"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe". John Muir (Conservationist).
Permaculture and Biophilic Design are appropriate design systems that prioritise sustainability, environmental stewardship and human well-being, making them well-suited for a world facing serious environmental and social challenges. Permaculture is based on ecological principles that integrate human activities with natural systems. Biophilic Design focuses on creating built environments that enhance our connection with nature.
Permaculture Design
Ethical Design Science
Permaculture is considered an ethical design science because it is guided by three core principles:
Earth Care
Earth is a living, interconnected system and we must take care of it. Permaculture seeks to minimise negative impacts on the environment and maximise positive impacts.
People Care
Permaculture seeks to create systems that benefit people and communities and promote social justice.
Fair Share
Earth resources are finite and we must share them fairly and equitably, distributing resources in a way that is fair and supports the well-being of all and return the surplus.
Design Process
The first step is to design a Permaculture system that is efficient, productive and sustainable. This means taking into account the local climate, soil, water and other environmental factors, as well as the needs and goals of the people involved.
Observation
This involves observation and detailed analysis of the site and the surroundings throughout the changing seasons, study of climate, sun angles, topography, water features, wind and rain direction, risk of flooding and fire, soil type and quality, as well as mapping and recording of existing fauna and flora.
Design
Based on the above observations and analysis, a conceptual design plan is then created that integrates the site details with the needs and goals of the people who will be using it.
Soil improvement
Permaculture focuses on building healthy soil, so the next step is often to improve the soil quality through methods like composting, cover cropping and other natural techniques.
Growing
Once the soil is prepared, nitrogen-fixing plants and trees can be planted, followed by other chosen crops for food, fiber, medicine and other resources in a way that is organic, regenerative and sustainable, employing techniques such as companion planting, agroforestry and integrated pest management.
Maintenance
Permaculture designs are meant to be self-sustaining, but they do require ongoing maintenance and management to ensure that they continue to function properly. This might include things like pruning, weeding and pest control.
Harvesting
This final important step in the process helps to reinforce the idea of sustainability and local food production.
The Problem is The Solution
In Permaculture, the slogan "The Problem is The Solution" suggests that issues or challenges are viewed as opportunities for creative and sustainable solutions that can be used to advantage and not seen as obstacles. For example, a slope on the property that makes gardening difficult can be used as an opportunity to build terraces and create microclimates for different crops. Similarly, pest issues can be managed in a natural and holistic way, such as companion planting or creating habitats for natural predators. By working with nature rather than against it, more resilient and sustainable systems are created.
Biodiversity
In Permaculture Design, emphasis is placed on observing and working with natural systems to create complex and diverse regenerative landscapes and ecosystems that enhance biodiversity, achieved through the integration of plants and animal guilds and creating habitats and ecological services such as soil building, water conservation and pest management.
Health
Permaculture is a system of agricultural and social design principles centered around simulating or directly utilising the patterns and features observed in natural ecosystems, promoting the health of all life on Earth.
The systems are designed to be self-sustaining, reducing the amount of waste produced while increasing productivity. This helps to promote a healthier planet by reducing pollution and improving the quality of soil, air and water.
Physical health
Permaculture is a holistic approach to living that prioritises physical health and well-being. It encourages people to grow their own organic food, which is much more nutritious than store-bought produce. Eating a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables help to boost the immune system, reduce the risk of chronic illness and improve overall health.
Permaculture avoids harmful chemicals and pesticides and instead, relies on natural pest control methods, such as companion planting and integrated pest management.
Permaculture involves physical activity, such as gardening, building structures and maintaining natural areas. This helps improve cardiovascular health, strength and flexibility.
Mental health
Permaculture promotes mental health in various ways:
it is a way of designing and managing the environment to be in harmony with nature, which helps reduce stress and anxiety by providing a sense of connection to the natural world.
Permaculture often involves working with others in a community, that provides a sense of belonging and social support, especially beneficial for those who struggle with feelings of isolation or loneliness.
This way of life encourages mindfulness, gratitude and appreciation for the present moment, leading to greater emotional resilience and a more positive outlook on life.
