While researching and preparing to build our EcoHouse, the first house in Montenegro to be designed to the Passivhaus principles, I was a Founder Member of the Montenegro Green Building Council. I was helping to develop our constitution for membership with the World Green Building Council (the world coordinating body for all national GBCs), and was struck by one of the articles in their constitution.
‘Design for Harmony between the Natural and Built Environments’
Principle 3: ‘Prioritise Access to Nature’. Ensure occupant access to Nature providing biophilic benefits.
So biophilic design means building in harmony with nature and the environment. Connecting people with nature both inside and outside of the building enhances wellbeing. Studies have shown evidence of positive benefits of human interaction with nature, such as improved productivity, lower levels of stress, enhanced learning and even improved recovery rates following illness.
These studies have led to many architects and designers appreciating the connection between some of our modern-day ailments and the design of many modern buildings and office environments. Biophilic Design incorporates natural elements, maximises daylight, views of nature, and includes natural features such as indoor plants as well as water features.
Our EcoHouse was planned to take a holistic approach. Our design maximises daylight, with large south-facing windows giving views of the surrounding countryside, mountains and the sea. We endeavour to conserve the use of water, have developed a garden with drought-tolerant plants and built local stone walls.
During my volunteering time in the Balkan countries, I found no or very little biophilic design in homes or schools. Poverty was prevalent, nature was almost opulent, shown in magnificent mountains, forests, beautiful, coloured flowers, but the connection between nature and buildings and people was missing. Homes or offices were often dark, small & depressive. The building environment was monotonous. These older buildings tended to have poor indoor air quality; inefficiency in their energy systems, and so a negative impact on many people’s health.
My work with the GBCME and the connection in putting the constitution together as I found by the World Green Building Council, showed me the harmony needed between people, buildings and nature. I worked on projects with schools, greening schools, helping to create a better environment taking children out to nature, talking about light and colour, texture. Holding English conversation classes in a local school encouraged us to choose topics we thought were important to connect children with nature, animals, and plants.
Biophilic Design should be part of our lives, it has tangible benefits, building in a green sustainable way, using biophilic design Design should be part of our lives, it has tangible benefits, building in a green sustainable way, using biophilic design principles, and nature is acting like a bridge. More studies need to be done.
Published in Linkedin 4. April 2024
