Biophilic Design - Science, Patterns, Process of Design for Health and Well-Being

In this 4-week online course, learn the science of innate human patterns and preferences for the design of neurobiologically restorative well-being places.

Elective course in the Executive Program in Design for Sustainability (XDS) or as a Stand Alone Course

$699

4 weeks

6-10 hours per week to complete all aspects of the course

AIA 7 LU|HSW

Live Online and Live On-Campus

This course is ideal for Architects, Interior Designers, Engineers, and other Built Environment Professionals. Medical Professionals and Psychologists, who want to understand the connection between the built environment and human health, will also benefit from this course.

This is a non-credit course for working professionals taught at the graduate level. 

None

The Science of Well-Being Places

• Understand current research from evolutionary biology, cognitive neuroscience, and biopsychology that informs salutogenic design.

Additional Information

• What is ‘Well-Being?’ Explore ancient human place patterns that support the physiological experience of ‘shelter,’ cognitive ease, and perceptual fluency in synch with innate evolutionary preferences. We will discuss the dual nature in which mid-range fractals and spirals benefit our neurobiology, and touch on the importance of ‘engaged edges.’

Embodied Cognition, Circadian Well-Being & All-Sensory Design

• Understand 'Embodied Cognition' and the sensory components of restorative design in support of the parasympathetic nervous system

Additional Information

• We will dive deeper into restorative’ place-ingredients’ including the physiological need for all-sensory design: dynamic diffused daylight, circadian, acoustic, haptic, thermal, and olfactory well-being, design with water, the essential experience of darkness, and benefits of negative air ionization.

Biophilic Elements & Patterns: Building Blocks of Design for Physiological Well-Being in the Built Environments

• Identify key Biophilic Elements and Patterns representing innate human spatial preferences, their evolutionary origins, purpose, and relevance in optimizing physiological and cognitive restoration, reducing inflammation, and strengthening immune response.

Additional Information

• We will explore the full spectrum of Biophilic Elements and Patterns, including the physiological relevance of the ‘Sanctuary’ Pattern,’ ‘Mystery/ Exploration/Discovery,’ and the important public health benefits of designs that engage ‘Awe.’

Micro-Habitat Buildings: Adaptive Nature-and-Body-Positive Infrastructure Investments in Biodiversity & Public Health

• Understand the connection between biophilic design, resilience, passive survivability, biodiversity, and public health.
• Apply innate human well-being patterns and principles to design a biophilic intervention of your choice.

Additional Information

• We will discuss Attention Restoration Theory (ART) and the stress-reducing power of wood. We will focus on equitable micro-habitat designs that support a healthy microbiome and efficiently mitigate major chronic stressors, including extreme heat, for all residents of urban environments.
• At the end of the course, participants will design a ‘well-being habitat,’ a biophilic intervention of their choice in synch with the innate human physiological patterns and preferences we explored in this course.