Understanding and designing nature experiences in cities: a framework for biophilic urbanism

ABSTRACT

Increasing evidence shows that creating and maintaining relationships with nature is important for human wellbeing. Humanity has become a mostly urbanised species where people typically spend most of their time indoors. It is important then that strategies for deliberately bringing aspects of nature into urban spaces are explored. Design that responds to an understanding of people’s innate connection to the living world can be termed biophilic design. This research defines a unique biophilic urbanism framework for analysing and mapping biophilic urban elements. Thirty characteristics of biophilic cities were identified and then used to map Wellington, New Zealand. Observations arising from the research include: 1/while access to wild nature might be an important characteristic of a biophilic city, planned design interventions are also significant; and 2/when identified biophilic elements form part of a larger interconnected spatial experience through time, positive effects may be enhanced. This can enable identification of strategic locations for biophilic interventions in the wider urban fabric to facilitate more effective urban nature experiences. This suggests that biophilic urbanism must encompass a wide range of human sensory information, and should be designed from a four-dimensional (i.e. including time) perspective.

KEYWORDS:

• Biophilic design
• urban design
• urban nature
• GIS mapping
• Wellington
• nature experience

Acknowledgements

Funding for the Wellington Nature Map from the Wellington City Council is gratefully acknowledged. Dr M. de Roiste (Victoria University of Wellington) provided technical assistance in relation to the GIS and Story Map process. Research assistance and photography was provided by R. Whale (Wellington Living Architecture), E. Cruz (École Centrale de Lyon), and K. Milne (Victoria University of Wellington). Icons were developed by K. Spencer (Kelly Spencer Graphic Design).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Wellington City Council.

Notes on contributors

Maibritt Pedersen Zari

Maibritt Pedersen Zari is a Senior Lecturer at Victoria University’s School of Architecture in Sustainable Architecture. Her areas of expertise are biomimicry and regenerative design and the practical intersection of ecology with urban and architectural design. She has published extensively in these areas as well as in the relationships between climate change, biodiversity loss and the built environment and responses to these issues.