Tidal wetlands at Brooklyn Bridge Park. © Julienne Schaer/Flickr.

Jonce Walker, LEED AP, CSBA BIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS

Biophilic Urban Interventions Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban Places

BIOPHILIAWHAT IS BIOPHILIA?

“ Biophilia... is the innately emotional affiliation of human beings to other living organisms.... Life around us exceeds in complexity and beauty anything else humanity is ever likely to encounter.” Edward O. Wilson The Biophilia Hypothesis

Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban PlacesBIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS

CookFox Green Roof © CookFox Architects

Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban PlacesBIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS

14 PATTERNS OF BIOPHILIC DESIGNNature In The Space1. Visual Connection with Nature2. Non-Visual Connection with Nature3. Non-Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli4. Thermal & Airflow Variability5. Presence of Water6. Dynamic & Diffuse Light7. Connection With Natural Systems

Natural Analogues8. Biomorphic Forms & Patterns9. Material Connection with Nature10. Complexity & Order

Nature Of The Space11. Prospect12. Refuge13. Mystery14. Risk

DOCKSIDE GREEN © Adriana/Flickr

BIOPHILIC URBAN ACUPUNCTUREWHAT IS BUA?

“ BUA... is the theory that threads and nodes of biophilic interventions in specific urban places can help improve people’s moods, connect people to place, help improve mental health.... it is more effective in dense cities versus suburban places due to the ease of pedestrian mobility.

Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban PlacesBIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS

Brooklyn rain gardens. © Suzanne DeChillo

The HighLine© NYC Parks

Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban PlacesBIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS

THE HIGHLINE - NYC

Biophilic Urban Acupuncture:-High Pedestrian Use-Mobility Corridor-Dwell Time

Biophilic Patterns:-Visual Connection with Nature-Non-Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli-Presence of Water-Connection with Natural Systems-Prospect-Risk / Peril

Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban PlacesBIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS

The HighLine© NYC Parks

PopUp Forest © Noel Y.C.

Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban PlacesBIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS

POPUP FOREST - NYC

Biophilic Urban Acupuncture:-High Pedestrian Use-Mobility Cooridor-Dwell Time

Biophilic Patterns:-Visual Connection with Nature-Non-Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli-Refuge-Mystery

Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban PlacesBIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS

PopUp Forest © Noel Y.C.

Brooklyn Bridge Park © John Street

Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban PlacesBIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS

BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK TIDAL MARSH - NYC

Biophilic Urban Acupuncture:-High Pedestrian Use-Mobility Cooridor -Dwell Time-Ephemeral Biophilic Patterns:-Visual Connection with Nature-Non-Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli-Presense of Water-Connection with Natural Systems-Material Connection with Nature-Risk / Peril

Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban PlacesBIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS

Brooklyn Bridge Park © John Street

Bryan Park © Dan DeLuca via Flickr

Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban PlacesBIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS

BRYANT PARK SUBWAY - NYC

Biophilic Urban Acupuncture:-High Pedestrian Use-Mobility Cooridor

Biophilic Patterns:-Biomorphic Forms and Patterns

Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban PlacesBIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS

Bryant Park Subway © Samm Kunce

Planters in Sunnyside Queens © NYC

Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban PlacesBIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS

STREET PLANTERS - NYC

Biophilic Urban Acupuncture:-High Pedestrian Use-Mobility Cooridor-Dwell Time

Biophilic Patterns:-Visual Connection with Nature

Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban PlacesBIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS

Forsyth Street © Steven Vance via Flickr

GUERILLA GARDEN © Greenbook Pages

Guerrilla Gardening

DIY BIOPHILIC DESIGN

GUERRILLA GARDEN BOOMBOX © MARK HOLLSWORTH

BIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban Places

Seed Bomb

Newspaper Box Garden © Wired

Streets of Melbourne© Mark Hollsworth Tree Pit

Streets of Melbourne© Mark Hollsworth

Grow House© SA Studios

Phoenix Grow House © Downtown Phoenix Journal

Moss Art

BIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban Places

PARKING DAY © Onward State

Parklets / ParkingDay

DIY BIOPHILIC DESIGN

PARKLET © CITY OF PHOENIX

BIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban Places

SF Park(ing) Day © ReBar

Park(ing) Day Poster © Park(ing) Day

Park(ing) Day in London© The Green Dots Park(ing) Day

Park(ing) Day at ASLA© ASLA

Park(ing) Day in Brazil© Royston Rascals

Parklet in Bellingham WA © AZ Highways

Parklet in Boston © Boston Biz Journal

BIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban Places

Brooklyn Bridge Park © Michael Sofronski via NY Post

Applying Nature-Based Design to Urban PlacesBIOPHILIC URBAN INTERVENTIONS

“THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC VENEER, THE VEGETAL WORLD, MUST NOT BE OVERLAID BY A MAN-CAUSED OPAQUE VENEER.” -PAOLO SOLERI