Order Number |
6757878688 |
Type of Project |
ESSAY |
Writer Level |
PHD VERIFIED |
Format |
APA |
Academic Sources |
10 |
Page Count |
3-12 PAGES |
The question (how we creatively enhance the school’s studio experience through biophilic design?)
The problem I chose to solve
In the modern day we have an increasing disconnect from the natural world in our built environment, specifically in educational spaces such as schools and universities. The problem is that our school studio, studio V doesn’t have any elements of biophilic design. It is lacking the accessibility of natural light (daylight) and other natural materials in its interior and this can have an impact on student’s behavior and their creativity. The exposure to nature can improve cognitive skills. “One approach to improving the schooling experience, greater exposure to nature, had a significant positive association with graduation rate and students’ plans to attend a four-year-college” (Matsuoka, 2010). In this paper I will discuss my design process on how I notice the problem and how I can solve it. The problem caused by me feeling uncomfortable working on my projects in my studio, the feeling made me to rather go study and do my project at home. The studio space settings weren’t well-arranged and the layout of the space have an empty feeling to it. This kind of space settings can affect us the students. As studies have shown that natural elements have a significant impact on people’s well-being. Biophilic design has many benefits in the workspace, it improves mental health, physical health, and productivity. The benefits of contact with nature is critical to people’s health and fitness. The studio is the most influential space in the school where the students can express their creativity and bring out their best work. It’s important to incorporate biophilia in this kind of environment to reduce stress and increase creativity. It is time that the incorporation of nature become a standard in educational design environments to improve student’s ability to achieve their goals.
The content of readings or other sources which informed you
The sources that my paper is based on is The Practice of Biophilic Design, The Nature of Human Nature, and the design of windhover center at Stanford University. Biophilic design is an extension of biophilia, it incorporates natural materials, natural light, vegetation, nature views and other experience of the natural world into modern built environment. The relationship between human and nature can be one of love and respect and the outcome of this relationship can be rich and satisfying. The biophilic design principles focus on human adaptation to the natural world over evolutionary time have advance people’s health, fitness, and wellbeing. This principle explains how the spaces we spend time in can influence our emotional, physical and mental health, and how the design elements can determine how we experience the space. Secondly, this principle encourages an emotional attachment to particular settings and places, for example, a smell of a flower or a plant can remind us of certain events or places. Finally, biophilic design promotes positive interaction between people and people and nature that encourage an expanded sense of relationship and responsibility for the human and natural communities. This principle focuses on the relationship between nature and humans and how biophilic design can influence and benefit our quality of life and appreciation of our environment. In my design solution the incorporation of biophilic elements are significant and studio V, the spaces where we spend our time can affect our creativity. (A summary of the practice of biophilic design and the nature of human nature readings). The Windhover Center at Stanford University, completed in 2014, promotes contemplation, refuge, and recovery for the Stanford community. The building’s design creates a powerful interplay of artwork and the surrounding landscape, allowing individuals to “offset the personal cost that can be entailed by students, faculty and staff striving to reach the pinnacle of their fields” (Stanford University, n.d.).
Date collection techniques
The observation method that I chose for the design process is the identified outsider. I observed students interaction and behavior in a studio where natural light is accessible which is an important element of biophilic design, studio VI Where there is access to natural light versus studio V where light is accessible in one area of the space. This method helped me to distinguish that the students in studio VI were more active and engaged than students in studio V. I asked students about their feeling in both spaces and based in their opinion they prefer studio VI because it’s open and bright unlike studio V where it’s dark and dingy. Off my data collection findings, I came with the solution to redesign studio V and incorporate biophilic design elements in the space to increase the students connection to nature.
The mapping technique that I chose for my project is the place-centered mapping. “in place-centered mapping observers station themselves to watch the action at a particular site. On prepared diagram they record people’s locations and activities” (Sommer, 64). In my case I visited both studios and watched people’s behavior in both space settings. If we incorporate biophilic elements in studio V it will increase the number of students staying in the studio to do their project unlike the mapping technique diagram which shows that they are fewer students in studio V than studio VI
Theories used to frame your study
The theory that I want to solve my problem with is the biophilic design theory. “Biophilia is the inherent human inclination to affiliate with nature that even in the modern world continues to be critical to people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing (Wilson 1986, Kellert and Wilson 1994). the biophilic theory principles can influence student performance in the studio
The theorist is the American biologist Edward E. Wilson he proposed the idea of biophilia in his book in “Biophilia” 1984. He takes a scientific perspective in his book. Wilson expressed the concept of “biophilia” as “innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes”. He argues that humanity’s future just as its origins must be rooted in a co-existence with nature and our psychological well-being is connected to our relationship with nature. One of the main direct experiences with nature in biophilia is the exposure of natural light and vegetation, it’s important to work in a space where natural elements is accessible. This accessibility of nature in the workspace have a significant impact on our well-being.
In-depth description of your design solution
the students will experience the biophilic designed space through variety of human sense in the space including, sight, touch, smell, and movements. The design solution will have a direct and indirect experiences, direct experience and wayfinding. we designed a space-saving plant wall where the back has a marker board, w added a linear skylight along the open hallway to provide wayfinding to make the light accessible in the particular space and nontoxic wood flooring and operable windows for air ventilation. With indirect experience we choose furniture that has an organic shapes and feel to mimic nature. (Why? These experiences will increase students productivity and boost their creativity). We divided the space in 6 area including 4 classrooms with plant walls and markers board, study area with computers and desks with circadian lighting to improve productivity, and an organic seating lounge so student can interact with each other
Refrences
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-01/acs-gs010814.php