Nature in buildings and health design

Oxford Textbook of Nature and Public Health ◽

10.1093/med/9780198725916.003.0015 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 247-251

Author(s):

Stephen R. Kellert

Keyword(s):

Built Environment ◽

Human Health ◽

Modern Society ◽

Well Being ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Biophilic Design ◽

Evolutionary Origins ◽

Prevailing Paradigm ◽

Functional Development ◽

Health And Well Being

This chapter discusses a hypothesized inherent human need to affiliate with nature (‘biophilia’), its continuing importance to human health and well-being, and how to meet this need in modern society through design of the built environment, with particular focus on healthcare facilities. The theory of biophilia is introduced, its evolutionary origins, effects on human health and well-being, and impediments to its functional development in modern society, particularly the prevailing paradigm of design of the built environment. The chapter describes the notion of ‘biophilic design’, the attempt to address biophilia in the modern built environment. Principles and practices of biophilic design are delineated. The chapter concludes with a brief description of examples of biophilia and biophilic design in existing healthcare facilities.

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Biophilic Design Applications: Putting Theory and Patterns into Built Environment Practice

KnE Engineering ◽

10.18502/keg.v2i2.596 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 59 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Paul Downton ◽

David Jones ◽

Josh Zeunert ◽

Phillip Roös

Keyword(s):

Biological Sciences ◽

Built Environment ◽

Well Being ◽

Design Strategy ◽

Environment Design ◽

Human Beings ◽

Biophilic Design ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

The Usa ◽

Health And Well Being

In 1984 E.O. Wilson (1984) introduced and popularized the Biophilia hypothesis defining biophilia as "the urge to affiliate with other forms of life" (Kellert & Wilson 1995: 416). Wilson’s biophilia hypothesis suggests that there is an instinctivebond between human beings and other living systems. More recently, in the USA, Browning et al (2014) have proposed ‘14 Patterns of Biophilic Design’ within a framework for linking the human biological sciences and nature to built environment design offering a series of tools for enriching design opportunities, and avenues for design applications as a way to effectively enhance the health and well-being of individuals and society. While biophilia is the theory, biophilic design as advocated by Kellert et al (2008) and Beatley (2010) internationally offers a sustainable design strategy that seeks to reconnect people with the ‘natural environment’. Overall, from what little research has been undertaken internationally in the last 10 years, there is a solid understanding as to the applied application of this theory, its principles and processes to built environment design and no research about to how to retrofit the existing urban fabric using this approach. This paper reviews the application of biophilic design in Australia, including the scope of design, health and wellbeing literature, the ‘14 Patterns of Biophilic Design’ and performative measures now unfolding, brings forward a new Biophilic Design Pattern, and considers the value the approach offers to built environment practice as well as to human and non-human occupants.

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A biophilic mind-set for a restorative built environment

Landscape architecture and art ◽

10.22616/j.landarchart.2020.17.08 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

pp. 68-77

Author(s):

Thomas Panagopoulos ◽

Madalina Sbarcea ◽

Krzysztof Herman

Keyword(s):

Built Environment ◽

Urban Ecosystems ◽

Well Being ◽

Sustainable Cities ◽

Environment Design ◽

Biophilic Design ◽

Mind Set ◽

Health And Well Being

The biophilic design promotes specific principles and patterns of nature-based solutions for health and well-being in the spaces we live and work. A growing body of literature advocates a more prominent role of nature in urban design and architecture, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining, enhancing, and restoring the beneficial experience of nature in the cities. Biophilia and nature-based solutions can improve the quality of built environment design and bring new opportunities to restore urban ecosystems and smart thinking for sustainable cities. The paper concludes that adopting biophilic principles in urban planning will lead to cities that can regenerate life and nurture end-users' health and well-being. Moreover, bring forward ways to transfer human nature ties' knowledge into restorative approaches to design the built environment.

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Evidence-Based Landscape Architecture for Human Health and Well-Being

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12041360 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 1360 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Robert D. Brown ◽

Robert C. Corry

Keyword(s):

Human Health ◽

Architectural Design ◽

Landscape Architecture ◽

Well Being ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Natural Environments ◽

The People ◽

Outdoor Environments ◽

The Usa ◽

Health And Well Being

More than 80% of the people in the USA and Canada live in cities. Urban development replaces natural environments with built environments resulting in limited access to outdoor environments which are critical to human health and well-being. In addition, many urban open spaces are unused because of poor design. This paper describes case studies where traditional landscape architectural design approaches would have compromised design success, while evidence-based landscape architecture (EBLA) resulted in a successful product. Examples range from school-yard design that provides safe levels of solar radiation for children, to neighborhood parks and sidewalks that encourage people to walk and enjoy nearby nature. Common characteristics for integrating EBLA into private, public, and academic landscape architecture practice are outlined along with a discussion of some of the opportunities and barriers to implementation.

