Cities and nature have become strangely separated. One is associated with work, commerce, industry, consumerism and a host of negative ecological effects such as pollution, noise and dirt.Cognitive learning psychology the other is associated with tranquillity, leisure, escape and beauty. But this unhelpful binary must be challenged if we are to create truly sustainable urban areas: cities and nature need to reconnect through a new human-nature urban deal.Cognitive learning psychology bosco verticale in milan

Two ideas are central to this fundamental rethink of city life: biophilia and biomimicry. Biophilia literally refers to the innate emotional affiliation of human beings to other living organisms and the strong emotional and psychological benefits that are derived through connection to nature.Cognitive learning psychology this idea has been brought into the realm of urban design to replicate the experiences of nature into the design process in ways that reinforce that connection.Cognitive learning psychology

Examples are multiplying in terms of incorporating nature-based design as a method to create healthier spaces in ways that improve wellbeing outcomes, reduce stress and improve working conditions.Cognitive learning psychology this can range from individual household interior design to schools, workplaces, hospitals and hotels incorporating abundant daylight, natural ventilation, plants and greenery.Cognitive learning psychology it can also inform urban design more broadly through biophilic neighbourhoods or indeed biophilic cities.

Leading advocates and architectural practitioners of biophilic design, terrapin bright green, have outlined its essential patterns, which include connections to nature especially in terms of presence of views, air, water and light, the use of natural materials in ways that reflect and enhance natural forms and senses, and create spaces that evoke certain senses including withdrawal, mystery, excitement and also risk.Cognitive learning psychology

Biophilic urban design is an agenda for creating regenerative or restoration urbanism, which proceeds through learning from, connecting to and working with natural systems and creating cyclical and slower relationships between the social and natural worlds.Cognitive learning psychology just as in natural systems, this approach to urban design proceeds from a multitude of small examples that accrue slowly over time and connect together.Cognitive learning psychology

As a more intimately natural system, the biophilic city would draw on decentralised and hence resilient characteristics of natural systems, in contrast to the centralising and concentrating tendencies of the capitalist industrial city.Cognitive learning psychology this is nothing short of a paradigm shift in terms of the relation between urban dwellers and their environments in ways that connect them to light, air, food, nature and community.Cognitive learning psychology

Biophilic cities would have abundant access to enjoy, benefit and learn from biodiverse, multi-sensory natural environments. These ideas are building an urban movement.Cognitive learning psychology the biophilic cities project involves 13 partner cities across the globe attempting to foreground nature within the city. Projects include promoting dark skies, coexisting with animals, creating nature soundscapes and maximising natural light.Cognitive learning psychology

Reconnecting with nature is only one side of this radical new natural urbanism. The second idea is biomimicry. This literally refers to emulating or mimicking the complex engineering and design principles found in the natural world.Cognitive learning psychology it is gaining traction within innovation circles, referring to a bio-inspired design method where insights into how nature solves problems can be used to achieve better product performance.Cognitive learning psychology

The real prospects come from combinations that include innovations in performance that also tackle significant social challenges such as climate breakdown or air pollution.Cognitive learning psychology biomimetic design focuses on the innovations that can occur when natural features are used to improve, integrate and solve challenges. It patiently studies nature to understand what design solutions have emerged.Cognitive learning psychology after all, nature is a great teacher. But it teaches us not to aim just to maximise outputs or create one-size-fits-all solutions. It seeks the optimal solution for each given environment and moment.Cognitive learning psychology it starts from the user’s perspective, and how they would design environments to maximise their wellbeing.

Examples of biomimetic design abound: the japanese bullet train with a nose inspired by the kingfisher’s beak that reduces noise and power consumption while increasing speed; velcro fasteners inspired by hooks on seed burrs; or the swarming patterns of animals, especially bees and wasps, that are assisting with new models of air traffic control and delivery logistics.Cognitive learning psychology

There is a growing movement of researchers and innovators supporting the idea. Under the auspices of the CEEBIOS network, the european centre for biomimicry innovation recently opened in the french town of senlis.Cognitive learning psychology located in a former military camp, its aim is to support biomimicry research and teaching with the explicit goal of advancing progress towards a post-carbon society.Cognitive learning psychology similarly, biomimicry UK and its innovation lab is spreading the word on how to learn from nature, through workshops, seminars and collaborative research.Cognitive learning psychology

The pioneering green architect alison bernett stresses that it’s easy to mix up biomimicry and biophilia, but they are concepts with different aims.Cognitive learning psychology the exciting aspect for the urban agenda is to explore the applicability of both together – an approach that innovates, solves challenges and improves performance by emulating natural systems, as well as engendering a deep reconnection and love for nature and other species.Cognitive learning psychology and it is this last part that is so crucial. Without this deep reconnection, most people will simply not see the rationale for protecting and regenerating nature.Cognitive learning psychology the biomimetic, biophilic city

For instance, urban street canyons refer to the effect created by high buildings lining a street, which can become hotspots for harmful pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.Cognitive learning psychology A study by thomas pugh and colleagues from the lancaster environment centre suggests that strategic placement of vegetation in street canyons can cut air pollution by up to 30 per cent.Cognitive learning psychology they can also stop urban overheating and provide effective insulation and shading for buildings, as well as reducing noise pollution. And of course, there are the psychological and aesthetic benefits of being proximate to an abundance of natural greenery.Cognitive learning psychology

Efforts are being made not just to create greenspaces, but to create interconnected green corridors. For example, the all london green grid is the green infrastructure strategy for london, which sets out a vision to create an interconnected network of green and blue spaces across the entire city.Cognitive learning psychology it is this interconnection that is so important in terms of creating space for biodiversity to move more extensively. Vertical forests

It is not just streets that are turning green but whole buildings.Cognitive learning psychology reputedly the world’s largest vertical garden is in bogotá, colombia, on a building called the santalaia, a nine-storey residential building featuring 85,000 plants and using recycled water to irrigate them through 42 water stations.Cognitive learning psychology santalaia is a giant air purifier and carbon sink absorbing the annual carbon dioxide emissions from over 700 cars.

Opened in 2014, it comprises two towers that are home to 1,000 different species of plants, made up of 480 large and medium trees, 300 small trees, 11,000 perennial and covering plants and 5,000 shrubs.Cognitive learning psychology an estimated 1,600 species of birds and butterflies interact with the vertical forest. The vegetation was specially selected according to the optimum conditions required for each plant and was the result of three years of botanic study.Cognitive learning psychology

Work is also underway on vertical forests in eastern china on two towers that will be covered in 1,100 trees and 2,500 cascading plants and shrubs.Cognitive learning psychology the project in nanjing city will include offices, school, shops and exhibition space. It is hoped that the towers, designed by italian architect stefano boeri also responsible for milan’s il bosco verticale, will absorb 25 tonnes of CO 2 every year and produce 60 kilograms of oxygen each day.Cognitive learning psychology

It requires a project to meet 20 specific imperatives within seven performance areas including site and sustainable mobility options, water use and recycling, renewable energy, health, materials, equity (especially in terms of quality and size of workspaces), and beauty.Cognitive learning psychology the institute has also established the biophilic design initiative to promote the practice of connecting people and nature within our built environments and communities.Cognitive learning psychology

Innovators across the world from all sectors are beginning to unlock the potential of nature in the city, with biophilia and biomimicry being just two aspects of the wider bio city agenda.Cognitive learning psychology the question remains whether action can be fast enough to respond to the urgent threats of climate breakdown, water stresses, pollution and biodiversity loss.Cognitive learning psychology about the author