Biophilia

Scroll Down

Seeking connections between people, buildings,and nature
Biophilic design focuses on integration with life and nature. Neither a new idea nor a reminiscent concept, biophilia is a universal theme in the design of buildings and building services. Making use of the rationality found in the morphology of plants and organisms, the necessity of natural selection, the cyclicity of ecosystems, and so on as design techniques in buildings has always been a duty expected of engineers, and engineers must possess this ability. This gives rise to uniqueness and diversity in architecture, as well as generating tangible and intangible richness and connections.

CATEGORY

RELATED EXPERTISE

Applying the Rationality of Natural Forms

Yanmar Headquarters Building. Urban ecological colony formation diagram and large-scale wall planting Yanmar Headquarters Building. Urban ecological colony formation diagram and large-scale wall planting

The rooftop garden as a site for urban beekeeping The rooftop garden as a site for urban beekeeping

Foliage softly links interior and exterior, providing a cool spot in the city center Foliage softly links interior and exterior, providing a cool spot in the city center

In architectural design, the method known as “bio-mimicry” should go beyond partial application to individual elements of a building, and be built into the DNA of the whole building. In Yanmar Headquarters Building, direct and indirect bio-mimicry elements form a system as an urban environmental symbiosis building that looks for connections between people, nature, and the city.
The building shape, like a swaying leaf, and large-scale wall planting that is 100% watered with rainwater, improves the wind and thermal environment of the city center. Green wall combined with exterior louvers that resemble geological strata, shades sunlight while providing a dramatic scenery of light and shade, creating a soft link between exterior and interior. The spiral staircase, based on the Fibonacci sequence hidden in plants and sea shells, functions as an organ to efficiently draw in natural air movement. Urban beekeeping in the rooftop garden on the top floor works together with the wall planting and landscaping, which include flowering plants, to form an urban ecological colony through the range of bee activity through pollination.

Bringing Out the Appeal of the Materials

Mokuzai Kaikan. The building uses over 1,000 m3 of wood, the equivalent to 7 ha of forest being moved into the heart of the city, meaning over 600 t of CO2 has been fixed in the city center Mokuzai Kaikan. The building uses over 1,000 m3 of wood, the equivalent to 7 ha of forest being moved into the heart of the city, meaning over 600 t of CO2 has been fixed in the city center

Detailed section / Detailed diagram of a wooden duct / Temperaturegradient chart for a wooden duct Detailed section / Detailed diagram of a wooden duct / Temperaturegradient chart for a wooden duct

The essence of Biophilic Design is not in randomly incorporating natural elements, but in assembling such elements in ways that bring out and make the most of their properties. In Mokuzai Kaikan, wood is preferentially chosen to promote the use of wood in urban sites as a showcase of an environmental architecture, rooted in Japan’s ancient timber culture. The porous semi-outdoor space constructed with wood well-suited to Japan’s seasonal climate is a system that affords nature in the workplace and a terrace of light, breeze, and communication that makes occupants feel closer to nature and promotes their intellectual productivity. The interior wood that covers the steel beams is also used as wooden ducting. This is utilizes the insulation and humidity-regulation properties of wood.

Projecting Natural Circulation Systems into Design

Oshiage Station Bicycle Parking Lot. This is a “water-friendly architecture”, which helps to suppress the heat island effect, and reduces load on sewage infrastructure, by reducing 100% of its rainwater drainage. It creates an urban cool spot where people can rest Oshiage Station Bicycle Parking Lot. This is a “water-friendly architecture”, which helps to suppress the heat island effect, and reduces load on sewage infrastructure, by reducing 100% of its rainwater drainage. It creates an urban cool spot where people can rest

The composition ratios of the three organic and inorganic materials were determined on the basis of climatic property analysis, so that the onsite rainfall balances out The composition ratios of the three organic and inorganic materials were determined on the basis of climatic property analysis, so that the onsite rainfall balances out

Oshiage Station Bicycle Parking Lot is a passive building which effectively uses 100% of the rain which falls within its site, so that it coexists with the urban environment just by being there. The climatic conditions of the site were investigated in terms of amounts of rainfall and sunshine, and used the three elements of water-retaining ceramic, rooftop planting, and wood decking to control the amounts of water being collected, retained, and evaporated (including by plant photosynthesis and transpiration) by determining the volume of each element. The aim was to balance out the rainfall on the site. By projecting natural circulation systems into design just as organisms adapt to the climate of their habitat, this building became an organic structure which expresses the specific character of the climate conditions of the site.

