in full bloom.

In terms of Civic planning, even in the cities, they built public parks near theatres and baths so people had access to green spaces.

They didn’t get everything right in the Ancient World, but with this podcast I wanted to address the fact that Biophilic Design principles have been appreciated for thousands of years (yes including into the Renaissance and beyond), and to those urban planners, maybe taking a leaf from an age old book isn’t such a bad thing. Sometimes people don’t like to be the first, they don’t like to put their neck on the line in case they get it wrong. But, take heart, you’ll have a few thousand years worth of design philosophy and practice backing you up.

To find out more about Patty’s work please connect with her at : www.paxinnature.com or Linkedin.

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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We’ve not been in our respective “Workplace Zoos” for over a year now as a result of “Lockdown” and we’ve got an opportunity RIGHT NOW to improve those spaces we work in. So argues Dr Nigel Oseland, who many of you might know as the inquisitive environmental psychologist, behaviourist, statistics sleuth, author, agent of change and broadcaster.

Nigel argues that contrary to some workplace strategists (and employers worried about the bottom line) we should NOT get rid of space, instead we should make the most of it. Reduce the desks yes, but not the space. He describes how we should be creating varied spaces, for instance some that are quiet for concentration and others places that encourage collaboration. The lower the density, the greater the opportunity to create rich textured landscapes within the workspace.

Workplace Zoo

So what is the Workplace Zoo? If you imagine an animal zoo. Different enclosures are designed to suit different animals in order to make them happier and healthier. The different species have different areas (you wouldn’t put a lion in with a gazelle for instance!). Nigel goes on to describe the workplace, the office is always the same, it has been for years. The same homogenous areas, regardless of individual human needs. We design for the average but we are ALL different and have different needs at different times. Hence “Beyond” the Workplace Zoo. Let’s think beyond the now, beyond the constraints of pushing us all into one cage, and create a landscaped office.

Landscaped Office and Biophilic Design

Human centric Biophilic Design is key to this. From an evolutionary psychology point of view, we have innate preferences and an affinity to nature. We evolved to survive and live outside in nature. When we consider the “office” has been around for 100 years, but our brain hasn’t caught up yet!

So what do we still like? Studies have shown that plants energise us, enhance our creativity, good natural daylight, natural ventilation, having a varied temperature (not set like it is in many offices), sounds of nature (like leaves rustling or waves lapping at the shoreline). Actually sound is an important aspect. As humans we don’t like complete quiet because in the natural world, silence = danger (fire, predator, bad weather coming).

Beyond the Workplace Zoo

This excellent book which comes out in September and can be preordered HERE, is the result of 20 years worth of research and practical consultancy. For anyone interested or working in Workplace Design your practice will be all the richer from the discussions, theories, ideas and proposals that Nigel puts forward.

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This podcast is the audio from a short 8 minute video we shot at the bre (Building Research Establishment) in June 2021. It's a sneak peak at the "Biophilic Office" project, the conversion of the ground floor of the "Zero Bills House" on the bre site in Watford just outside of London, UK. The project shows you how you can retrofit a Biophilic office into any space. You can go an visit the conversion as well.

Speaking in this video are Oliver Heath, founder of Oliver Heath Design, Flavie Lowres of the bre and Paige Hodsman, Ecophon Saint-Gobain.

How do we create an office that people are going to love to come to? During the Covid pandemic most of us worked from home and now Lockdown is easing, we are looking at a hybrid workplace solution. Thing is, the office is a place where people come together to collaborate. How do you design a space that people are going to want to come back to? People also need contact, but also comfort. Integrating the experience and comfort of a home into the office design concepts. We visited the bre (Building Research Establishment) “Biophilic Office” project to report on where they are with it and what the installation features include, and why they’ve made certain changes.

The designers have converted the ground floor of a home (The Zero Bill’s House) on the bre campus to create an office. Putting comfort at the forefront they have turned the concept of the office on its head. They have created an office that people love… Biophilic Design is the key element to creating these spaces for people.

This is the audio from the 8 minute video we shot there. You can watch the video above or on YouTube on this link (or search Journal of Biophilic Design Biophilic Office Project bre).

To find out more visit www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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Designing for extremes for the benefit of the mean, creates a solution that’s good for us all. So believes David O’Coimin, founder of Nookpods. We could argue that we are all on some kind of “spectrum”. Da Vinci was dyslexic and Alan Turing had Aspergers, so extremes also make for genius, right? I like to think so, being left handed and all.

This is the second time I’ve interviewed David, and I think I could speak with him for hours! He is so passionate about making a positive impact on our lives at work, in healthcare, at home that it has driven him to create his Nookpods, little moveable ‘houses’, each with attenuated roof, which creates a sound pressure difference between the outside and the inside, which has a positive effect on your ears and so your brain. Listen to him describe the effect, it’s really powerful.

69-90% of our time at work is focussed on what we call, “deep work”, as little as 40-10% on collaborative activities. Of course depends on your job, but that’s some averages that are worth considering. Having 15 minutes to recharge is really important. Somewhere which gives you acoustic relief as well as some “you” time is important, somewhere you don’t have to be “on” or be in the spotlight or be judged. I love the hyper agility of the Nookpods, which gives you the ability to do just that. Wheel them where you want to, and even chose a view that works best for you.

Personalising your workspace is really important, and this is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that we’ve discussed how human-centric design is paramount to creating better places for us to work in. As you know here at the JBD, we are also creators of biophilic imagery, that’s considered nature prints to you and me, and we’ve teamed up with Nookpods and printed beautiful wallpapers that can be fitted to the inside of the Nooks to provide space and depth and a different element of brain time outs. Changing the images to fit the space and the use of the Nooks too. Bluebells in a glen creating an almost conspiratorial hub, water for freshness, coolness and focus or a clearing in a forest has an immersive effect. One side of the Nookpod is open and the other is a beautiful Biophilic image to the side. Combine this also with adjustable lighting and even sound and you can effect the total environment, allowing the brain to process information, and also allow the superpowers of neurodiversity to shine.

To find out more about Nookpods visit their website or contact us here at the JBD. We are offering a 10% discount to our readers and podcast followers.

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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“100 ways to transform your space for physical and mental wellbeing” so reads the strapline for Oliver Heath’s new book published by Dorling Kindersley, “Design a Healthy Home”.

Oliver Heath is an industry recognised expert in the field of sustainable architectural and interior design, he's presented on BBC, ITV, C4, Discovery Channel and more.

In the second of our videocasts with Oliver, we talk about his new book "Design a Healthy Home", also his new "Biophilic Design in the Home Course" which is open for enrolment now, a new white paper he worked on for Schneider Electric plus "Interior Design Declares" a new movement to encourage Interior Designers and materials suppliers to help mitigate the effects of the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. Putting people first, at the heart of design should be essential.

Biophilic Design is more than just a plant on our desk, it is an exciting systems-based way of recognising that every choice, every purchase, every activity, every decision has an impact on our health, our wellbeing our environment and planet.

