Authors: Farideh Delavari-Edalat and M. Reza Abdi
Date: 5/14/2010
A growing number of studies (Ulrich 1984; Kaplan and Kaplan 1989; Wells 2000; Kuo et al. 1998; Kuo and Sullivan 2001; Kuo 2001) show that environments features have influenced on psychological, physical, and social well-being. Beneficial contact with nature can be sustained in a variety of ways and the work in this area could provide the beginning of evidence for a potential link between nature and people. People are visiting parks every day along with walking, sitting, and watching nature specially trees. They want to be comforted and reassured by their surroundings. If we find ourselves relaxing and feeling a pleasant surge of energy welling up inside after watching the bright, beautiful colors of autumn trees and smelling the fresh air in the woods, then we are experiencing “biophilia,” an emerging area of scientific research. Biophilia is the idea claims that human affinity with nature is inherent in the way our nervous systems develop. The biophilia hypothesis boldly asserts the existence of a biologically based inherent human need to affiliate with life and lifelike processes (Wilson 1984).
Analysis:
This source is of interest to supplement my other research surrounding the intersection of 3D-printing and organic life. Humankind’s relationship with plants specifically is very multidimensional, meaning that there are many possible reasons to want plants incorporated into our daily life and infrastructure. I primary reason, however, is that we think they are beautiful, and make are surroundings more aesthetically pleasing. But biophilia as a concept really goes beyond that to say we don’t just found plants beautiful – they genuinely change the chemistry of our bodies. When working with an industrial, unnatural material like concrete, this is particularly important to keep in mind so that we don’t just create things that dominate the natural features in its context.
Source: https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%290733-9488%282010%29136%3A2%28162%29
