Have you ever heard of shinrin-yoku? The term was coined by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in 1982 and literally translates to “forest bathing” in English. The practice of “taking in the atmosphere of the forest” was conceived as an antidote to the emerging tech burnout that four decades later has become endemic in our overly-connected lives.
At almost the same time the Japanese government was introducing forest bathing, a professor at Harvard University was developing his “biophilia hypothesis” to describe humans’ innate need to connect with nature.
Since then, research has proved that simply being in nature—including urban nature—has an enormously beneficial effect on our physical and psychological wellness. And the concept of biophilia has become an increasingly critical element in the way we design our urban spaces.
Biophilic design bridges our evolutionary need for nature with our modern built environment, aiming to bring the basic elements of nature back to buildings and cities and celebrate them.
Washington, DC, has been a part of the biophilic cities network for the past six years, and with continuous effort by experts who do work similar to Kogod business administration and master’s in sustainability management alum Becks Treharne, the District remains an integral member.
Treharne came to the US from the South of Wales on a field hockey scholarship and attended the Kogod School of Business for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. “During my master’s, I interned with a company called Urban Ecosystem Restoration, who encouraged and supported land and business owners to integrate more nature on their premises and even regenerate spaces that were once marshland or forests within the city. This was the start of my interest and understanding that we can bring more nature into cities,” says Treharne. “During my master’s program, we learned about the concept of biophilia, which is our connection to nature and the understanding that we are biologically connected to it. We have an innate need to spend time in it.”
Treharne’s desire to connect cities with nature sparked the growth of her UK consultancy business, Naturally Reconnected. Her hope is to inspire the next generation of biophilic cities by helping others have a more holistic approach to city design–not only by looking at physical space, but by also integrating educational opportunities, sensory stimulation, and mirroring the natural world.
Treharne is currently working with Planted Cities, a contemporary design company, aimed at reconnecting people and places with nature. “It’s great working with Planted Cities and seeing biophilia integrated on a smaller, more personal scale,” says Treharne. “It gives me a wider appreciation of how it is possible to integrate biophilic design into cities.”
Biophilic design is created around three types of experiences with nature, which Treharne uses in her work. Direct experiences with nature: fire, water, animals, light, and air; indirect experiences with nature: images of nature, natural materials, natural colors and shapes; and the experience of space and place: how you experience the place you’re in, mobility, views, vistas. Treharne explains that natural is so complex, it is so much more than just green infrastructure.
And implementing biophilic design on a city scale isn’t her only goal—educating others is a huge focus.