Design a Healthy Home

The choices we make can enhance our quality of life. Discussing his new book “Design a Healthy Home” Oliver tells us about the 100 ways to transform your space for physical and mental wellbeing in your home. You learn about all the unseen things that can have an impact on your space, whether you are renting or owning a home, putting mental and physical wellbeing at the forefront of your home design can really make an impact, and this book shows you how you can do this. By breaking the steps down into different chapters, like colour, light, sleep indoor quality, Biophilic Design, you will learn through each chapter investigates some of those things, looking also at pollutants and more.

THE COURSE - Biophilic Design in the Home

The energy behind this new course is to encourage more people to learn about and embrace the Biophilic Design movement. Many more people understanding what Biophilic Design is, it is still very much a new and exciting emerging subject. For a while now, commercial spaces have appreciated the business case for supporting Biophilic Design, in that when you have elements of nature in a space, it reduces stress, aid recuperation and has a result in lots of spaces that are important to our lives. There are 3 levels to Oliver Heath’s Biophilic Design in the Home course, history, evolutionary idea behind it, level 2, taking that idea forward, explains what the 14 patterns are behind Biophilic Design, including direct, indirect references to nature and the human spatial response and their importance also to the future of the home. Level 3 includes a live consultation with Oliver.

To register and enrol on the course click on this link and use the code JBD10 to get 10% off.

WORKPLACE

And what about the workplace? We are experiencing a re-evaluation of what the "office" means. Also, increasingly companies are recognising they do not necessarily need a big budget to put some plants or Biophilic enhancements in their workplace to help create better environments for their people.

Creating spaces which have fresher air, better light, a greater connection with nature will help their staff ease back into work. After the COVID pandemic and experiencing Lockdown, people are likely to experience some form of PTS and anxiety, so we need to design for mental wellbeing as well as physical health and aesthetics, which ultimately will help their productivity and creativity.

INTERIOR DESIGN DECLARES - At 00:27:05 Oliver tells us about a new initiative for Interior Designers, called “Interior Design Declares”, where designers have signed up to a 12 point pledge, to help mitigate the impact of the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. Every purchase, every choice, every decision, refurbishment, connection with a person has an impact and interior designers need to step up to the plate and recognise we have a role and an opportunity. It's a very exciting campaign for like-minded people to be involved with. It's open to designers and also materials suppliers to sign up and network. It's a place to have a voice, to discuss how the buildings in our lives affect our planet. In the second of our videocasts with Oliver Heath, we discuss how nature should be considered a fundamental element for the continuation of human life. You can sign up here: https://www.interiordesigndeclares.co.uk

To find out more about Oliver Heath Design, see their inspirational website: https://www.oliverheath.com

THE COURSE - To find out more about Oliver Heath Design’s new Biophilic Design in the Home course, visit their website through this link and get 10% off by using code JBD10

To listen to the earlier podcast we did with Oliver, have a listen here.

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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In the first of a series of regular monthly bonus podcasts based on Environmental Psychology we interview Dr Sally Augustin to pick up advice on home design. Our editor is co-founder of The Space Doctors with Sally, and our online magazine is packed full of information on Biophilic Design, Environmental Psychology, advice on your interiors to help you create the home you always wanted to live the life you always dreamed for yourself.

In this episode, we look at our homes from the point of view of a New Season and that it brings with it itchy feet or a desire to spring clean and switch up the interiors of your home. Maybe this year more than ever we've been in Lockdown for months now, all over the world, we've had time to look at the four walls we are living and working in, and we either love them or loathe them! In the first of a BONUS Videocast with The Space Doctors, we chat with Dr Sally Augustin, leading environmental psychologist about how we can look at the home we are in and take stock to see if we should move on or stay.

* If we decide to move on what should we look for in our new home? *

Or if we decide to stay in our existing home, should we renovate, repaint, move furniture around, install more Biophilia (yes yes yes!) or what should we be considering? This podcast is linked to the current Issue in The Space Doctors online magazine, which you can read this issue. https://thespacedoctors.com/index.php/this-months-feature/may-2021-new-home/

Also good news! If you have any questions on home design, do contact us, we would love to hear from you.

The Space Doctors is still currently half price! So do travel to The Space Doctors and have a look, would love to welcome you over there too.

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Ever struggled with over watering your plants? Or going the other end of the spectrum and leaving them like they've had a month in the Sahara? Join us as we talk with Victoria Kennedy and Craig Edser of Indoor Garden Design to learn some tips on caring for plants, and one easy way to help decide just how to position, water and care for your little green friends. Indoor Garden Design bring nature into workplaces, hotels, restaurants and commercial spaces and they have also launched a retail online business InTrayPlants for companies and individuals wanting to order plants for themselves and their employees. They speak about some amazing installations they have done, explaining the different planting levels, the mix of ferns, textures, colours, sizes. How they benefit the spaces they've installed them in, including hotels near airports which have given a sense of awe and calm, ideal before travelling (the Chang Mai Airport in Singapore is a case study in itself of the benefits of plants being used to create a positive space before and after flight!). There are tips on different plant species which are great ideal starter plants, plus also advice on which plants are best for helping get rid of air pollutants. At the end of the podcast, you too will be excited about creating green spaces in your workplaces and homes.

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Personalisation of space is a key message in this podcast with Kenneth Freeman, Biophilic Design and horticultural consultant. He shares with us, tips on how Biophilic Design supports and benefits the whole person, how it enhances a whole sensory environment. Some designers might separate off those elements from Biophilic Design, but they are all an integral part, including views, improved acoustics, lighting, ergonomics and when used together provides us with an holistic solution. It's all about comfort.

Being a horticulturalist, Kenneth talks about the benefits of plants. Not only are they good value for money, they have the added value that you can change your surroundings quick considerably just by moving the plants around. Repositioning your house plants can create a new environment. Planting focuses our attention on something else, as human beings we can't focus non-stop for hours, we need an attention break. Our brains need distraction.

We also talk about the new workplace. How can companies entice their staff back into the office? People are talking about the new hybrid workplace, where some are working from home, some are in the office, and some half and half. Creating collaborative spaces, being able to break up big expanses of open plan offices with planting is an excellent idea. It also will give the feeling of comfort, improved acoustics, privacy.

Physical separation that most of us have felt during this period of Lockdown and isolation ,can be softened in the workplace if we need to carve up the office plan to support physical distancing for psychological and physical safety.

One question remains unanswered in this podcast, which I threw in left field near the end and we both would be interested in hearing what you think... do you know of any studies on the effects of having a large specimen plant (something like a big tree) in a workplace or space to inspire feelings of support, stability, trust? We did a podcast together in July 2020 (if you would like to search for it on your RSS feeds, or visit www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com and look for it on the "podcast" tab.

