A blueprint for the biophilic city
Biophilia refers to the innate human tendency to connect with nature, and the benefits such a connection can bring. But are humans fully leveraging our natural affinity for nature? That’s the question raised by the EU-funded BIO-POLIS project. “Incorporating nature into our surroundings can have a positive impact on our well-being and mental health, yet nature is surprisingly absent – or at least not properly valued – in the cities we live, work and spend most of our time in,” says Deborah Lefosse(opens in new window), a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellow(opens in new window) at Delft University of Technology(opens in new window). Believing that cities can be part of the solution, the project looks to put nature at the core of urban planning. “We want to create a blueprint for the biophilic city, where nature is used to support human health, social stability and climate resilience,” adds Lefosse, who serves as the project coordinator.
Natural capital is an underutilised resource for urban planning
Because biophilia is a relatively new field of research, particularly as it applies to urbanisation, the project focused much of its research on filling existing knowledge gaps. “Our work revealed that although ‘greening’ is the most economical, ecological and sustainable strategy for enhancing urban liveability, natural capital remains a grossly underestimated and underutilised resource,” explains Lefosse. The project also developed new tools and methods that can help decision makers better understand the benefits of biophilia. For example, one digital tool utilises artificial intelligence to develop maps and scenarios of citizen well-being that urban planners can use to explore and visualise how their city could benefit from biophilia.
Ready to help cities achieve their sustainable development goals
In addition to advancing research and developing new tools, BIO-POLIS advanced the careers of those involved in the project. For instance, the project gave Lefosse the opportunity to acquire both new and complementary skills, expand her expertise, and enhance her future employability. “BIO-POLIS enabled me to learn from leading experts and benefit from their centres of excellence, while also connecting with professionals from different disciplines and broadening my international network,” she notes. “As an expert in biophilic city-making, consulting and project management, I am now well-positioned to help cities and organisations achieve their sustainable development goals(opens in new window).”
Biophilic cities are more resilient cities
Providing guiding environmental models and design tools for nature-centred urban planning, BIO-POLIS is set to help make cities more resilient, liveable and sustainable. It has also paved the way for further biophilia-driven research and education and for closer collaboration between academic institutions and global cities. “By encouraging cities and their inhabitants to reconnect to nature, our work has kick-started a cultural shift, one that will see us embrace not only biophilic urban centres, but also a biophilic lifestyle that benefits our own well-being and that of the planet,” concludes Lefosse. The project continues to share its research via workshops and publications, including in articles featured in ‘Sustainability’(opens in new window) and ‘Urban Sustainability’(opens in new window). It is also collaborating with the MIT Senseable City Lab(opens in new window) ‘Feeling Nature’(opens in new window) initiative and the Amsterdam-based Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions. While the former aims to include new city cases, the latter is focused on improving biodiversity in dense urban environments.
