Green ArchiTEXT

Your Brain Needs the Nature

More and more research is leading scientists to believe (and engage in further research) that we humans function much better when there is some piece of nature around us. Even if it is just a small patch of grass or a glimpse of a tree, we seem to be able to concentrate better, heal quicker from injury, make better decisions, even live longer, when we have some exposure to natural elements, in our urban world. 

via blog.cunysustainablecities.org

Architecture as Nature: the Digital-Botanic Designs of Dennis Dollens

The current issue of Leonardo Journal (Vol. 42, Issue 5, 2009) features a new article by artist Dennis L. Dollens, outlining his ideas on a biology-based procedure for experimental digital architecture. In “Architecture as Nature: A Biodigital Hypothesis”, he writes of theoretical ideas emphasizing biodesign and bioarchitecture's role as part of nature. In addition, “new projects and digitally grown tree/truss experiments illustrate generative, digital-botanic designs integrating biological simulation and/or 3D parametric components inspired by nature."

In part, the piece further explores the historical precedents of Louis Sullivan's System of Architectural Ornament (1924) and Dollens’ own earlier paper in Leonardo in 2005, “A System of Digital-Botanic Architecture”:

“…how visual biomimetics and digital production can present ways to conceive, visualize, generate, draw and model physical forms from natural elements such as shells, seeds, plants, rocks, etc. In particular, the author explains how designs 'grown' in plant-generating software can be deployed in other software and built as stereolithography (STL) models to illustrate a new system of architectural and sculptural design and production."

Go to Leonardo Journal for more information.

Also see Dennis Dollen's Web site, Exodesic.

Return to IslandWood

I was pleasantly surprised to come across a “Virtual Tour of IslandWood” posted recently on Mithun Inc.’s blog. This may be one of the greenest, restorative, 255 acres on the planet. IslandWood is more than just an environmental education center; it’s an experience in design: integrated, biophilic, educational, transformational. The slideshow recaps the visit made by a group of ‘Mithunees’ in July, from IslandWood’s ‘entrance sequence’ out front and throughout the heavily-wooded site.

Even after seven years, IslandWood stands out as one of our best examples of green design, a place I was privileged to visit for nearly a full day while writing Integrated Design: Mithun. As described in "IslandWood, A Light in the Forest", the center’s very concept was experimental, with Mithun’s design process a mix equally of exploration and collaboration. Overarching goals for the project included:

• Protection of the entire property through environmentally-intelligent design
• Best practices in environmental education for a state-of-the-art facility
• Buildings that function as interactive learning tools
• Connections to nature

Located only a few miles from downtown Seattle on Bainbridge Island, IslandWood is both a return to another time and a glimpse of a possible future. In addition to the six-acre campus of buildings (3 of them LEED Gold), the site features a solar meadow, living machine, tree house, PV arrays, and healthy use of sustainable design strategies for daylighting, rainwater collection, natural ventilation, recycled materials, and more.

For more on IslandWood, see Mithun’s IslandWood and “A Light in the Forest”.

Biophilic Design: The Book

Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life is an incredible new resource from Wiley to advance the art and science of this emerging design practice in architecture. As the book states, "Biophilic design is a new approach to sustainable development that incorporates the positive experience of nature into the design of the built environment."

Edited by Stephen R. Kellert, Judith Heerwagen and Martin Mador, the list of contributors dedicated to the "Theory", "Science" and "Practice" of biophilic design reads like a who's who of today's leading architects, planners, academics and other 'green thinkers':

Chapter 2: The Nature of Human Nature (Edward O. Wilson)

Chapter 3: A Good Place to Settle: Biomimicry, Biophilia, and the Return of Nature’s Inspiration to Architecture (Janine Benyus)

Chapter 12: The Extinction of Natural Experience in the Built Environment (Robert Pyle and David Orr)

Chapter 13: Biophilia and Sensory Aesthetics (Judith Heerwagen and Bert Gregory)

Chapter 17: Towards Biophilic Cities: Strategies for Integrating Nature into Urban Design (Tim Beatley)

Chapter 19: The Greening of the Brain (Pliny Fisk)

Chapter 22: Transforming Building Practices through Biophilic Design (Jenifer Seal Cramer and William Browning)

Chapter 23: Reflections on Implementing Biophilic Design (Robert Fox and Robert Berkebile)

More information here.