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When you design with Biophilia in mind, you can transform buildings for the better. We look at 2 Case Studies of Residential Architecture which use Biophilic Design to bring light, texture and inspiration to homes. Plus we look at a larger commercial space, the Shelter for Victims of Domestic Abuse" which opens onto a wide courtyard providing a haven in Israel. These three projects are designed by Amos Goldreich of AG Architecture, an award-winning architectural practice. Amos shares with us his vision and how and why Biophilic Design were important in these spaces in relation to those who were using them. Amos discusses 4 key elements of Biophilic Design which he feels are important. The first is the Visual Connection, how to design making sure you can see the garden throughout the interior space. The second point is to bring nature in, especially through natural light. This is why he opens up spaces as much as he can, using "up and over" windows and skylights. The third is not visual, but through incorporating scents and sounds. And lastly, how these all work together will influence how you use the space, and then how that space gives a positivity back to you in terms of wellbeing. To read more and see more visuals of the projects visit www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com To visit Amos' site https://agarchitecture.net He shares slides in the Video here as well, so if you are listening to this on the podcast, either search out journalofbiophilicdesign.com or search on YouTube "The Journal of Biophilic Design" or click this link https://youtu.be/aKngVsc_C1I Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts. To keep upto date with all our podcasts why not subscribe on our site here, or on Apple iTunes or Amazon Music, vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/56kv3eCsSI6/ or search for us where you normally enjoy listening to you RSS Podcast feeds. Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0o0a8hL22de32nxc0M3ByL Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/journal-of-biophilic-design Google podcasts Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Twitter https://twitter.com/JofBiophilicDsn LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/journalofbiophilicdesign

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There are many metaphors of nature in cyber space which we use without even thinking about it: clouds, streams, webs, and so on. Dr Sue Thomas has conducted research on how we can use technology to enhance our connection with nature. In this podcast we talk about how the huge amount of research and environmental science data has shown the benefits of nature on our wellbeing, including reducing blood pressure and other measurable benefits. Sue has also studied research on the effects of engaging with nature on devices, through technology, such as watching wildlife shows and even playing video games. She shares her concept of Technobiophilia. We talk about a real mix of things, ideas you can do on your commute or at your office desk, from plants, to stones, alpacas on Instagram, Farmville, live streams from eagles nests, fixed nature webcams, and lots more. With her brush of TechnoBiophilia she would love to see a beautiful nature world appear, where you can consciously engage in nature, where the worm in a garden has as much importance and attention as a donkey over a fence. Being mindful of your environment. We are increasingly enjoying a life friendly way of living and a more balanced natured connected way of living. Long may it continue. With technology, we don't need to give it up, just because we are on a train or in an office, nature can be wherever you want it to be. Anywhere in the world.

Please visit wwwjournalofbiophilicdesign.com for links back to her website, details on her book and more.

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When was the last time you took a “nature break”? Hobie Hare, founder of “Your Life Nature” encourages us not only to take some time and get out into nature but also to bring Biophilia into our homes, with reminders of positive emotions, maybe it’s seashells from the beach, or a photograph that conjures an emotion that resonates with you.

Both Hobie and I are photographers, so it was nice for me to discuss and hear his perception of how imagery can improve and enhance a space, and the mindset of those experiencing those photographs. He suggests that when you consider which picture to chose, you think about what that picture will bring to your space. Maybe it’s contemplation, peace, serenity, excitement, adventure, maybe even courage. He shares explanations of the images shown here on our website journalofbiophilicdesign.com, such as the tree, bending, heavy with snow, reminds us that nature finds a way, and so do we.

Hobie also emphasises on how we can use nature to connect to ourselves and also our community, how we should remind ourselves that nature is bountiful, we should enjoy the bounty that we have. Slow down, start small, build regular habits to connect your life more to nature. I forgot to mention this on the podcast, but I think also photographs of nature also remind us to look for certain things when we are outside. He had mentioned that when you take your nature breaks, wherever you are, look at the angle of the sun, the intensity, what can you smell on the wind, watch and enjoy the behaviour of birds. A photograph is not only a visual reminder of what you’ve seen, it can also help encourage an enhanced perception when you go back outside.

Visit journalofbiophilicdesign.com for images and free download links

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There’s an awesome event coming up in London which you should attend if you can. Planted Cities. It is going to be held in one of London’s greatest regeneration success stories and is run by Deborah Spencer who set up Design Junction, one of the biggest design shows in Europe for the last decade and Sam Peters, former Sunday Times journalist. We speak with Sam, to find out more about it. Planted is all about reconnecting people and spaces with nature to encourage cleaner, greener urban spaces, also showcasing brands who put the environment and nature at the centre of everything they do. They are working our industry lead in this field, Oliver Heath.

There will be 3 pillars of the show: Natural Living, Botanical Market and Sustainable Design. It will show that almost any space can be connected to nature.

There is a growing market and a growing urgency for the need to reconnect our lives and cities to nature. There are so many challenges in our cities from air, light and noise pollution which can be significantly improved when you have natural habitats, plus there are so many more health benefits having access to green space affords us, as Lockdown globally has proven.

Planted is also hoping to be a Zero Waste event, this is really ambitious, and if they pull it off, it will be a benchmark for all events. There are so many positives which will come out of this event, Io suggest you visit their website www.planted-cities.co.uk and register your attendance. Hope to see you there.

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Biophilic Design is becoming increasingly recognised as an essential design element in interiors and architecture. Lâl Dalay recently published the results of her research on “The Impact of Biophilic Design Elements on the Atmospheric Perception of the Interior Space”. We speak to her today about how biophilc design elements have an impact on people. Her focus is on the sensory effect the different Biophilic Design enhancements have on us.

We speak about how the healing effect is the most important impact of Biophilic Design, it has both a physical and a mental benefit. Lâl shares her studies on how organic naturalistic design creates a more positive environment for us. She analyses the essential Biophilic elements such as plants, water, colours, shapes and forms inspired by nature, fire, ventilation, animals and natural light and how we connect those design elements with the sensory experience and perception in the spaces they are introduced.

She raises the point that plants are living things, and change colours, their scent changes, how natural light can be played with in terms of using other design elements along side such as openings in architecture, creating shadows. How water is essential for us, but using waterfalls in a space you can create an interactive element.

At the end of the podcast you’ll be inspired to see how you as a designer can use Biophilic Design elements and other architectural and furnishing elements to complement each other to bring about a positive sensory environment that will have a positive impact on those using the space.

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In the first of a series of short 10 minute podcasts with our partner Lara Cowan at The Botanic Shed, School of Nature, where she shares tips and science on why and how nature is good for us. Today we talk about Soil. You will learn some surprising facts about soil, from he smell, the bacteria, the negative ions therein and more. She also suggests a few things you can plant out at the weekend, from Broad beans to leeks… to get you out of the house and engaging in the gorgeousness of soil.

Soil is also beneficial as it cleanses the air as found in the NASA Study (see the podcast with Skogluft).

