Learning something new is always engaging and interesting. Today, I would like to share some information in a very basic form regarding a beautiful experience one could create in their built environment which will benefit Humans and Nature.
We all try our best to give back to mother nature and these days I believe people have much more concerns for taking care of nature by not littering it and doing what they can. Although Exceptions are always there.
We all are well aware of Biophilic design be it our architecture community on this platform or the world out there everyone is speaking about this topic as it's a connection between humans and nature through design. As said that concrete jungle is distancing humans from nature.
Let's break here and let me tell you an incident, Few days ago I met a plant based doctor who was really well educated he was on research in India and basically belonged from Europe. We met and he asked me about my profession as I answered am an Architect, He was disappointed and said "So, you will be one of those people who are building humans and nature apart, A concrete jungle creator!"
Oh! that hit me hard, I am a lover of nature and pushing it away has never been my plan but as Human's have evolved from living in caves to living in well built homes, it is impossible to send them back to caves just to get them connected to nature. So, what could be done to incorporate nature in the modern living standards.
There are plenty of ways to create presence of nature while planning a building design but How can we incorporate Biophilia in our already constructed homes? It's not like we will start destroying the walls and create huge windows or do other changes to the building, It will cost more plus it's a bad idea.
So, what could be done?
In many metropolitan cities it's hard to have an outdoor garden due to restriction of space and climate. Also having a terrace garden is not what everyone gets. So , the solution arrives as indoor plants.
Having native plants is best option as plants thrive more over the place they have been growing forever.
If not native then adaptive one goes a long way as well.
Even the government runs some initiative to give people more plants to have indoors or even at their balconies. Like in Delhi, India. Government nurseries provides free plants for home any citizen can take plants of their choice to their home just showing their identity card and in a limited number so that people won't resell them.
Varied by temperature even if you have a large space outdoors but the climate doesn't allow most of the plants to thrive and lack of water haunts the garden so there's another solution for it i.e.-
Xeriscaping
It's a kind of landscape which uses minimal or even zero water and tolerate harsh temperatures. The only thing one needs to consider is planning, designing and maintaining the landscape.
The best example stands till date is cactus and it's types. They are meant to tolerate high temperatures and less water.
It's a myth that one needs to have brown bushes in the name of xeriscaping. As shown above in the picture , many colours could be the part of the landscape garden.
Biophilic Element- Water and it's various implications-
As we were talking about the garden and plants let's begin with irrigating water into garden, The best way is drip irrigation and reuse of water in the area which are scarce of water. Moreover maintaining the resources are much more important than having them.
Having a swimming pool, reflection pool , fish ponds or aquariums are the best way to get in touch with water. Sometimes the sound of water flowing soothes the senses.
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Having a regular pool at home is a luxury which not everyone can afford and not even the picture above but one can take an idea we mostly have some spaces below staircase which we do not use as a powder room or meter room and which lies vacant so we can have reflection pools. They have mostly no depths at all and needs less maintenance and are good for our senses like touch, vision and sound.
If we have a large pool then we have to consider everything while planning and by everything I mean the drainage, the filtration equipments etc.
Light & Colours
It's actually very basic to have natural ventilation at home. As it boosts mood, provides comfort and enhances productivity and is super good for your health.
Having a good source of light an ventilation is really important we tend to work indoors even if we are at offices i.e. mostly in cubicles and it tends to degrade our health we should just consider this really important thing in life as working non stop in a confined space and then spending all that money for your health is such a waste.
The colours plays an important role on our psychology. As sometimes bright colours enhances the mood and sometimes muted colours feels so soothing. we have to incorporate the importance of colours as they are naturally occurring but we can use them as wall paint, on designed materials, furniture, decorations etc.
Pattern &Texture
We are well aware of how lit the space looks when we indulge a natural marble or any other manmade texture which represents nature to the space.
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Conclusion
Thus, these elements enhances one's perception and makes the life more lively.
Thus it is not necessary for you to have a luxurious space to involve biophilic elements having a basic space can even provide you ample of opportunities for nature to peek at your space and boost your life. After all design is for user and their wellness.
Have you ever added one of these elements to your space?