Solving the Equation for Simplification

Nikkei Inc. Tokyo Head Office Nikkei Inc. Tokyo Head Office

The beam duct system integrates architecture, structure, and building services equipment. The cladding mullions also serve as air supply and exhaust vents The beam duct system integrates architecture, structure, and building services equipment.
The cladding mullions also serve as air supply and exhaust vents

In the natural world, useless functions shrink in the course of evolution. In building design, dedicated equipment installed for separate functions often has overlapping functions. By solving the simultaneous equations, it is possible to exclude overlaps, while increasing the richness, safety, and environmental performance of spaces. By using the building’s beams as ducts, the high ceilings provide spaciousness, comfort, energy-saving, safety through natural lighting and displacement air conditioning, and safety through smoke accumulation space. Omitting the use of duct materials also saves resources.

HCL - Lighting That Human Body Likes

Experiment to investigate physiological and psychological reactions to light color Experiment to investigate physiological and psychological reactions to light color

If the time length since the origin of humans is 100, modern lifestyle is merely 0.2. As humans have lived long in nature, it is difficult to adjust the circadian rhythms with artificial lighting alone hence the use of natural light is important.

HCL - Color That Human Body Likes

Biological clock Biological clock

Melatonin secretion and light control Melatonin secretion and light control

This study examined the productivity in a space with colored light compared to conventional white light. The results of a psychological experiment on subjects in meeting rooms, etc., showed that comfort increased in bright green light.

Color Temperature and Psychological Impression

Example of color temperature control Example of color temperature control

A subjective experiment on the psychological effects of color temperature A subjective experiment on the psychological effects of color temperature

Lower color temperature light, e.g. red, is considered warm and higher color temperature, e.g. blue, is considered cool. This study investigates a quantitative lighitng design method to manipulate the impression of a space.

Photosensitivie Connection Between Exterior and Interior

A chart of perceived space continuity index (under development) A chart of perceived space continuity index (under development)

This study examines the brightness constarst between window pane and interior space to propose a method to effectively provide brightness to occupants. A good example is engawa verandahs in Japanese houses where lights are evenly distributed to indoor.

Natural Ventilation and Radiant Air Conditioning Reproducing a Breeze Under Trees

A combined natural ventilation and radiant air conditioning system, which reproduces a breeze under trees A combined natural ventilation and radiant air conditioning system, which reproduces a breeze under trees

This project designed a combined system of natural ventilation and radiant heating and cooling to imitate a pleasant breeze under tree shades. The system was tested by subjective experiments and measurements.

Is Desk Work Possible in a Park?

Example of a productivity (30°C and 28°C in summer) Example of a productivity (30°C and 28°C in summer)

Inputs for the productivity assessment tool Inputs for the productivity assessment tool

The progress of ICT have allowed wider choices of workplaces, not limited to offices. This project is developing a productivity assessment tool to study the feasibility of creating workplaces in public spaces.

Gaisoko - Innovative Envelope Materials

A library of innovative materials A library of innovative materials

The progession of 3D CAD expanded the flexibility in envelope design. This project categorized sate of the art materials applicable to building envelope according their level of possibilities.

Methods for Envelope Load Control

Examples of sustainable facade design Examples of sustainable facade design

Although architectural shades and louvers have been widely adopted in sustainable envelope design, methods that use behaviors of natural elements such as water and plants have newly become prominent. Especially designs that positively affect surrounding sites may contribute to heat island reduction.

These ideas originated with "ID200", an activity where about our 200 engineers from the Building Services Design Division propose suggestions each year.

ID200

RELATED ARTICLES

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to the use of cookies. Our cookie policy.