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Rapid Growth Urban Forest Creation... to me it seems like a dream concept, being able to rewild urban environments quickly to help the environment, bring biodiversity, create wildlife corridors, rooftop forests, school bee forests, support community and individual health and wellbeing and more... The Miyawaki Method of rapid forestation is based on observing and mimicking nature. These forests are maintenance free in 3 years. This is a fascinating conversation with James Godfrey-Faussett, founder of Wild Urban Spaces, practitioner and advocate of the Miyawaki Method, where you will learn how James and his team densely plant indigenous trees at a mix of canopy heights, which kinds of trees, where you can go an see and experience one. And they don't have to be huge. They are also creating micro forests in schools, cities, you can even plant them on rooftops. Can you imagine what a future city could look like? Creating roof corridors. Learn how much rootspace you need (it's surprising short!), why they need less water, Where other projects are being undertaken and how you can get involved by volunteering, donating, commissioning one. Form James: "Dense healthy forest will heal our environment, create biodiversity and reconnect communities with nature.Areas of forest will also sequester huge amounts of Co2, clean the atmosphere, remove dangerous particle matter and heavy metals, while emitting bountiful oxygen.Micro forests have all the benefits of primal forests but on a local impactful level. Typically the size of a tennis court and planted with 600 native trees, we can achieve ultra rapid vibrant growth in all environments using the Miyawaki method of afforestation. The process allows for virtually no upkeep and the forests are maintenance free in as little as 3 years.Biodiversity is rapidly established and allowed to flourish. Even in busy urban areas biodiversity oases will form and prosper. Our micro forests grow quickly and vibrantly so the environment and community can benefit from the word go." See more at www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com For James Godrey-Faussett's details see www.wildurbanspaces.com Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts. To keep unto date with all our podcasts why not subscribe on our site here, or on Apple iTunes or Amazon Music, vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/56kv3eCsSI6/ or search for us where you normally enjoy listening to you RSS Podcast feeds. Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0o0a8hL22de32nxc0M3ByL Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/journal-of-biophilic-design Google podcasts https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXJnZW50YXdlbGxuZXNzLmNvbS9wb2RjYXN0LWpvdXJuYWwtb2YtYmlvcGhpbGljLWRlc2lnbj9mb3JtYXQ9cnNz?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiuocnOlaPvAhVBrhoKHWQfCD0Q9sEGegQIARAC Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Twitter https://twitter.com/JofBiophilicDsn LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/journalofbiophilicdesign

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A familiar face to thousands of TV viewers, award-winning interior designer, George Bond first appeared on TV as co-presenter on ITV “better Homes”: with Carol Vorderman. In his own interior design practice he has transformed homes and spaces into amazing spaces. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, is a judge, served as director on various professional societies, but most of all he is a visionary creative interior designer.

In this podcast, George sets the scene for the first half, explaining his background, his interior design journey which has taken him all over the world, and then from 22:32 we revel in the delights of texture, natural materials, acoustics and fabrics.

It is so refreshing in Biophilic Design to speak with a designer about the love of natural materials for the sake of the quality of the materials themselves. His approach is intuitive, artistic, and his use of natural materials, is well, so natural.

Enjoy our conversation as we chat about the beauty of natural fabrics, velvet, silks, linens, cottons, natural dyes and also why mirrors are important in his work. We speak about bringing light into interiors, colours, plants and handprinted botanicals. We chat about the new and the old, how a contemporary “cloud kitchen” in an old school house was inspired by a Harwood House interior bedroom. Both are decorated with handprinted clouds, giving the effect of bringing the outside in, that the sky is just above us and all around when inside.

Listen out for the announcement at the end of the podcast where he tells us of a World Exclusive exciting collaboration across the water between him here in the UK and a designer in India, he describes the 18th century methods, the natural materials and dyes used in this project. Very exciting, and we look forward to filming more about this in due course, so bookmark the podcast and follow us on www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com

For more information and to follow George Bond, visit www.georgebond.tv

Credits: with thanks toGeorge Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

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Learn how to boost your immune system, create foundations of health, how you can support your body to help recuperation and establish foundations of health using nature. The Journal of Biophilic Design is all about how we can bring nature and natural elements into our spaces and lives to make our lives happier and healthier. One of the key things is of course our health. We speak to Owen Wiseman, an inspirational medical advisor based in Canada whose practice is based on naturopathy. We chat about everything from supporting your body with green exercise to how natural light can make a difference.

Did you know that surgical patients exposed to greater sunlight required 22% fewer opioid medications, resulting in drug cost savings of 21%, and which healthcare department is going to turn that down? We chat complex carbs, and having views of nature in our fridge (ok that last bit was me). Many medicines we buy or are prescribed are synthesised from nature, consider Aspirin which is white willow bark. We can benefit so much from healthcare working as a team, it’s not either/or is “together”, we chat about how naturopathy can work as part of the overall care team. This holistic approach and opening our minds to nature cascades to many aspects of our lives, like everything balance is key, as is education and understanding.

Biophilic Design principles are being implemented more and more in hospitals, and in Asia they are collating loads of studies and data which is proving more and more that Biophilic Design principles in the actual architecture and design of a space has such a positive and beneficial impact on the recovery and wellbeing of patients. For instance, when you are exposed to natural light actually reduced how much pain you feel.

Exposure of images of nature can encourage people to be more generous and trusting of others. Other nature-based studies have shown that communities had a greater sense of neighbourhood safety and had a reduced crime rate when green space was nearby.

Follow Owen on his Instagram Feed, Science and Nature Official

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts.

To keep unto date with all our podcasts why not subscribe on our site here, or on Apple iTunes or Amazon Music, vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/56kv3eCsSI6/ or search for us where you normally enjoy listening to you RSS Podcast feeds.

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Fascinating and positive conversation with Glen Cousquer, covering biology, philosophy and the concept of the self, we talk conservation medicine, experiential education including getting outdoors, and exploring the concept of listening not only for human relationships but also listening to the living world around us. He is a qualified Vet, but after realising how there were underlying issues affecting different eco systems he moved away from the traditional veterinary model into developing a more holistic approach to health and welfare concerns.

He describes how community led responses to climate change are empowering people to make changes, how by cultivating reciprocity and a willingness to “listen” we can feel deeply connected to ourselves and those around us, to help us define ourselves in relation to our environment.

In an ideal world we would see the connection to the natural world being normalised, and by that he means it should be acceptable to go for a walk for a meeting, healthcare should have views of nature, urban planning should have forests, schools should have outdoor activity. We should be creating a wellbeing economy, creating a better place for family, community, work, everything.

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When was the last time you felt stressed? Sometimes things in life can be a wee bit too much, or there's just one too many things to do, or just too much on your plate for whatever reason. We speak with Lara Cowan, founder of the Botanic Shed - School of Nature.

Did you know we are genetically determined to love the natural world. It is in our DNA. This affinity to nature is fundamental to our health.

Contact with nature is as fundamental to our wellbeing as is a healthy diet and exercise. We talk about her own personal journey, and how her mission originated when she realised that being outdoors was actually an anti-depressant that was helping her recover from trauma and that being in nature had also supported her Dad and brother through mental illness. We also discuss the benefit in bringing in virtual nature into spaces. Roger Ulrich's study in the 80s proving how “views” of nature improved their wellbeing, needed less intervention, and got out of hospital sooner.

The WHO calls stress the health epidemic of the 21srt century. It is a significant health challenge and brining nature into our lives is one of the most effective ways to combat this and to lead a loving and fulfilled life. We hope you enjoy this podcast with broadcaster and entrepreneur Lara Cowan founder of The Botanic Shed.

