Search Results (229)

As global urbanization accelerates, biophilic urbanism has emerged as a key nature-based strategy for enhancing public health. While plants are critical active agents for psychological restoration, the specific pathways through which vegetation characteristics influence human–environment interactions remain fragmented. This knowledge gap hinders the evidence-based translation of biophilic principles into actionable urban design and governance. This study conducts a systematic bibliometric analysis of 443 peer-reviewed articles (2000–2025) at the intersection of restorative landscapes, urban settings, and plant-based interventions retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Employing multiple visualization tools (VOSviewer, bibliometrix, and CiteSpace), we map publication trends, international collaborations, and thematic evolution. The results demonstrate a significant shift in the field, moving beyond the validation of foundational restorative theories (e.g., ART and SRT) to a more precise, implementation-oriented framework. This shift is characterized by the operationalization of vegetation attributes as controllable design variables, increasingly relating biophilic principles to broader nature-based solutions (NbS) agendas and evidence-informed urban governance. Thematic clustering analysis identified three core knowledge domains: (1) the role of plants as active exposure agents and behavioral mediators in psychological restoration; (2) the impact of specific plant characteristics—such as canopy structure, species diversity, and seasonal variation—on therapeutic outcomes; and (3) the integration of urban green spaces into broader governance frameworks to promote health equity and inclusive well-being. Our analysis highlights that plant-based interventions are evolving from aesthetic ornaments into precision design levers for fostering human–nature interactions. This study provides a science-based foundation for developing practical design guidelines and policy frameworks, shifting biophilic urbanism toward a robust governance strategy for creating equitable, restorative, and resilient cities. Full article

People spend most of their time indoors, highlighting the importance of indoor environmental quality for health and wellbeing. While previous studies have shown that exposure to nature can benefit wellbeing, much of this research has focused on outdoor environments, and less is known about how indoor plants and their spatial characteristics influence human perceptions and experiences. This paper reports on a survey study exploring how perceived health and wellbeing are influenced by indoor plants and human preferences for their characteristics, spatial arrangement, and other features within indoor environments. Indoor plants serve as visual and multisensory environmental stimuli. By examining the relationship between indoor plants, preferences, perceptions, visual comfort, multisensory experiences, and wellbeing, the study aims to understand these influences. The questionnaires include multiple-choice questions, yes-no questions, and open-ended questions, allowing the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. The survey findings highlight the unique benefits of indoor plants, emphasising their potential to enhance wellbeing in ways that outdoor nature may not fully replicate in indoor settings. One significant finding of this study is that scattering indoor plants throughout a space can enhance the connection to nature through three-dimensional spatial interaction, potentially improving wellbeing. This arrangement may serve as a bridge to the outdoors, providing a psychological link to the natural environment. Crucial preference factors also include the complexity and coherence of indoor plants’ appearance, such as colour, shape, and size. The results further indicate that students prefer indoor plants over other elements such as cut flowers, fake plants, or artificial plant representations. The findings indicate that caring for indoor plants may foster emotional engagement, a sense of fulfilment, and place attachment through everyday interaction. In public spaces, plants may also enhance feelings of refuge and perceived security. These findings provide practical recommendations for designing indoor environments that enhance student wellbeing and human–environment interaction. Full article

In recent decades, the Ucayali region, the main territory of the Asheninka communities, has experienced increasing socio-environmental pressures associated with climate change, educational inequality, and territorial vulnerability in rural and indigenous contexts. In response, this research proposes the design of a sustainable agricultural school for the Asheninka community, conceived as an educational building that integrates biophilic strategies to enhance environmental performance and spatial quality. The methodological approach comprises a literature review, site-specific environmental analysis based on hydrometeorological data, and the development of an architectural proposal focused on sustainable building design. Digital tools such as Revit and SketchUp were employed alongside official climatic data sources to support design decision-making. The proposal includes twelve biophilic agricultural classrooms incorporating passive design strategies, rainwater harvesting systems with a capacity of 22.5 m³ per day per classroom, and photovoltaic-powered public lighting systems. Results indicate that the integration of natural ventilation, green infrastructure, and locally sourced materials contributes to significant improvements in thermal comfort, humidity control, and energy autonomy within the educational facilities. The architectural complex is complemented by green corridors and collective open spaces that reinforce environmental performance at the site scale. This study demonstrates that sustainable educational buildings adapted to local ecosystems and climatic conditions can function as effective infrastructures for environmental mitigation and resilient rural development, contributing to more sustainable forms of urban and rural living. Full article

