V. CONCLUSION

Biophilic design is a clearly beneficial design practice that is severely lacking in its implementation in the residential environment. This is likely due to the lack of knowledge on the newer design practice, and lack of accessibility of information on what this practice is and how it can be implemented, specifically in the home. Many examples that we see of residential biophilic design today are extremely beautiful, extravagant homes, which make it seem as though this practice is only applicable in the wealthiest of residences, when the truth of the matter is this practice can be implemented in any home, regardless of economic status, location, climate zone, and dwelling type. By an analysis of existing precedents of biophilic residential design and a review of research and literature, namely that of Edward O. Wilson and Stephen R. Kellert, along with an investigation into implementation methods and the accompanying design project proposal to this thesis, the ease of implementation of this practice becomes clear.

As a practice that has been recognized for less than 60 years, biophilic design is still relatively new in the design field. It refers to any design approach or element that works to facilitate a connection between humans and aspects of the natural environment that were influential in evolutionary development and stems from the initial research on biophilia, which is the inherent human inclination to affiliate with nature due to the evolutionary connection between humans and the natural environment.121 A framework of 72 different practices compiled from research across the three overarching categories of Direct, Indirect, and Space & Place, guide the implementation of biophilic design and assist in the understanding of how this practice can be adapted to residential use. A breakdown of the cognitive, physiological, and psychological benefits then proves the advantages and significance of the practice and begins to make the case for why biophilic design should be a focus in the home. Next, a deeper dive into biophilic design in the residential environment, what role it holds in this environment, a hypothesis into why it is currently lacking, and the ways its implementation differs segues into the design aspect of the thesis. Lastly, a proposed pattern book resource and series of prototype designs put this research and hypothesis into practice, exemplifying biophilic design and its place in the home.

The problem of the lack of biophilic design seen at the residential scale can be addressed by first addressing the accessibility issue. If information about this practice and its implementation were more widely available and easier to understand, this practice would be made more accessible to the masses. The accompanying pattern book and prototype project exemplify a way in which this problem could be addressed, by providing clearly outlined methods of implementation in the home and examples of what this might look like. The pattern book provides a guide for the seven prototyping examples, and the prototypes exemplify the application of the pattern book practices. These examples range in implementation for both existing homes and new builds and their purpose is to provide realistic ways that biophilic design can be incorporated or brought into any home.

In providing both a foundation of research in this document and the combined pattern book and prototyping project, this thesis seeks to prompt an interest in the residential use of biophilic design and propose a solution to the lack of biophilic design currently seen in the residential field by utilizing knowledge of biophilic design, its implementation, and its benefits to address the accessibility issue of this design practice and aid in the implementation of biophilic design in the home.