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Normality is just a point in time. We are in such a strange place, so many gold posts have shifted personally as well as in the workplace. Uncertainty is our opportunity, because nothing stands still everything is connected in some way. In this fascinating and compelling pod/videocast with Neil Usher, Chief Workplace and Change Strategist at GoSpace AI we discuss his new book Elemental Change and how this period is a fantastic opportunity, we have to capture the energy of uncertainty and do some amazing things. We have nothing to fear from change, change is our essence and we should embrace it and be comfortable with it to make amazing things happen.

We need to develop a closer relationship with change, change is part of our essence, we are living breathing change, we are adept at dealing with change, we are built to navigate uncertainty. We need to recognise that in ourselves. In workplaces, they are engines to prevent change, to keep things fixed, stopping interesting and creative things happening. Just think in the llast global recession we saw some fantastic outcomes in the way the workplace developed. Neil hopes also that this period of introspection will make us more comfortable with change, confident in dealing and thinking about change, and appreciate uncertainty so we can navigate to a better way of working and living.

Observing nature and its changes can also help us accept change, perpetually of change, it is all around us, signal and clues are all around us. We discuss evolution, adaptation vs adoption, enabling people to change themselves. We also discuss his excellent “hexagon” change operating system and his 9 Elements of Change, laid out like an elemental table.

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At the end of this podcast you’ll be well-armed with enough interior design tips all based on science, to transform your office to create the best environment to help you focus, be creative, stay calm, feel rested and be productive! You will learn how to move your furniture around to create a prospect and refuge scenario to help you get more done, how wood grain helps you feel more comfortable, why views of natural elements, and views of nature are important, why you need natural light to enhance our circadian rhythm, how to change the soundscape and scentscape in your offices and homes to help keep everyone happy and relaxed and able to focus!

Working with what you've got or almost what you've got, you can transform your space to make your space the best it can be. Harking back to when we were a young species Dr Sally Augustin, one of the world’s leading applied Environmental Psychologists shows us how we essentially have the same make up as our early ancestors and by keeping that in mind, we can use that knowledge to improve our working environments.

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Biophilic Design has so many aspects to it, it is not just plants, greenery, light, colour ways, it is also about using natural materials in products, using natural materials to enhance a space and provide happiness and comfort to those using it. A recent (and we hope successful!) entry to Surge for Water 2020, an annual design competition in Dubai run by the charity which is aiming to end poverty and provide clean water in challenged locations (eg Uganda and Haiti). I spoke to the design team of AAID, Allen Architecture Interior Design, is based in Dubai, about the concept behind their LINK entry. Working together they created an hexagonal modular wall system made out of sustainable local and recycled materials which also employ local artisans and labour. Just as we do, each 'LINK” block relies on the one below, and can be adapted as shelves, planters, like little pods. Obviously the hexagon is an important shape in nature, just look inside a Bee Hive.

With Lockdown preventing many of us from having our own space, the privacy to be able to pursue a hobby, to connect back to yourself, this challenge stuck the team at AAID as a key issue they wanted to help. Seeing people in labour camps, or being unable to move from four walls, when home becomes work, how do we reconnect to us? Their concept allows the community where it is installed to move it around, to make it taller or shorter, shape it.

One of the overarching elements of this project which for me is excellent, is that the manufacture of these LINK pod modular system supports local community, local farmers, local artisans, helping preserve specialist skills. Being surrounded by four walls wherever you are, whether that’s in an office building in Dubai or in a home in Wisconsin, you need something natural around you to help your wellness, your focus, your creativity, your happiness, your joy. This LINK system ticks all those boxes, and to top it all, it is a beautiful and inspirational piece of furniture! I wish them luck!

To find out more about AAID visit their website. For more about Surge for Water see theirs.

A big thank you to the team in Dubai for spending time with me and sharing their project with us too. Thanks to Regina Mathew, Mansi Tewari, Ruqaiyya Reza, Somya Garg.

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You don't need much to bring in the benefits of Biophilic Design. You will create an environment where people really love to work there. It is the simple things. Wood tactile, character. Even facsimiles of wood helps to relax your eyes, relieves you more than just having white table tops.

Even just an image helps, makes us feel more comfortable. One of the projects she is currently working on, she is bringing in a large scale landscape, huge print on a glass wall with big leaves, which has very interesting and positive effect on the whole space, it is a feature, you want to look at. Printing on see through materials, glass, acrylic.

Simulated views, something our publisher Argenta Wellness understands and embraces. Why not give it a try?

We also discuss RESET which is a certification for improved ventilation systems. Air quality, it’s important that you continually measure it. When you close windows, VOCs/ formaldehyde, particle matters, CO2 increase, making us tired, sick and causes our focus and energy to slip. Ultimately if you have a better ventilation system, you will save money on staff sick days, improve staff retention and therefore save on recruitment costs and so on.

To find out more visit www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com

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Dr Joanna Leach is research fellow at the University of Birmingham. This is a fascinating podcast where some surprising green initiatives being implemented in Biophilic Cities are discussed, think bats and bridges as well as incredible edible towns. The more connected we are with our environment and nature the better. Imagine a city where we can see nature, smell fresh air, hear bird song.

Photo of Dr Joanne Leach, copyright Simon R Leach.

Dr Leach makes the really valid point that cities are not 'natural' entities, they are heavily engineered spaces, they are dense, and their impact goes far beyond their borders. We need to think of new ways to improve the environments while also improving the infrastructure of the spaces.

We discuss different initiatives that sustain people, the economic machinery and our planet.

Dr Leach's focus is currently on Birmingham, where she explains there is a great deal of innovation on green infrastructure. If you look at a satellite map of Birmingham you'll see that it is actually very green, and with more miles of canals that Venice, they are connecting up green and blue spaces to make the city accessible and create safe car-free and walking environments. She also tells us of projects by other cities, from Bats and Bridges and Incredible Edible Todmorden.

If you’re involved in city or town planning, are an architect, developer or a citizen who cares where they live, this podcast is definitely worth a listen. Cities and Towns can do things differently, they just need to learn how to.

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Shouldn't all employees be catered for when planning and designing a workspace? Oliver Baxter, based in Dubai, is one of a team of three who make up the Herman Miller Insight Group, their focus is holistic and human-centric. In our podcast we discuss biophilic design but also especially now, how intuition when planning workspaces is no longer appropriate, it has to be used on research, on evidence. Aligning this with actually catering for what your people actually "NEED" to do their job. Oli suggests that companies might do well to take a step back, when planning their workspaces. It should it be about catering for everybody, knee-jerk reactions are no longer appropriate as people's lives are on the line, and we need to consider the decisions we are making now. There are many biophilic elements companies can bring into their workplace from plants to natural materials and desk positioning. Did you know if you sleep within 6 metres of natural source of daylight you'll sleep 45 minutes longer at night? Did you know we are only sat at a desk and a chair of 30% of our time on average in the workplace and meeting rooms are generally 3 times too big? All that wasted real estate! How will this all change after Covid? This and other useful insights are in this podcast, filmed over Zoom between the UK and Dubai.

