Integration Of The Natural And Built Environments

The primary objectives of this project were to understand human connections to the natural environment and their impacts on health and well-being, thereby providing a quantitative basis from which to improve the built environment for human experience. It was assumed that these findings would support and strengthen sustainable design and building methods. Research was focused on theories and studies of physicians, psychologists, ecologists, and geologists. These sources focused on support of the theory of biophilia (innate human connection to the built environment). The theories and supporting studies suggested that through creating positive connection to the exterior environment, designers have the ability to not only positively affect the health of building occupants, but also affect the way in which we perceive, and therefore value, nature and natural resources. Design work focused specifically on the theories pertaining to fostering human well-being within the built environment. The factors of clearly organized circulation and meaningful variety were explored through a building design problem as being the most influential to all well-being factors. Through this design exploration a dialogue between the external environment, built environment, and occupant proved to be the true necessity for well-being within the built environment.