Biomimetic strategies have increasingly informed adaptive environmental systems; however, biomimetic mechanism transfer into interior environmental comfort remains unevenly operationalized and weakly evidence-stratified. Despite rapid post-2020 expansion of nature-inspired strategies, cross-domain translation across thermal comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ), visual comfort, and acoustic performance remains fragmented. This study addresses this gap by systematically mapping biomimetic mechanism transfer pathways within interior environmental systems, using biophilic strategies as a comparative baseline. A systematic mapping review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines to examine biomimetic mechanism transfer across interior environmental comfort domains. Studies were coded according to comfort domain, intervention scale, evidence type, and empirical strength. Results indicate three recurrent imbalances in the screened corpus: biophilic strategies dominate the literature (71.8%), intervention activity is concentrated at system scale and within multi-domain configurations, and acoustic bio-inspired optimisation is absent as a primary research domain. At the same time, the evidence base remains weakly stratified: only 10.3% of studies report statistically validated empirical findings, whereas 50.0% remain review-based or concept-led. To address these imbalances, the study proposes the Biomimetic Mechanism Transfer Mapping Framework (CPMF), a six-layer model linking biological logic, physical process activation, measurable IEQ outputs, empirical robustness, and implementation feasibility. The framework advances biomimetics by structuring mechanism translation into operational interior environmental performance systems. Full article

Integrating greenery into built environments plays a significant role in enhancing indoor space, nurturing mental health, and reinforcing overall well-being. Yet, many indoor settings lack direct access to natural greenery, raising questions whether nature-derived visual alternatives, such as chromatic properties or visual complexity could evoke neural responses comparable to those induced by natural greenery. Four indoor window-view stimuli were presented: White Color (control), Green Color, Natural Greenery, and Shadows of Greenery. We used electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor brain electrical activity, with a particular focus on frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) as an indicator of approach/withdrawal motivation and affective engagement. Natural Greenery showed the strongest asymmetry, with the most negative FAA values. Natural Greenery was also rated highest in comfort and likability. Additionally, a two-way repeated measures ANOVA indicated significantly greater right-frontal engagement in the Natural Greenery view. No comparable neural response was observed for Green Color or Shadows of Greenery. Full article

This research addresses the need for climate-resilient architecture through a biotechnological intervention at the indoor-landscape interface. It presents a modular system utilizing the cyanobacterium Nostoc linckia to regulate air quality in enclosed spaces. Grounded in biophilic design principles, the study conceptualizes photosynthetic systems as modular living interfaces that integrate metabolic processes, environmental performance, and spatial experience. Functioning as an active environmental buffer, the system relates measurable carbon sequestration performance to spatial integration and esthetic qualities. Experimental performance was evaluated using a closed atmospheric test chamber with three different CO₂ regimes: low (400–1000 ppm), medium (1000–2000 ppm), and high (2000–5000 ppm). Biomass productivity was assessed via optical density measurements at 570 nm and 650 nm and dry weight analysis. The results show that the system maintains effective carbon sequestration and biomass growth in all regimes, demonstrating its capacity to adapt to fluctuating atmospheric loads, with sequestration efficiency increasing 2.15-fold under elevated CO₂ availability. Furthermore, experimental data were used to model scaling scenarios across various workspace typologies, projecting an annual CO₂ sequestration of 1.9–27.0 kg/year and biomass production of 1.0–14.8 kg/year. These findings define the photobioreactor as a circular interface and demonstrate that biotechnological modules can contribute to ecological regenerative cycles by transforming interior-derived carbon into productive biomass for reuse at the landscape scale, validating the system as a viable circular environmental infrastructure. Full article

