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Biophilic Landscaping

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Learn How to Make Your Environment Kinder on Human Well being

There is emerging evidence that plants, along with natural materials and patterns in the environment can be beneficial for mental and physical health, and that these things can help people to lead happier and healthier lives.

This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to incorporate biophilic philosophy into your landscape design and develop:

Awareness of the physical and mental benefits of incorporating nature into urban environments.
Appreciation of the wider reach of good biophilic design, such as impact on climate change, urban heat islands and longevity.
Knowledge of the theory and principles underpinning biophilic design.
Ideas for incorporating biophilic principles into new garden design.
Understanding of ways to modify existing landscapes to make them more biophilic

Biophilic Landscaping is useful for people working in landscape design, environmental management, horticulture and horticultural therapy, and more.

Course Code: BHT343

Course Duration: 100 hours of self paced studies

Course Content

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Relationship between Outdoor Environments and Human Well-being
What is Biophilia?
Understanding Biophobia
Health Problems of Biophilic Design
Urban Heat Island Effect
Psychological and Physiological Street
Breakdown of Ecosystems
Environmental Degradation.
Health Benefits of Biophilic Design
Theories of Stress Recovery -attention restoration, stress recovery
The Value of Green Space
Terminology -biophilia, biomimicry, cityscapes, urban landscaping, built environment, etc

2. Design Considerations

Evolution of Design Considerations.
Not Designing for Use
Do not Fail to Involve the Local Community
Avoid Isolation from Nature
Avoid Poor Accessibility.
Connect with Nature
Develop a Sense of Place
Achieve Long-Term Sustainability
Develop Sensory Stimulation
Achieve Beneficial User Experience.
Practical Considerations - Multidisciplinary Approach, Town Planning, Consideration of Outcomes.
Looking at the Future - Further Research, Amendments to National Standards.

3. Patterns and Principles in Urban Design

Introduction.
Design Principles.
Design Patterns.
Terrapin Bright Criteria
Nature and Space Patterns
Natural Analogue Patterns
Nature of the Space Patterns
Relationship to Health
Application of Patterns

4. Components of the Landscape

Introduction - Biophilic Components.
Hard Landscape Components - Surfaces, Stone and Brick, Timber, Metal.
Soft Landscape Components - Turf, Plants.
The Relationship Between Health and Design Components
Direct Experience of Nature -light, air, water, plants, animals, weather, natural landscapes, fire
Indirect Experience of Nature -nature images, natural materials, natural colour, information richness, biomimicry, etc
Experience of Space and Place -prospect and refuge, organised complexity, transitional spaces, mobility and way finding, etc
Some Natural Components in More Detail - Trees, Vegetation, Animals, Water.
Water quality issues

5. Providing Services to People

Introduction.
Five Principles of Healthy Places
Healthy places improve air, water and soil quality
Healthy places help overcome health inequalities
Healthy places make people feel comfortable
Healthy places optimise opportunities
Healthy places are restorative
Water Harvesting, Retention, and Re-use - Storm water, Rainwater, Urban Runoff, Integrated Urban Water Management.

6. Affecting the Individual

Biophilia in different Environments
Environmental stress
General Adaptation Syndrome
Physiological effects of stress -gastric ulcers, immune system, heart disease
Biophilia in the workplace
Noise levels
Temperature
What biophilia can and cannot do

7. Affecting Environmental and Climatic Conditions

Water contaminants
Chlorination
Microbiological Problems
Water quality in aquaria and ponds
Legionnaires Disease in Soil and Potting Media
Using Plants to Extract Contaminants
Growing Plants in Contaminated Soils
Biological Filters for polluted and waste water
Air Quality
Roof and Wall Gardens to Improve Air Quality and Aesthetics
Roof Garden accessibility and safety
What is a Vertical Garden -advantages and disadvantages
Pruning to prevent problems
Decorative Plant Supports
Temporary Props
Types of Roof Garden Installations
Types of Wall Gardens
Narrow Profile Green lines
Plant Selection - considering climate, structure, aesthetics, etc
Construction of Roof and Vertical Gardens
Sealing with weight, water, leaks, heights, etc
Waterproofing
Plant damage
Plant knowledge -epiphytes, ground covers, etc.

8. Assessing and Analysing Existing Landscapes

Assessing Component Attributes of a biophilic experience
Using a checklist
Problems of Assessment
Measuring Pollutants - air, water, noise
Creating Buffer Zones for Pollution.
Using Windbreaks, Hedges, Screens
Creating Shaded Areas
Designing a New Home Garden using Biophilic Design Principles
Creating a Natural Approach to Gardening
Avoiding Problem Materials
Disposing of Waste
Work with Nature
Simple Design Procedure

9. Integrating Biophilic Design into Existing Landscape

Introduction.
Retrofitting Green walls and Roofs.
Using hydroponics for a Vertical NFT Wall
Redevelopment of Public Institutions - adding biophilic elements
Redesign considerations
Water Chemistry of Runoff - urban runoff quality, pollutant loadings, etc
Improving water runoff and recycling - storm water management, biofiltration
Reducing the Use of Pest Control Chemicals in the Garden
Natural Pest and Weed Control
Biocontrol

10. Working in/ Improving Urban Development

Introduction and Population Growth
Challenges for Design - Green walls and Roofs, Permaculture, Hydroponics, Swales for Water Retention, etc.
Working in Urban Development -Beatley's Biophilic City Qualities.
Case Studies.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Who This Course Is For

Garden designers
Landscapers
Building contractors, and other tradespeople wishing to build their skills.
Architects, landscape architects, town planners, wishing to expand their knowledge of healthy landscapes.
People with an interest in sustainable landscapes.
People in other fields like horticulture therapy where knowledge of health and green spaces is beneficial.

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