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The image is a designer's sketch of a multi-level schools with greenery incorporated across all levels.

Healthy heights: bringing biophilia to vertical schools

When we first published an article by Principal Alan J Duffy on ‘The NATURE of new school design’ back in 2019, the response was overwhelming – and the interest hasn’t let up since. It has remained one of the most widely read insights on our website.

Five years on and one pandemic later, designers and educators seem even more interested in exploring biophilic design in schools and its impact on health, wellness and learning.

Focused research on restorative environments reveals that fresh air, daylight, and views of nature can improve respiratory health, reduce mental fatigue and feelings of stress, and restore the capacity to pay attention. But what does that mean for school designers?

Alan is back to expand our knowledge, with a new in-depth piece building on his earlier insights about biophilic design in vertical schools. It’s been published in Architecture – an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal on architectural research. His article is part of a larger body of cross-disciplinary writing, including by contributors from the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne.

He shares a few highlights below, covering everything from the concept of ‘biomimicry’ to specific design moves that make the most of nature. Learn more by checking out the full version in Architecture’s special issue on ‘Biophilic School Design for Health and Wellbeing’.

The Biomimicry Institute’s ‘design spiral’

The image is a graphic of a 5 step process to understand how designers and educators can incorporate nature into design.

Biomimicry: a concept that can help designers and educators create better schools

How can the abundance of academic information on nature in schools be distilled to shape how we design healthier places to benefit students, staff and community? And how can we ‘scale up’ as architects and educators? These questions are at the heart of my research and writing on biophilia in vertical school campuses.

“Biomimicry is a really valuable concept that can help simplify the connection between existing and emerging academic research.” – Architectus Principal Alan J Duffy

As a design process, it can help us better understand natural health and wellbeing drivers and how we can embed them in architectural design. The Biomimicry Institute’s ‘design spiral’ (above) makes this a clear, five-step path.

A vertical school that puts play on display

I’ve become more and more invested in how we can apply these principles while working on a range of education projects. That includes Midtown Macquarie Park Primary School, a new six-storey building with playgrounds on every level.

“These play spaces become the building façade viewed from street level. Rather than having walls and windows looking into classrooms, the building presents as a multi-storey playground.” -Architectus Principal Alan J Duffy

This animated edge could be a playful, artistic, and colourful way to think about urban school design.

A peaceful school nook (author’s sketch)

The image depicts a school designed to incorporate nature, with a peaceful window nook.

Small interventions, big difference

Balancing the presence of technology with nature is important to consider for both student engagement and coherence in classrooms.

Even modest interventions that allow students to adjust their immediate environment could support health and wellbeing. This could even be something simple like the option to open a window for fresh air.

Architecture in tune with its setting

Health and wellbeing are at the heart of many research institutions and their connected universities, including the new Flinders University Health and Medical Research Building (HMRB). It’s become increasingly important to design buildings like these with access to nature to improve student, researcher and staff wellbeing.

“The architecture of the HMRB creates moments of connection to the natural context. Land, water, and sky inform the design and physical form of the building.” -Architectus Principal Alan J Duffy

There’s a synergistic relationship between the built and natural environment. Connections from the internal spaces and outdoor landscapes, dedicated winter gardens, and a cascading public plaza anchor this building in its unique context.

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