Biophilic design has gained increasing importance in contemporary architecture due to its potential to enhance human well-being, environmental quality, and the integration of nature within built environments. While a growing body of literature exists, there remains a limited understanding of how biophilic architecture is visually expressed in diverse regional contexts. As the exterior of a building constitutes its most immediate expression, examining these characteristics is essential. This research gap raises the question of how exterior biophilic design characteristics are articulated in architectural practice within different geographic settings. To address this gap, this study examines the exterior architectural characteristics of biophilic design through selected case studies from Asia, Europe, and Australia, focusing on how these characteristics are manifested in each regional context. The research adopts a three-step methodological approach. First, on-site photographic documentation was conducted. Second, the collected photographs were systematically coded. Third, descriptive analysis was employed to examine the distribution of biophilic design characteristics in diverse regional contexts. Across all regions, biophilic attributes are most prominently manifested with natural colors, natural materials, and biomorphic or natural forms. In contrast, spatial attributes appear less consistently documented in photographs. This study is limited by its reliance on photographic analysis and a relatively small sample size. Future research should integrate multimethod approaches and expanded case studies to capture experiential and environmental dimensions of biophilic design beyond visual attributes. Full article

Indoor environmental quality significantly affects occupant health, making stress-reduction interventions in built environments important. Aroma, a key sensory element, requires validation for stress relief. This study induced stress in 24 participants using a difficult arithmetic task in a controlled lab. EEG was recorded during exposure to lavender essential oil, a blended essential oil, or no aroma. Analyses focused on EEG microstates and functional connectivity. Stress reduced microstate C frequency, increased A-D transition probability, and weakened functional connectivity. Both aromas reversed these neural abnormalities toward baseline. The blended essential oil significantly enhanced theta-band functional connectivity, indicating a superior stress-relief effect compared with lavender. Integrating specific aromas indoors can thus promote user stress recovery, supporting aroma-based biophilic design for mental health. Full article

This interdisciplinary study expands the concept of biophilia by integrating a mystical dimension—spiritual biophilia—through an in depth exploration of biophilic themes in the works of modern Jain Ācārya Śrīmad Rājcandra. This paper aims to expand the concept of biophilia by incorporating a mystical aspect—spiritual biophilia—to emphasize the holistic nurturing of both the planet and the human spirit, promoting ecological ethics in the form of understanding a human spiritual connection to nature in contemporary society. By combining insights from ecology, mysticism, and Jain philosophy, this research aims to foster a deeper appreciation of nature’s inherent value and promote ecological ethics. Śrīmad’s writings and mystical insights provide valuable perspectives on how spiritual experiences can deepen connections to ecological preservation, foster interfaith dialogues on global environmental issues, and enrich contemporary environmental humanities through a biophilia lens. His insights support the biophilia hypothesis and its link to mystical experiences from a Jain perspective, potentially encouraging ethical stewardship and environmental care. The paper discusses key principles of biophilia and their significance to environmental ethics, focusing on mutual respect and ethical considerations for all living entities. It explores spiritual biophilia in Śrīmad Rājcandra’s writings and engages with traditional texts from his lineage that align with the biophilia hypothesis, advocating for sustainable living and environmental stewardship. By integrating a Jain perspective, this study seeks to enhance the biophilia hypothesis with spiritual and moral dimensions, promoting a deeper appreciation of nature’s inherent value with broader implications for environmental education, policy, community engagement, and personal commitment to connecting with and preserving the natural world by considering the spiritual dimensions of human-nature relationships. Full article