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How can we as Biophilic consultants embrace the Five Elements of Feng Shui to further understand our environment we live and work in, how we relate to our spaces and also how living more intuitively with the elements of nature can make a difference to our wellbeing, future planning, confidence and actually getting off our backsides and doing something. Another fascinating conversation with Luminous Spaces founder, Maureen Calamia, who has developed a practice of Biophilic Design based on the 5 Elements. This is such a fascinating podcast, listen as she explains what the characteristics are of the different elements, how they connect with the earth, air, and us and how you can apply this learning to your own life and help you take the next steps in your own personal journey.

She explains what the different elements are: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and how we can have greater wellbeing by considering the harmony of all these elements and realising how we are intrinsically connected to this harmony and these elements in nature.

If you missed our previous podcast with Maureen be sure to check it out here, or search for it on Amazon Music, Apple iTunes or wherever you subscribe to your podcasts.

Take her quiz online and have look around her site. She is running courses on Feng Shui and also Biophilic Design. She has written a new article for us on The Ancient and The Modern, how the 5 Elements can be harnessed to enhance Biophilic Design practice.

Buy her book Creating Luminous Spaces: Use the Five Elements for Balance and Harmony in your Home.

Creating Luminous Spaces: Use the Five Elements for Balance and Harmony in Your Home and in Your Life

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Can play really transform our workplaces? Do we need it more than ever? Niklas Madsen is founder of Superlab, an experimental design laboratory with a main goal to study the future workplace and furniture design of tomorrow. Their book "Playful Office - the future office philosophy that will turn employees into employees' kickstarted an innovative journey, researching the benefits of creative play in the office, allowing free thought to flow in the workforce as well as engendering solutions and wellbeing for companies they work with. They are also now exploring AI and other digital tools to help transform spaces for people. Combining that with biophilic solutions has created some really interesting spaces, that encourage staff retention and productivity.

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Oliver Heath’s name is synonymous with biophilic design, his appearances on TV and his extensive experience using biophilia in interior design and architecture has positioned him as a leading light in bringing nature and elements of nature into our spaces to improve our wellbeing, health, creativity, productivity and as he says here “happiness”. Biophilic design principles allow us to bring elements of nature into the built environment, especially into those places where we experience a great deal of stress. Our connection to nature can unlock so many benefits, stress washes off us, we become different people, we can think more holistically about our life and where it’s going. The impact the buildings we inhabit and work in have an enormous effect on our lives, especially now with the restrictions placed on us as a result of the Covid epidemic. With an onset of almost cabin fever, we are recognising the fact that the building we surround ourselves with has a huge impact on our physical, mental and emotional states. Nature can play a valuable role, the benefits of plants and greenery, adding personalisation, direct influence over a space, improve air quality, sunlight, fresh air, easy to improve spaces. Sensory elements, how we move in the space, acoustics, thermal issues. easy to engage with, satisfying. If you want to create healthier spaces have a listen to this excellent podcast or watch the video on our YouTube Channel and and see how we can use human centred and biophilic design to make a phenomenal difference to your home, your work, your life and our planet.

There are four free Design Guides which he mentions on the video podcast, to download these excellent free resources go to: https://www.oliverheath.com/resources/ They are also launching a new Biophilic Design course, how to integrate Biophilic Design into their home. Sign up on their website to be among the first to register.

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Can technology and nature go hand in hand, can we use technology to embrace nature? If so, how? Technobiophilia is a new term coined by writer and researcher Sue Thomas. We speak with her about her book of the same name and also about Nature, Wellbeing in the Digital Age. Quotidian use of our device interaction throws up the most surprising benefits it seems, who would have thought that Grand Theft Auto or FarmVille would give us a potential escape route after work into nature, or how nature found its way into our metaphorical library to be an unspoken lexicon for cyberspace terminology. When we use our devices we step into another world, another geography even. Allowing ourselves the grace to embrace technology could provide a transition or an accessible portal for us to enter into the natural world. We talk webcams, Blue Mind, AVs in healthcare, screen savers, the geography of cyberspace and environmental psychology. An interesting and thought-provoking listen to anyone working with nature in their practice, from urban planning to architecture and interior design.

Nature and Wellbeing in the Digital Age: How to feel better without logging off

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Sally Coulthard, designer and best selling author writes a great column for Country Living “Good Life in the Country.” Her recent book “Biophilia" - You, Nature, Home” is a ‘Handbook for bringing the natural world into your life’ and is one of the most beautifully crafted books I’ve read for years. It feels like you are holding nature in your hands. I was thrilled to interview her and get her take on Biophilia, why it’s important today, why cities and buildings should be weaving biophilic elements into their interior designs and urban planning. We chat about the interconnectedness of nature and our lives, how biophilia embraces many aspects and has many benefits not only from an aesthetic point of view but also environmental and on a more profound level as it reduces negative issues such as stress and improves positive aspects like helping sleep, air quality, nervous systems. The science is overwhelming.

Personally it was also lovely to speak with someone who has a similar interest to me in anthropology and archaeology which she read at Oxford, I read Classics at UCL. Both backgrounds have given us a desire to understand how society organises themselves, and how we relate to nature and the world around us.

Biophilia: A handbook for bringing the natural world into your life

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If you are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of going back to work, or which way to turn now, you could well benefit from taking a leaf (excuse the pun) from nature’s book. Deborah Mendes, helps overwhelmed CEOs and business owners del with change and reconnect to their true and powerful selves through connecting with nature. The term biophilia highlights our connection with nature, so I was intrigued to learn more about how Deborah works. From the study of an intricate pine cone to just standing still and feeling strong within ourselves, grounding ourselves, rooting ourselves and expanding outwards, and growing can enable us to adapt, slow down, make atomic changes to help ourselves and those around us have better more productive, peaceful and happy lives.

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Sound may not be one of the first things we think of in biophilic design but what most people want from the auditory environment is intrinsically linked to nature. Further associations with the natural world are found in our sound preferences. Subjectively many people prefer outdoor sounds, for example the soft sounds of water babbling, leaves rustling and birdsong. However, much of our time is now spent inside and for patients in hospital their stay is often a continuous indoor environment with unnaturally high levels of artificial noise from which there is no escape, not even in sleep, and which are out of our control.

Our hearing is often key in our perception of the world around us; it helps us to interact, communicate and be aware of what is happening and impending change. It is designed for the outside, a world without walls and other hard reflective surfaces that focus sound and allow it to build up to levels where it affects our concentration, increases levels of anxiety, negatively affects performance and interrupts our sleep. We speak with Andrea Harman, concept developer specialising in acoustics for healthcare for Saint-Gobain Ecophon to find out how we should consider and can improve the acoustics for people in hospital. We discuss also the study at Huddinge hospital coronary critical care unit which looked at the effect of improving the acoustic conditions on care and recovery.

A good room acoustic environment is important for everyone; however for people in hospital, both staff and patients, this can have a huge impact on their wellbeing.

