​Legend
Nature and Architecture together, through Biophillic design
Biophilia means “a love of nature.” Biophilic design is the way in which architects incorporate nature into building spaces to contribute to the health and well-being of occupants. By providing direct access to—and views of—nature, and using building materials and features that both mimic and respect the surrounding ecosystem, architects create spaces that speak to our innate attraction to the natural environment. In hospitals that incorporate biophilic design principles, recovery rates improve; in schools, cognitive function improves; and in offices, productivity rates increase.
Ways Architecture and Nature can be combined
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By Using The Five Elements Of Nature : When there is a presence of the five elements of nature around us, i.e., earth, water, fire, air, and space, we feel a stronger connection with nature. Our human bodies, too, are made with these five elements, and having it in spatial form around, the elements of our body and elements of nature synchronize with each other. In architectural space, earth refers to the built form made from earthy materials, water refers to the water bodies on the site, fire refers to the light energy obtained from the sun, air refers to airflow throughout the site- that can be achieved by having maximum trees on site, and space refers to the connection between built and open spaces.
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Species Friendly Architecture : When we say combining architecture and nature, we think about materials, landscape, and spaces inhabited by humans. But amid this, we forget that we also share our existence with thousands of other life forms. Man, right from the beginning, lived amongst this vast number of life forms. But over the centuries, we have created a separation between us and them through our high-tech designs and as a dire need for seclusion. It has not only created a detachment between ‘us and them’ but also between us as a ‘human’ and us as a ‘species just like them’.
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Use Of Natural Materials : Using materials obtained from nature in raw form or the least refined form is one of the great approaches to combine architecture and nature. We come in direct contact with the spatial materials daily. So the use of natural materials like wood, clay, mud, stone, bamboo, etc., builds a natural atmosphere in the space and imparts the essence of the forest.
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Minimalism In Design : In Japanese tradition, there is a philosophy called wabi-sabi that can be used to combine architecture and nature. In this, wabi means living alone in nature, simplicity, imperfection, minimalism, and sabi means celebrating the beauty of ageing and wear, rustic, and accepting the natural cycle of life-decay-death. In architectural space, simple and minimalistic design without unnecessary lines and forms, and natural materials that are allowed to age can create an environment that will keep users more connected to nature.
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Open Spaces And Landscape Design : Having open spaces and landscape areas in combination with built spaces allow users to live in constant relation with nature. Architecture and nature coexisting with each other induces positivity and a fresh mood in people, and minimizes the environmental damage on a larger scale.
Architecture that focuses on Human and Nature alike !!!
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Vertical Gardens, urban farms, sustainable housing are the terms raging now and then these days. And they should be the rage! Climate change and global warming are afflicting our planet this very minute and every step we take in helping combat this issue, it needs to be taken right away. These buildings are doing their bit for the world. These focus on creating a greener space that pays as much attention to humans residing in them as to their plant counterparts.
Buildings with characteristics of Human-Nature relationship
A great way to connect back is to having a face-off, in this way, going back in the lap of nature. These are some example of building which are situated barefoot in the lap of nature which gives creates a symbiotic relationship of mutual-ism in between human and nature.
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Other generous way is to bring the elements in the spaces acquired by humans, ie Buildings. One way we can provide space for flourisment of nature inside the building or by other , we can use to surround the space to induce the feeling of being in lap of nature. Either ways provides that sense of connectedness for all living beings of overlapping symbiotic relationship.
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Orchestration to address Nature within Architecture
Kandalama HotelA hotel situated in Kandalama Village in Srilanka, famous for its dialogue with the local nature. | Avani Bentota ResortCutout in the roof to provide proper advantage to plants to grow through in symbiotic relationship. | A door @ Lunuganga EstateA wall which provides hope for nature to expand on its own with the time with the appropriate use of materials and techniques. |
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Changi AirportAtrium |
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Elements in architecture to provide space for nature and define relationships :
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Green roofs : While this works as a sustainable way for storm water management and reduces green house gas emission, it also provides insulation to the building and amenities as urban green space for inducing activities, if required. This helps in creating variuos relationship as a catalyst.
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Elevated Floors: Elevating the floors helps in various ways by lightly touching the ground, which results in the continuous flourishment of nature inducing the symbiotic characteristic of nature.
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Landscaped Gardens : Having open spaces and landscape areas in combination with built spaces allow users to live in constant relation with nature. Architecture and nature coexisting with each other induces positivity and a fresh mood in people, and minimizes the environmental damage on a larger scale.
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Form - Play of Voids : Creating spaces for Nature and interaction with it requires the play of mass and voids to create a language of relationship. although this language cannot be determined in some generic way, it becomes a unknown journey to find the form in the process to fulfill the requirement of required relationship.
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Material : Different materials of characteristic to blend in and provide propagative ways for nature to flourish in various ways can be helpful in creating such elements which are environment friendly on one hand, but also very much Eco-Submersible.