In this pilot study, we investigate the psychological and attentional impact of biophilic urban interventions using an immersive virtual reality (VR) framework integrated with real-time eye-tracking. Specifically, it examines whether bio-esthetic enhancements can mitigate perceptual inequalities across neighborhoods of varying socioeconomic status (SES). Sixteen participants viewed original and digitally enhanced fixed-viewpoint 360° videos of Low-, Medium-, and High-SES environments while a comprehensive suite of oculomotor dynamics and psychometric responses were recorded. Results confirmed a significant Condition × SES interaction across both subjective preference (Liking) and esthetic evaluation (η²p = 0.41), suggesting a role for biophilic design as a “socio-perceptual equalizer”: while baseline ratings consistently favored High-SES areas, interventions in Low-SES contexts yielded the highest marginal gains, effectively bridging the gap with privileged environments. Eye-tracking metrics revealed that this convergence was associated with active visual engagement, with Enhanced Low-SES scenes eliciting the highest fixation counts and visual coverage. However, a critical dissociation emerged between immediate affective improvement and self-reported stress reduction. Elevated saccadic velocities in Enhanced Low-SES scenes are consistent with a state of “hard fascination” or novelty-induced arousal. This pattern implies that while biophilia elements boost positive affect, physiological restoration may be a dose-dependent process, requiring sufficient exposure duration to transition from curiosity-driven scanning to the “soft fascination” linked to stress recovery. These findings provide preliminary evidence for integrated XR analytics as a tool for evidence-based urban design and are discussed in the context of the equigenesis hypothesis. Full article

Religious buildings such as synagogues, churches, and mosques, which are central to religious, cultural, and social life, have served important purposes throughout history as sacred spaces where art, architecture and performance converge. Although these sacred spaces offer unique spatial contexts that deepen individuals’ spiritual experiences through their physical, symbolic, and atmospheric qualities, empirical studies examining this relationship remain limited. This study aims to investigate the impact of biophilic design features within the Yivli Minaret Mosque, one of the oldest Islamic monuments in Antalya, constructed during the 13th-century Anatolian Seljuk Period, on the spiritual experiences of congregation members, and to identify the key psychological mechanisms shaping this relationship. The methodology of the study is based on a mixed-methods approach that combines expert assessments conducted using the Biophilic Interior Design Matrix (BID-M), which integrates proven scientific data with artistic perspective within a historical and symbolic religious structure, with survey data obtained from 359 mosque congregation members. The findings indicate that the mosque exhibits medium-to-high levels of biophilic design characteristics and that the relationship with nature is established indirectly through historical, cultural, and ecological contexts and symbolic representations rather than directly through natural elements. In this respect, the biophilic characteristics of sacred spaces are not merely an artistic and aesthetic approach, but an element that supports individuals’ relationship with nature and their restorative and spiritual experience. Overall, the study reveals that spiritual experience cannot be considered independently of its spatial context and that sacred spaces related to nature support spiritual experience. Full article

This study reinterprets Ottoman water philosophy through a “Hierarchical Adaptation Framework” to bridge the gap between historical heritage and contemporary biophilic design. While existing literature discusses Ottoman architecture and modern sustainability separately, a theoretical integration connecting these domains remains underexplored. Focusing on Bursa’s historical water network—specifically the Waqf-managed systems—this research utilizes a qualitative methodology to synthesize heritage-based water logics into a transferable design model. The proposed framework is structured around three interconnected layers: (1) Ecological (Resilience), prioritizing resource availability and passive cooling; (2) Sensory (Psychological Restoration), leveraging acoustic and thermal properties for user well-being; and (3) Symbolic (Identity), re-coding cultural rituals for modern civic memory. By mapping these layers against Browning’s 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design, the study identifies Ottoman water architecture as a “Proto-Biophilic” precedent. The findings argue that contemporary interventions must follow a strict prioritization—ecological viability first, followed by sensory optimization and symbolic resonance—to avoid “greenwashing.” The study concludes by proposing a “Technological Biomimicry” strategy to resolve conflicts between historical abundance and modern water scarcity, offering a resilient roadmap for water-centric urbanism in the age of climate crisis. Full article

