This book by David W. Orr explores the fundamental principles of design and how they can be applied to create a more sustainable and equitable world. It examines the relationship between design and nature, and how the two can be integrated to create a more harmonious and balanced environment.
Biophilic design seeks to increase people’s connectivity to nature and nature-like design to improve their health and wellbeing. By increasing natural features like sunlight, biophilic design offers health, environmental, and economic benefits for people and urban environments, with few drawbacks. Although the term was coined in the 20th century, biophilic design elements can be seen in architecture from as far back as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. While the design features that characterize biophilic design were all traceable in preceding sustainable design guidelines, the new term sparked wider interest and lent academic credibility.