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Study design, rationale and methods of the Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) study: a cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate environmental and human health impacts of a water-sensitive intervention in informal settlements in Indonesia and Fiji

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042850 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. e042850

Author(s):

Karin Leder ◽

John J Openshaw ◽

Pascale Allotey ◽

Ansariadi Ansariadi ◽

S Fiona Barker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Human Health ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Informal Settlements ◽

Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Well Being ◽

Cluster Randomised ◽

Abundance And Diversity ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

Health And Well Being

IntroductionIncreasing urban populations have led to the growth of informal settlements, with contaminated environments linked to poor human health through a range of interlinked pathways. Here, we describe the design and methods for the Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) study, a transdisciplinary randomised trial evaluating impacts of an intervention to upgrade urban informal settlements in two Asia-Pacific countries.Methods and analysisRISE is a cluster randomised controlled trial among 12 settlements in Makassar, Indonesia, and 12 in Suva, Fiji. Six settlements in each country have been randomised to receive the intervention at the outset; the remainder will serve as controls and be offered intervention delivery after trial completion. The intervention involves a water-sensitive approach, delivering site-specific, modular, decentralised infrastructure primarily aimed at improving health by decreasing exposure to environmental faecal contamination. Consenting households within each informal settlement site have been enrolled, with longitudinal assessment to involve health and well-being surveys, and human and environmental sampling. Primary outcomes will be evaluated in children under 5 years of age and include prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal pathogens, abundance and diversity of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in gastrointestinal microorganisms and markers of gastrointestinal inflammation. Diverse secondary outcomes include changes in microbial contamination; abundance and diversity of pathogens and AMR genes in environmental samples; impacts on ecological biodiversity and microclimates; mosquito vector abundance; anthropometric assessments, nutrition markers and systemic inflammation in children; caregiver-reported and self-reported health symptoms and healthcare utilisation; and measures of individual and community psychological, emotional and economic well-being. The study aims to provide proof-of-concept evidence to inform policies on upgrading of informal settlements to improve environments and human health and well-being.EthicsStudy protocols have been approved by ethics boards at Monash University, Fiji National University and Hasanuddin University.Trial registration numberACTRN12618000633280; Pre-results.

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Biodiversity and Health in the Urban Environment

Current Environmental Health Reports ◽

10.1007/s40572-021-00313-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Melissa R. Marselle ◽

Sarah J. Lindley ◽

Penny A. Cook ◽

Aletta Bonn

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Human Health ◽

Urban Policy ◽

Policy Research ◽

Well Being ◽

Ecosystem Functions ◽

Natural Environments ◽

Positive Health ◽

Causal Pathways ◽

Health And Well Being

Abstract Purpose of review Biodiversity underpins urban ecosystem functions that are essential for human health and well-being. Understanding how biodiversity relates to human health is a developing frontier for science, policy and practice. This article describes the beneficial, as well as harmful, aspects of biodiversity to human health in urban environments. Recent findings Recent research shows that contact with biodiversity of natural environments within towns and cities can be both positive and negative to human physical, mental and social health and well-being. For example, while viruses or pollen can be seriously harmful to human health, biodiverse ecosystems can promote positive health and well-being. On balance, these influences are positive. As biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate, research suggests that its loss could threaten the quality of life of all humans. Summary A key research gap is to understand—and evidence—the specific causal pathways through which biodiversity affects human health. A mechanistic understanding of pathways linking biodiversity to human health can facilitate the application of nature-based solutions in public health and influence policy. Research integration as well as cross-sector urban policy and planning development should harness opportunities to better identify linkages between biodiversity, climate and human health. Given its importance for human health, urban biodiversity conservation should be considered as public health investment.

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How can electric lighting contribute to human health and well-being?

Lighting Research and Technology ◽

10.1177/14771535211003264 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 53 (5) ◽

pp. 515-522

Author(s):

P Raynham

Keyword(s):

Human Health ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Problems ◽

Starting Point ◽

Electric Light ◽

Health And Well Being ◽

Hypothetical Explanation

Electric light in buildings may provide some health benefits; however, for most people these benefits are likely to be small. It is possible for electric lighting to cause health problems, if there is too little light or there is glare, but for the most part there is good guidance available and these problems can be avoided. The quality of the lit environment can have a psychological impact and this may in turn impact well-being. A starting point for this is perceived adequacy of illumination. Related lighting metrics are examined and a hypothetical explanation is suggested.

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Uncovering Prospective Role and Applications of Existing and New Nutraceuticals from Bacterial, Fungal, Algal and Cyanobacterial, and Plant Sources

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13073671 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 3671

Author(s):

Jameel R. Al-Obaidi ◽

Khalid H. Alobaidi ◽

Bilal Salim Al-Taie ◽

David Hong-Sheng Wee ◽

Hasnain Hussain ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Vital Role ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Future Perspective ◽

The Public ◽

Biological Sources ◽

Pharmaceutical Properties ◽

Plant Sources ◽

Health And Well Being

Nutraceuticals are a category of products more often associated with food but having pharmaceuticals property and characteristics. However, there is still no internationally accepted concept of these food-pharmaceutical properties, and their interpretation can differ from country to country. Nutraceuticals are used as part of dietary supplements in most countries. They can be phytochemicals which are biologically active and have health benefits. These can be supplied as a supplement and/or as a functional food to the customer. For human health and longevity, these materials are likely to play a vital role. Consumption of these items is typical without a therapeutic prescription and/or supervision by the vast majority of the public. The development of nutraceuticals can be achieved through many bioresources and organisms. This review article will discuss the current research on nutraceuticals from different biological sources and their potential use as an agent for improving human health and well-being, as well as the gaps and future perspective of research related to nutraceutical development.

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