Nature connectedness in semi public spaces

Do you feel connected to nature? Feeling connected to nature has many benefits for both your mental and physical well-being. However, our modern environments have become increasingly unnatural and human-nature interaction is very limited for most people. How do we make nature part of everyday life again?

In this research project, commissioned by ‘Avans bouw’, I explored how biophilic design can be implemented in semi-public spaces – specifically, in an academic setting which is used by a wide range of employees, students and visitors. How can immersion in nature be designed into academic buildings, their outdoor spaces and academic practices?

Using a situated approach, opportunities for biophilic design were defined and presented to academic staff and developers and implemented in the new OpenX area of Avans Breda.

We brought the outside inside, the inside out and implemented active movements into lesson plans.