1.5 Harnessing the Potential of Biophilic Urbanism in Australian Cities

Research Programs

Project 1.5 Fact Sheet (16.04.12 - 587.13 Kb)

The concept of biophilic urbanism comes from E. O. Wilson’s concept of ‘biophilia’ that suggests we have an innate affinity with nature. Studies show that a connection with nature tends to lead to reductions in depression, anger, tension and fatigue. Having been applied to a number of aspects of psychology and interior design, the concept is now receiving strong interest as an urban design principle, not only for human well-being benefits, but a range of direct and indirect economic and environmental benefits. This project will investigate options for landscaping buildings, roads and other civil infrastructure to reduce urban heat island effects, reduce energy consumption, improve water management, and increase urban biodiversity.

Biophilic urbanism has the potential to make significant contributions to a range of national, state and local government policies related to climate change mitigation and adaptation: reducing urban energy consumption, enhancing urban biodiversity, improving resilience to natural disasters, improving worker productivity, and responding to pressures related to densification and revitalisation of cities.

Project partners include: Parsons Brinckerhoff, Western Australian Department of Treasury and Finance, Townsville City Council (CitySolar Program), Curtin University, and QUT. The project will be advised by Professor Tim Beatley (University of Virginia, USA), a world leading biophilic urbanism expert and author of the new book ‘Biophilic Cities’.

Project Outcomes

Biophilic design is an urban design principle that identifies how cities can be planned for and/or retrofitted to incorporate a greater degree of the natural environment (i.e. green roofs, living walls, urban streams). When these principles are integrated into city planning there can be significant benefits, such as mitigating heat island effects and improving thermal comfort, improving social outcomes and well-being, improvements to business and productivity outcomes, and improved water cycle management.

The project team will:

Identify key aspects of Biophilic Urbanism and undertake an assessment to identify the potential for application in Australian Cities.
Consider the costs and benefits associated with Biophilic Urbanism in Australian Cities, considering economic, social and environmental benefits of combining biophilic design with built environment planning and design.
Develop a planning and policy framework to inform the application of Biophilic Urbanism in Australian cities, considering potential barriers, limitations, and constraints.

When biophilic design and green infrastructure plans are coupled the resulting urban form can promote energy security through decentralised embedded generation (and less reliance on fossil fuels), water security through greater ability to capture runoff (and less reliance on ground- water, which in many cities is being impacted by saline intrusion) and food security through the introduction of urban agriculture.

Biophilic design and green infrastructure planning will be significant contributors to Australia’s commitment to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and align well with government’s vision of addressing population, participation and productivity related phenomena through more appropriate planning of our cities. This project will contribute to the understanding of key measures to harness the potential of biophilic urbanism in Australian cities, considering potential building and infra- structure practices and guidelines, appropriate policy mechanisms and associated barriers, limitations, and constraints.