Global urbanization redirects attention toward the sensory quality of the built environment as a decisive factor in public health and psychological resilience. In automated retail, façades function as sensory interfaces to mitigate the psychological alienation and sensory deprivation inherent in automated nodes. This preliminary study proposes and empirically validates a multimodal evaluation framework for assessing WELL-informed, AI-generated biophilic façade designs in automated retail contexts. Grounded in Environment-Based Design (EBD) theory, the framework systematically integrates health-oriented design logic with generative AI–based façade synthesis and multimodal human-response evaluation. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology, this study pursued three specific objectives: (1) to utilize a curated series of architectural façade variations with calibrated biophilic complexity derived from an environment-based AI generative framework, as experimental stimuli, (2) to quantify subconscious responses represented by gaze patterns and behavioral indicators elicited by these configurations, and (3) to analyze the correlation and potential divergence between implicit physiological responses and explicit conscious aesthetic appraisals. The multimodal experiment involving 30 participants integrated eye-tracking, facial expression analysis, and Semantic Differential (SD) scales. Area of Interest (AOI)-based visual attention analysis indicated that biophilic complexity, particularly the integration of organic patterns and natural materials, significantly enhanced subconscious visual interest and sustained engagement within specific design zones. The findings unveiled a complexity–aesthetic paradox where subconscious physiological and behavioral indicators exhibited peak engagement with high-complexity patterns while conscious aesthetic preference favored material-driven structural clarity. Statistical verification via repeated measures correlation analysis revealed a lack of significant linear association between instinctive physiological engagement and explicit aesthetic appraisal, highlighting a notable divergence between implicit and explicit responses. In conclusion, grounded in an EBD–driven evaluation framework, this research establishes a systematic evaluation methodology for health-conscious design, recommending a material-first strategy with pattern as an enhancement to align subconscious fascination with psychological comfort. Full article

The Neuroaesthetics-informed approach to the urban environment examines how the sensory properties of buildings, streets, and public spaces are processed by the human brain, and how this processing affects health, well-being, and behavior. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and architectural research, it examines how attributes such as organized visual complexity, fractal structure, materiality, color, light, scale, and spatial configuration shape perceptual fluency, stress regulation, affective states, cognition, and even influence social interaction in cities. The literature discussed was identified through targeted searches of peer-reviewed journals in neuroscience, psychology, architecture, urban design and public health, with emphasis on studies examining perceptual processing, affective responses, psychophysiological indicators, and health-related proxies in relation to environmental form, as opposed to general environmental health work. Practical applications are discussed. Full article

This study investigates how two widely used language-modelled generative AI tools, ChatGPT-5.1 (with DALL·E 3) and Gemini 3 (with Imagen), perform as early-stage co-design partners for biophilic interior design. Focusing on real-world use rather than theoretical capability, the research asks to what extent these systems can generate conceptually robust, visually coherent and practically feasible proposals when designers explicitly request biophilic strategies. A multiple-case design was employed across three scenarios: (1) an empty “tabula rasa” room, (2) a damaged rustic room requiring contextual renovation, and (3) a hospital staff break room to be transformed into a “cognitive restoration sanctuary.” For each case, both tools were prompted to produce a step-by-step biophilic design plan and a corresponding photorealistic image. Textual outputs were coded against the 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design and related restorative concepts, while images were evaluated by an expert panel of 15 architects with formal training in biophilic design using a structured Likert-scale instrument. Exterior and building-scale applications were not assessed. Results show that both systems can articulate broadly plausible biophilic strategies but differ in emphasis: ChatGPT tends to produce more spatially coherent, pattern-rich and functionally grounded plans, whereas Gemini excels more in visual realism and atmospheric rendering. Expert ratings indicate a consistent, though not overwhelming, preference for ChatGPT in spatial composition, human-spatial responses, contextual fit, and strategic support for cognitive restoration, with a slight advantage for Gemini in visual realism. Across all cases, however, plan-to-image fidelity is limited, particularly for non-visual and operational patterns (e.g., sound, scent, thermal variability, circadian systems, infrastructure access). The findings suggest that current generative AI tools are best positioned as fast, co-creative aides for early exploration of biophilic ideas, rather than as reliable autonomous consultants for evidence-based, cognitively targeted biophilic design. Full article