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The New Workplace - The office is going to be very different in the future, less about ‘The’ place where you go to do work, it may be more the place where you go to be creative and collaborative. Offices may be used for the more social aspects of work, or those times where you genuinely need to cooperate or collaborate face-to-face. No longer will they be the battery farms of the past. As we emerge from Lockdown things are changing already in the way people work, where they work and the office environments themselves. We speak to Kenneth Freeman, former Head of Innovation at Ambius who has now set up his own consultancy focusing on workplace wellbeing through biophilic design, to ask him how he thinks biophilic design should be used going forward to make workers lives better, not just in the office itself but also at home.

Re-humanising and inspiring the Workplace - For Kenneth, with his background in horticulture, evaluating the effects of biophilic design is essential, helping understand scientifically how and why nature and plants at work really makes a difference to us. Through surveys, pre- and post-occupancy, as well as encouraging companies to engage their staff in the consultation process, Kenneth says this always helps shape the design of a space to make a positive impact on staff morale, communication and also helps acceptance of change. Essential in times like these.

How to use Biophilic Design - How should we decorate our offices and enrich our workspaces? What does a healthy workplace really mean? Why put plants into buildings? What about Home Offices? Should companies be supporting their staff working from home with Biophilic Design enhancement to help wellbeing and productivity? Kenneth answers these questions and more with examples of where biophilic design AND staff engagement has really made a difference.

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To Luminous Spaces founder, Maureen Calamia, Feng Shui and Biophilic Design are two expressions of the same concept, in many ways Biophilic Design is a modern take on Feng Shui. Both advocate using live plants, natural materials, natural light. Feng Shui is more intuitive, it’s an art and feeling, Biophilic Design is more scientific and based on research, but Biophilic Design also comes from an intuitive knowing that we are not separate from nature and when we put ourselves in spaces devoid of nature we don’t feel good.

Everything is connected. Both are about reciprocity and connection to the land around us, both satisfy this deep unconscious yearning for living among vibrant healthy life

We desire to live to live in spaces where we can both survive and thrive.

In this interesting conversation, Maureen discusses the origins of Feng Shui thousands of years ago in China, how it was employed in locating optimum land positions, and she goes on to outline what the 5 elements are, how she combines both practices to help clients and also what positive results she obtains using both.

“We are not separate from nature”

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Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres have embraced and celebrated biophilic design not only in their interiors but also in the fabric of the architecture, the landscapes and views of nature, plants and trees within and without their buildings. And it is making a phenomenal difference. As the seasons change, so the views change. “Nature is Joyful, and it helps us feel joyful and when we feel joyful we can handle so much more of what life throws at us.” Maggie’s is visionary, it’s mould-breaking and is important evidence that biophilic design is ESSENTIAL in healthcare. This podcast is incredibly important for anyone working in biophilic design. I had the good fortune to speak with Dame Laura Lee, Chief Executive of Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres. “You can’t retrofit spirit or soul in a building you have to get it right from the outset and that requires very thoughtful design and time.”

For years I’ve been fascinated by the inspirational spaces that are Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres. Not only are they beautifully designed places architecturally, but they are exemplars of how biophilic design can really make a truly phenomenal difference to patients and their families. “Nature offers curiosity and constant creativity... good design, thoughtful materials and how things touch and feel, it’s the visual landscape that your eyes are feasting on that is so important.”

A quote that Maggie wrote, “Not to lose the joy of living in the fear of dying”. Something I think we can all take heart from, and embrace the living essence of our natural world and incorporate it into our hospitals, homes and workplaces.

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When was the last time you took a walk in the forest? We all recognise the positive power that being in nature has on our wellbeing and mindset, and some of us also are familiar with the Japanese ‘art’ of Shinrin Yoku, or Forest Bathing. What you might not have known is that there are “NHS Forest” hospitals. In this podcast we discuss whether there is a need for a nature-based health strategy to be included in the corporate built environment, how a an Urban Forest Experience could await you at the next Chelsea Flower Show and how liminal experiences in forests can transform us out of immobilising burnout and other distress. Our editor Dr Vanessa Champion is here in conversation with Amanda Bond, Ecopsychotherapist and certified Forest Therapy Guide and Mentor, she is also co-chair of the ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programmes) European Council. If you listen all the way to the end, yo’ll learn that biophilia is more than just aesthetics, it is about reconnecting yourself on a cellular level with nature. Ness also raises the point here again, that EOWilson’s “Biophilia” is more than just bringing in plants into a space, but is about encouraging and recognising our inherent connection to our natural world and all its beauty.

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In 1986 NASA was researching the ability of plants to absorb harmful gases. Their research had a huge impact on author and precision mechanic Jørn Viumdal who went on to set up Greentime AS. He contacted NASA and they began to develop the space stations of the future and researched how they could use nature to improve the air quality on board the space stations. Greentime AS was the first in the world to create practical working environments based on research results on the interaction between nature and humans. Jørn was then involved in the practical implementation of pioneering tests under the direction of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, which looked at the practical effects of using plants in typical indoor environments. 30 years on, his company Skogluft, which in Norwegian means “Forest Air” now brings nature inside through an easy to maintain and self-install living wall system. We spend more than 90% of our lives indoors, causing stress, anxiety, fatigue. A lack of nature drains us. We speak to Skogluft’s co-founder, Stine Wettergreen to tell us more about why plants are good for our homes, offices and wellbeing and how they’ve been implemented into Google offices, Oslo airport, schools, hospitals and homes.

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Acoustics, planting, colour ways, furniture design, textures, space all have an impact on us. Whether this is at home or in the workplace, how we decide to design these spaces can make a whole difference to our mind set, they can make us stressed and unproductive or they can make us focussed, calm and inspired. We have control on what we create. We have a duty of care to ourselves to make sure we respect each other enough to want to make our homes and offices, hospitals and so on nice places to be. We spend hours and hours inside. So it is refreshing to speak to Danish interior designer Bettina Therese Møller, who instinctively incorporates elements of biophilic design, Feng Shui and Wabi Sabi into her designs for clients, creating interiors with a purpose.

Bettina talks to our editor Dr Vanessa Champion about her love of nature, why we should embrace it in our interior designs, how bringing in shapes, positive and inspired colours, textures from nature, making use of natural light and improving sound quality can make all the difference. She also shares with us, that she too, like us, collects things from nature when she is out on her walk with her dog, and brings them home.

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Sharing a space in silence can be uplifting, revelatory and inspiring, sharing a space in nature can be an even more powerful experience. Allowing your brain to think in different ways by taking time away by being in a different space unblocks creativity, it can help you shape a different way of thinking, a different ways of being. This is important in times of change, career change and stress. Doing this surrounded by nature compounds the effect. There is a unique space of harmony in London that not a lot of people know about. It is a retreat centre with two spaces embracing nature, one is wild and more open with a Yurt cafe, moroccan stews and fresh bread and the second an inner sanctuary, a secret hidden garden in the heart of a cloister, a place for quiet reflection and peace. That place is The Royal Foundation of St Katharines. Founded by Queen Matilda in 1147, the foundation’s purpose is to serve the community and it is doing just that, with Amnesty International, the Red Cross and businesses using the meeting spaces for conferences and events, but also is a place of retreat for people from all over the world to come and take some time out to regroup, recharge and experience peace in the centre of London. We speak to The Venerable Roger Preece, Master of the Foundation to ask him the philosophical question why nature is important to us.

