Transferring Biophilic and Universal Design Theory to Practice With Learning From Green Buildings

Abstract

The study aims to guide the assisted living facility (ALF) design, in which biophilic design, which is observed to have positive physiological, psychological, and sociological effects on humans, is observed, and the principle of universal design is accessible and designed for everyone. Since there is no place called a biophilic ALF, the study is supported by a nature-oriented design method called Green Building Rating Tools. Green building certificate systems are explored in terms of biophilic and universal design, and three of the certifications show credits linked to the theories researched. With these certificates, green building certified ALFs located in the same region are selected. With the methodology applied on the case studies of three ALFs that received these certificates, how and where biophilic and universal design patterns can be transferred from theory to practice has been examined. The study observed the extent of 14 biophilic design patterns in ALFs and tabulated how to find each pattern in these facilities according to the methods and places.