1 Understanding Biophilia and its integration with Architecture Kaushal Modi, Sangramsinh Parmar 1. INTRODUCTION The aim of this study is to understand the phenomena of ‘biophilia’ and understand how it has been integrated with architectural design – represented as ‘biophilic design’ in the current design and construction context. This study aims to deal with several questions, such as; • What is ‘biophilia’? • To what extent is health and well-being influenced by built form? • How can biophilia reduce building related illnesses? • How does biophilic design affect health and well-being? • How have different architects incorporated biophilia successfully into their building designs? 1.1 AFFILIATION BETWEEN NATURE AND BUILT FORM Mankind is strongly connected with nature. This relationship has always played an important role in the evolution of humans. From the beginning of time, humans have depended on nature for food, clothing, shelter and all other necessities to be able to survive. Primitive humans had lived near sources of food and water. They chose naturally advantageous locations for habitation, which could save them from predators and rivals, as well as shield them from the harsh weather. The oldest shelters are caves and large trees. In the absence of caves or trees, bones of animals or branches of trees were used to create the inverted V-shape of natural tent. To hold that structure firmly, a ring of stones or a depression in the ground was used. The first reliable traces of human dwellings, found from as early as 30,000 years ago, follow such logical principles of built form creation, which was heavily reliant on nature. Fig. 1.1 An illustration of early humans in cave (left) and natural tents from bones and branches (right) Over time, humans developed more formal and sophisticated ways of living - through developing agriculture and trade. Thus, the story of architecture began. Permanent settlements became a factor of life and gradually more durable structures with straight walls and windows began to appear - made of clay, stone, timber and sun-dried bricks. These early human settlements were essentially rural. As surplus of production began to occur, rural societies transformed into urban ones and cities began to evolve. The earliest cities developed in around 3000 BC. These cities allowed for people to stay in one place in large communities, sustaining on each other. This was the turning point from where humans attempted to build habitats, away from the natural environment. The shift from rural areas to large cities (urbanization) was among the most significant changes over the centuries. Simultaneously, humans started manufacturing building materials such as concrete and different metals. While making those materials also, the dependency upon the nature was still there to varying degrees. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 11, Issue 5, May-2020 ISSN 2229-5518 1403 IJSER © 2020 http://www.ijser.org IJSER
Understanding Biophilia and its integration with Architecture
Apr 25, 2023
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