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Biophilic Design

Urban Biophillic Pavilion, Pittsburgh by studio d'ARC architects
"Biophilia" is the term coined by Edward O. Wilson to describe what e believes is our innate affinity for the natural world. In his landmark book Biophilia, he examined how our tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes might be a biologically based need, integral to our development as individuals and as a species. The biophilia hypothesis, if substantiated, provides a powerful argument for the conservation of biological diversity. More important, it implies serious consequences for our well-being as society becomes further estranged from the natural world. Relentless environmental destruction could have a significant impact on our quality of life, not just materially but psychologically and even spiritually.

Obesogenics

Megan Lane reports on how cities are now being redesigned as gyms. Stairs for cardio training. Wider footpaths instead of treadmills. She comments that it's not just that we eat more and do less. We live in what experts call an "obesogenic" environment - our surroundings encourage inactivity. For the first time since infectious disease was conquered, children’s lifespan is shortening. But it’s not about illness, it’s lifestyle.

Planners are now looking at wider footpaths and attractively landscaped pedestrianised areas to lure walkers. Stairs and ramps works different muscles and helps the motor-neuron development of very young children, says Jennie Butterworth, of Learning Through Landscapes. "Aylesbury is a good example of a town that promotes activity," says Polly Turton, from CABE. "It's spent a lot on cycle paths and pedestrian provision."

SPArchitecture

After several months of deliberation my PhD thesis will now focus on Therapeutic Architecture. Health benefits of space and environment were well known before the age of science. For centuries cities like Epidaurus and Bath immersed citizens with nature and the arts to promote healing and wellness. The study will begin with an historical analysis of how architects and planners envisioned the urban landscape as therapeutic city. From the Temple of Asklepios to Peter Zumthor's mountain spa at Vals therapeutic architecture is shown to be a driving force behind regeneration. As demand for health clinics and spas increase rapidly accross the globe it seems wellness is undergoing somewhat of a renaissance. Trailing this recent phenomenon the research asks: How can the 'sustainable environment' exist without architects and planners first engaging in 'sustainable wellness' - a therapeutic architecture?

Underwater Spa

Designed by UK architect Richard Hywel Evans, Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives has been marketed as the world's first underground spa complete with treatment rooms and relaxation pods where post-treatment guests can chill out on an oversized day bed and be mesmerized by the soporific, sun-dappledaquamarine seascape. Says Hywel Evans: “We wanted to create an interior that was in keeping with the spa’sposition – at the bottom of the sea! The underwater spa has always been a sensational concept and the newinterior was designed to reflect and amplify this extraordinary environment and add flexibility too; one of ourmain challenges was dividing the space into three separate areas using room dividers that could disappear,unifying the space so that it could be used for a variety of functions including ‘underwater’ wedding ceremonies.