Spiritual health
Permaculture promotes spiritual health by encouraging people to connect with nature and develop a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things. It encourages a holistic approach to living that priorities the health and well-being of the planet, individuals and communities. By practicing Permaculture principles such as observation, diversity and cooperation, people cultivate a sense of mindfulness and gratitude for the natural world, which leads to a greater sense of purpose and connection to something larger than oneself, ultimately contributing to a more fulfilling and spiritually rich life.
Planetary and economic health
Permaculture is a powerful tool for promoting planetary health by creating sustainable systems that work in harmony with the environment, reducing the amount of waste produced while increasing productivity.
Economic health is promoted by reducing the reliance on unsustainable practices like monoculture farming and the use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers. By creating self-sustaining systems, farmers reduce the cost of inputs and increase their income through the sale of surplus produce. It promotes the decentralisation of food production, which greatly reduces transportation costs and stimulates local economies.
Circular Economy
Permaculture promotes the circular economy by emphasising the use of resources that are renewable, abundant and local and by minimising waste and pollution. In a Permaculture system, everything is interconnected and waste is seen as a resource that can be reused, recycled, or repurposed. For example, organic waste is composted to produce nutrient-rich soil for plants and gray water is filtered and reused for irrigation. Permaculture also encourages the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. By adopting these principles, a sustainable, regenerative economy is promoted that benefits people and the planet.
Stacking functions is a key concept in Permaculture design that involves using each element in a system to serve multiple functions, which allows for greater complexity and diversity and a reduction in waste. By stacking functions, each element in the system contributes to multiple aspects of the design, such as providing food, habitat, or shade, while also helping to conserve resources, minimise waste and build resilience. This helps to reduce the risk of failure, as the loss of one element or function can be compensated for by others. For example, a fruit tree can be used to produce food, provide shade, and create a habitat for beneficial insects. The fallen leaves and branches can be used to create mulch or compost, which in turn is used to nourish other plants, creating a closed-loop system.
Biophilic Design
Biophilic Design focuses on those aspects of nature that contribute to our health and well-being and recognises that for more than 99% of evolutionary history, humans have evolved in an adaptive response to the natural world and not to human-created or artificial forces.
Biophilic Design is an approach to Architecture and Interior Design that focuses on incorporating natural materials and elements of nature into indoor spaces, such as natural light, wood and stone, as well as living elements like plants, green living walls and water features, thereby fulfilling the innate need humans have to connect with nature. By incorporating these elements into indoor environments, a more harmonious, calming and productive space can be created helping to improve cognitive function and physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.
The successful application of Biophilic Design depends on adopting a new consciousness toward nature, recognising how much our physical and mental well-being continues to rely on the quality of our connections to the world beyond ourselves.
Goals of Biophilic Design
The fundamental challenge of Biophilic design is to address deficiencies in the modern built environment by initiating a new framework for the beneficial occurrence of nature. From there, particular practices of Biophilic design can be employed to help implement positive and beneficial outcomes and emphasise human adaptations to the natural world that have proven instrumental over time in advancing health, fitness and well-being.
Modern society insufficiently supports the human need to affiliate with nature, by erecting various obstacles to the satisfying experience of the natural world, often treating nature simply as raw material to be extracted and transformed through technology, or a nice but not necessary recreational and aesthetic amenity. This increasing separation from nature is reflected in much of our modern agriculture, manufacturing, education, healthcare, urban development and architectural design.
The assumption that humans no longer need to affiliate with nature is revealed in the widespread practice of placing people in sensory-deprived and artificial settings such as office buildings, hospitals, schools and shopping centers, with little if any contact with natural forces and stimuli. Much of the current built environment, lacks adequate natural light, natural ventilation, natural materials, vegetation, views, environmental shapes and forms and other evolved affinities for the natural world. These environmentally impoverished habitats foster fatigue, symptoms of disease and impaired performance and the simple introduction of natural lighting, outside views and vegetation can result in enhanced health and productivity.
Biophilic Design is used to foster repeated and sustained human engagement with nature and to reinforce and integrate design interventions that connect with the overall setting or space. Occasional, transient, or isolated experiences of nature exert only superficial and fleeting effects on people and can prevent fostering beneficial outcomes. An isolated plant, or a natural material at variance with other dominant spatial features, does not constitute effective Biophilic Design.