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Will landscaped offices be the thing of the future? Will office spaces and homes merge into one? Why should learning environments like schools really need to take note and incorporate biophilic design elements into classrooms and buildings? Maggie Procopi is co-founder and owner of popular Workplace Trends series of conferences held in London, Madrid, Delhi and elsewhere as well as online, our editor Vanessa Champion asks her opinion on current trends, pets, how biophilic design isn’t just plants, how to embrace circadian rhythms and just what exactly is grounding?!

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Ever wanted a quiet space in the office to just hanker down and focus? If you work from home, how about having a MOVEABLE seated pod that has adjustable lighting, great sound proofing and even your kids can use for homework? Using some of the main biophilic design elements, Nookpods are sustainable mobile personal spaces for open plan offices, homes, and even stadiums. Currently also donated to the NHS during the Covid-19 crisis, we chat to the Nookpod company founder, David O’Coimin about altruism, acoustics, neuro-diversity, lighting, nature, ADHD and personal space.

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We work so hard to make our working, home and leisure environments acoustically better that we may be overlooking an essential aspect, our need for “sound”, our need especially for the “sound of nature”. Back in the office many of us work in cacophony or we are discovering during this “lockdown” that we live in homes where the TV is too loud, our hospitals are often crazy busy noisy environments, everywhere designers are struggling to clean these spaces of aggressive and distracting audio disturbance, but once we do that, how do we know that these spaces provide us with the optimum environments for focus, creativity and wellbeing? We speak with Evan Benway, Jazz drummer and Managing Director of the Sound Agency about their new sound system “Moodsonic”, which combines algorithms, audio technology, nature recordings and a lot of research to create inspiring environments to live and work in.

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Charles Smee, is Founder and Senior Partner of the innovative transactional marketing company, Transaction Focus. With no permanent office space, Transaction Focus has been adopting principles of nature on many different levels to sustain and grow profitable companies. We speak with Charles to find out how we can mimic the change, flexibility and eco-systems of nature into our own businesses which will work for SMEs as well as multi-nationals not just in terms of green visuals but with biomimetic conceptualisation how we can apply nature’s structure onto our own business principles.

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Research has shown that contact with nature has a psycho-therapeutic effect. It also has been proven that being surrounded by nature, with all the multi-sensory effects it has on us, increases our immunity, improves resilience and improves our mood. In fact being in a calm environment allows part of our brain to rest. Mindfulness is a way of being present without judgment and research has shown that brainwaves change when people practice this too.

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The world is in Lockdown, we are all probably going a little stir-crazy, looking at the same four walls and thinking that some of our rooms are driving us nuts and we’re not quite sure why…

How can we use colour, light, sound and biophilia to improve our homes when we can’t get out to buy the things we would like to make or homes really cool places, but don’t despair, using clever, simple and quick fixes we can make our spaces great spaces to be in.

We speak with Sally Augustin environmental psychologist and author of Designology about how we can improve our home space room by room while we are in lockdown during the Covid 19 period.

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If you are working from home for the first time during this Covid 19 Lockdown, or maybe you have always worked from home, there are some simple biophilic design “tweaks” you can do to really improve your workspace. From clearing clutter, to your lights, nature views, air quality and even sounds to improve your space, help you focus more, be less stressed, be creative and productive too. We speak to Sally Augustin, author of the great book “ Designology” to find out what we can each do right now without having to go out or take up too much time out of our day.

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Many things have changed for humans since their early days as a species—how excited do you think early Homo sapiens would have been by heating, air conditioning and weather tight structures to install them in, for example?

Not everything is different, however. We still have fundamentally the same brains as the first creatures we would recognize as “one of us.” That means we process and respond to the basic sensory inputs we see, hear, feel, taste, and smell today as our earliest human ancestors did.

Neuroscience research suggests that those sensory consistencies may be why biophilic design gives us such a powerful mental boost today. Biophilic design applies the same sorts of design principles in today’s built-environments that were naturally present in the outdoor settings where we were at ease aeons ago, when our bodies took on their current form. We still feel comfortable in biophilic spaces today, and the sorts of experiences that we have in biophilicly designed spaces boost our cognitive performance, for example, and for some of us even enhance the performance of our immune systems.

Our brains continue to respond positively to the sorts of sensory stimulations that long ago signalled good times, or at least that bad times were unlikely.

So, what are the principles of biophilic design?

In a biophilic space, there is moderate visual complexity. This means that there is order in the world around us, and a carefully edited palette of colours and shapes in play. Moderate visual complexity makes it less stressful for us to continuously scan the world around us—something we still do without considering what we’re up to today, just as our forebears did aeons ago to determine if there was danger nearby. Clutter creates high visual complexity, which is why it makes us tense.

We speak with Environmental and Design Psychologist, Sally Augustin. Sally is also Principal at ‘Design with Science’. She is also Fellow of the ‘American Psychological Association’ and author of “Place Advantage: Applied Psychology for Interior Architecture” (Wiley 2009) and with Cindy Coleman, “The Designer’s Guide to Doing Research: Applying Knowledge to Inform Design” (Wiley, 2012).

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Should art in hospitals and elsewhere incorporate biophilia? With the arts quite starved of funding generally incorporating visual arts into healthcare and other environments is a challenge. We speak with Victoria Hume, Director of the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance to find out how the Alliance is helping broker arts into healthcare and beyond through a network of regional “champions”, building on grassroots arts programmes and building bridges to network positive creative solutions to those who need it. Her own background as a musician and arts worker is fascinating in itself, as is her work on delirium which includes composing music that address delirium.

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A fascinating conversation with consultant futurist Mark T Jones on what he hopes the future might hold for biophilic design, and what we, as individuals on this planet, could do ourselves to make our environments a whole lot better. He talks about symbolism in Africa and the connection to nature he’s witnessed on that continent. We also touch on vernacular imagery, the Knepp Wildland project, the rural paintings of Constable, prisons and how we might interpret ‘Mother Earth’.

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Theatre, TV and film create simulations of environments to transport the audience somewhere else. Similarly here at Argenta Wellness and those who work using biophilic design, we create harmony by mimicking nature to bring about a simulated environment of an outside space to bring peace and calm to workplaces, healthcare and so on. In this podcast we speak with actor Paul Ryan (Brexit: The Uncivil War and Christine Keeler) who enjoyed a 3-year run in London’s theatre-land in Mamma Mia. Paul describes how with backdrops and actors’ states of mind, they create ..

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Biophilia is now one of the most influential elements in today’s design trends. And it’s having an increasing influence on interior design and architecture decisions across almost every sector. Biophilic Design integrates nature and natural elements, materials and forms into the architecture and interiors of the buildings we occupy day in and day out. How it benefits retail, leisure industry, homes, corporate spaces and most importantly us…

Journal of Biophilic Design: Recent Episodes

Vanessa Champion, editor, Journal of Biophilic Design