Journal of Biophilic Design

Vanessa Champion, editor, Journal of Biophilic Design
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Journal of Biophilic Design Podcast

Welcome to our podcast series from the Journal of Biophilic Design, where we interview workplace consultants, futurists, interior designers, architects, urban planners and those working in healthcare, wellbeing and other industries to find out the latest on Biophilic Design. www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com

  1. 11 SEPT

    How our brains respond to Biophilic Design

    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 Have you got a copy of the Journal? You can now subscribe to the digital edition 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 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? Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Twitter https://twitter.com/JofBiophilicDsn LinkedIn. https://www.linke

    47 min

  2. 2 SEPT

    The Spine - Liverpool. How Biophilic Design was used to create the highest WELL Certified Building

    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

    39 min

  3. 28 AUG

    Stop Ecocide International - Biophilic Design supporting regnerative design

    "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. Have you got a copy of the Journal? You can now subscribe to the digital edition or purchase a copy directly fro

    49 min

  4. 20 AUG

    Living in Balance and Symbiosis with Nature through Biophilic Design

    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/ Have you got a copy of the Journal? You can now subscribe to the digital edition 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 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

    34 min

  5. 10 JUL

    Sustainable Interior Design

    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? Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Twitter https://twitter.com/JofBiophilicDsn LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/journalofbiophilicdesign/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/journalofbiophilicdesign

    59 min

  6. 3 JUL

    Natural Dimensions - Transforming Schools with Biophilic Design

    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.

    36 min

  7. 10 MAY

    Tall Timber Buildings - are they the Future of our Urban Landscape?

    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 constr

  8. 12 APR

    NEW proof that Biophilic Design increases the Value (£) of the Workplace!

    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

    51 min
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About

Welcome to our podcast series from the Journal of Biophilic Design, where we interview workplace consultants, futurists, interior designers, architects, urban planners and those working in healthcare, wellbeing and other industries to find out the latest on Biophilic Design. www.journalofbiophilicdesign.com

Information

  • Creator
    Vanessa Champion, editor, Journal of Biophilic Design
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Content copyright Journal of Biophilic Design, opinions copyright the speaker.
  • Show Website
    Journal of Biophilic Design

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