It promotes emotional attachments to particular places, by satisfying the inherent inclination of humans to affiliate with nature. These attachments motivate performance and productivity and prompt humans to identify with and sustain the places they inhabit and cultivate positive sustained interactions and relationships among people and the natural environment, enhancing feelings of relationship and membership in a meaningful community. Humans are deeply social and their security and productivity depend on positive interactions within a spatial context.
Biophilic Design Applications
Direct Experience of Nature
Light, Air, Water, Plants, Animals, Weather, Natural Landscapes and Ecosystems.
Indirect Experience of Nature
Images of Nature, Natural Materials, Natural Colors, Mobility and Wayfinding, Cultural and Ecological Attachment to Place, Natural Shapes and Forms, Simulating Natural Light and Air Evoking Nature, Information Richness, Natural Geometries, Biomimicry, Age, Change and Patina of Time.
Experience of Space and Place
Prospect and Refuge, Organised Complexity, Integration of Parts to Wholes, Transitional Spaces.
Health
Biophilic design has the potential to improve our physical, mental, emotional health and well-being across different settings. Examples include:
Healthcare Facilities
Help to improve patient outcomes by reducing stress and anxiety levels and contribute to faster recovery rates in patients.
Award winning example: Singapore Khoo-Teck-Puat Hospital : turning a public hospital into a site of healing, biodiversity and green space.
Education
Enhance learning environments by creating spaces that are more engaging and stimulating. Optimising exposure to daylight alone can improve school attendance by 3-4 days per year, improve concentration levels and test scores by 5-14% and speed of learning by 20-26%. Tactile exposed natural cladding stimulate the sense of touch and help to reduce stress and attention disorders such as ADHD among children and adults.
Workplaces
Plants in the workplace improve productivity by 15% and employee well-being by providing a more natural and comfortable work environment, helping to reduce absenteeism and increase job satisfaction. Plants help to eliminte harmful indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde, benzyne and xylene and reduce the prevalence of headaches, skin irritation and drowsiness associated with Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), caused by inadequate ventilation, low humidity and poor lighting.
Retail Spaces
Biophilic design create more welcoming and enjoyable shopping experiences by incorporating natural elements such as plants and water features. Profit margins are improved 40% with natural daylight and 12% by adding greenery, when compared to lifeless unnatural shopping centres.
Hospitality
Unique and unforgettable guest experiences are enhanced, creating calm and relaxed environments by incorporating plants, living walls, vertical gardens, natural light, wood, stone, water and natural light that blur the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces in entrance lobbies, dining and function spaces and bedrooms, leading to improved ratings, guest loyalty and brand awareness.
Whether you're interested in creating a sustainable garden, building a green home, or designing a public space that fosters a human-nature connection, Permaculture and Biophilia offer two appropriate design avenues to create beautiful, functional and sustainable spaces that benefit people and the planet.
Additional Design Solutions
There are several additonal design solutions that play a crucial role in shaping our future, such as :
Sustainable Transportation
Encouraging the use of electric vehicles, public transport and active transportation (such as walking and cycling) reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.
Eco-friendly Buildings
Designing buildings that are energy-efficient, use natural materials and incorporate green spaces to reduce the environmental impact of urban areas.
Smart Cities
Using technology to improve city management, reduce energy consumption and enhance the quality of life to create more sustainable and livable cities.
Biomimicry
Drawing inspiration from nature to design products, systems and structures that help create more efficient and sustainable solutions.
Conclusion
An intentional paradigm shift in how we design and build our buildings and our communities is required. Collectively we need to recognise that the positive experience of natural systems and processes in our buildings and constructed landscapes are critical to human health, well-being and performance. Permaculture and Biophilic Design help us recognise the place of humanity in nature and the place of the natural world in human society. Respect and mutually enriching relationships should be built at all levels to emerge as the norm rather than the exception.
Resources
Bill Mollison : Permaculture : A Designers Manual
Geoff Lawton : Permaculture Design Courses : https://www.permaculturenews.org/
Dave Goulson : The Garden Jungle: Gardening to Save the Planet
Ben Falke : Whole Systems Design - https://www.wholesystemsdesign.com/
Deep Green : Stephen R. Keller, Judith Heerwagen, Martin Mador:
Permaculture : https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/
Verge Permaculture: https://vergepermaculture.ca/verge-permaculture-academy/
Biophilic Design : The Theory, Science and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life
https://jayscotts.com/blog/biophilic-office-design/