Biophilia in architectural design : a healthcare and community centre for Mpumalanga, Durban.

Abstract

Biophilia is the love of nature and all living things and is the theory that forms the basis of ‘biophilic’ design. Biophilic design recognizes the positive experience of natural systems and processes in our buildings as critical to human health, performance, and well-being. Healthy living is a primary need for society and designing with nature could provide for these needs in architectural environments. Employing such techniques of design could improve the experiential quality of architectural space. The quality of healthcare environments and similar public places could become more accommodating for local communities. There would be a need for adapting these ideas to fit local conditions but through research initiatives, designers can understand what would be most suitable considering the circumstances of a region. If there is a marked effect of natural environments on the wellbeing of citizens, then biophilia can initiate a better approach in local architectural design for society.