Enablers for accelerating biophilic design adoption in Australian buildings

Abstract

Integrating biophilic design elements, such as green roofs and walls, has been proven to enhance the well-being of building occupants while boosting cities' ecological resilience. While many developed countries have acknowledged these benefits and are incorporating biophilic design principles into their new and refurbished buildings, Australia needs to catch up. This study aims to identify strategies to promote the integration of biophilic design in Australian buildings. To achieve this goal, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 architects and building sustainability consultants. The data was analysed using both manual and natural language processing techniques. The study uncovered nine strategies to accelerate the adoption of biophilic design, including making biophilic design a foundational subject in architectural and building sustainability education, enhancing building codes and regulations to mandate minimum biophilic features, demonstrating the business benefits of biophilic design to clients, embedding biophilic design as a core value in design organisations, and disseminating research and information on the cost-effective implementation of local vegetation for biophilic design. The study proposes a comprehensive framework for integrating nature into buildings, highlighting macro and micro enablers and their interactions. The findings offer practical strategies for stakeholders, including governments, design organisations, and professionals, to promote the adoption of biophilic design in Australia. Additionally, the study identifies opportunities to improve building design education and rating schemes to encourage the adoption of biophilic design.