Above: The design of the PDX Airport renovation incorporates 5,000 plants, 72 trees, a mass timber roof, curves and more as an expression of biophilic design.
Image Courtesy of PDX Airport
By KATE GAWLIK
Did you ever wonder why stress floats away when you sit by the ocean or go for walk? Why does staring out a window at nature lower anxiety? Why do our body’s vitals – blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate – improve when we stand among the trees in a forest?
That is the result of biophilia, our desire to connect with nature.
Biophilia comes from the Greek words “bio” (life) and “philia” (love). Psychologists and scientist officially recognized the biologic drive that humans have to be one with nature in the 1960s. Erich Fromm, a German social psychologist and psychoanalyst, is credited with creating the term “biophilia.” He defined it in his 1964 book, The Heart of Man.
According to Fromm, it is a human’s psychological orientation toward all things alive and vital. Similarly, E.O. Wilson, university research professor emeritus at Harvard and winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, took his research and love of nature, leveraging it as a pioneer of biophilic design and a developer of the philosophy behind it.
Architects have expanded this foundation and made biophilic design – a concept that incorporates nature into the built environment – a living theory.
Nature as a Birthright
Building off the groundwork of others, Stephen Kellert, Tweedy Ordway professor emeritus of social ecology and senior research scholar at the Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, made biophilic design his legacy.
In his 2012 book, Birthright, Kellert says, “We will never be truly healthy, satisfied or fulfilled if we live apart and alienated from the environment from which we evolved. Much of what we value and cherish as distinctively human – our capacity to care, reason, love, create, find beauty and know happiness – continues to be contingent on our diverse ties to nature.”
This push from Kellert made others realize the importance of biophilia. Organizations recognized its value by incorporating biophilic design into building verification systems like the Living Building Challenge. As part of LBC, the governing body Living Future offers a Biophilic Exploration course that helps architects and building owners discover how to incorporate the biophilic design principles into their projects.
The principles are dictated from Kellert’s philosophy about the design practice. He believed there are six design principles of biophilic design, including:
- Environmental features, like water daylight and vegetation.
- Natural shapes and forms, such as curves, arches and spirals.
- Natural patterns and processes, like fractals and the aging process.
- Light and space, including daylighting and different light experiences.
- Place-based relationships, which emphasize local materials and native plants.
- Evolved human-nature relationships, which focus on incorporating our emotional reaction to nature like refuge, awe and discovery.
Living Future reports more than 800 projects have been certified or registered LBC since the building certification program started in 2006. LBC is considered the most aggressive in achieving self-sufficient, regenerative buildings. Certifications occur after a building’s first operational year so actual data is used instead of expected outcomes. There are five certification levels (Zero Carbon Certification, Zero Energy Certification, Core Green Building Certification, Petal Certification and Living Certification) that can be achieved by attaining these framework areas:
- Place
- Water
- Energy
- Health and Happiness
- Materials
- Equity
- Beauty
The Sonoma Academy, a college preparatory school in Santa Rose, Calif., is the first project that received Zero Carbon and Petal certifications. It also is recognized as the first Zero Carbon Certification in California and the fourth Petal Certification in California. Situated at the base of Taylor Mountain, the school was designed as a living laboratory. Surrounded by pathways and habitats, it has a living roof, a terraced learning space and outdoor classrooms. Stormwater and greywater are reused, and 80 percent of the inside of the school is flooded in natural light. The structure has radiant system controls, automated shades, sliding screens, operable windows, garage-style doors, door overhands, sliding doors with terrace access and other features. All of this exists to connect students and staff to nature and educate occupants about how a building responds to nature. Classes complement the goals of the school, like with a farm-to-table class that teaches about food sustainability and equity.
Natural Airport
Portland International Airport (PDX) increases an occupant’s connection to nature in a stunning way. ZGF Architects was given the directive of creating a design that reduces passenger stress in the renovated terminal. This was accomplished by incorporating various classic Oregon elements – think trees, natural daylight, gardens and copious plants – at what are considered high-stress airport moments. For example, skylights flood a space below filled with mature deciduous trees between the ticketing area, concessions and security checkpoint. There are 72 large trees and 5,000 plants used in the design.
“Everybody loves Portland International Airport,” says Gene Sandoval, ZGF partner. “We had a tall order to evolve a terminal that’s essentially multiple buildings pieced together since the 1950s and double the capacity while designing an experience people will love as much as the original.”
ZGF Architects teamed up with Terrapin Bright Green and landscape architect PLACE to complete the project. Other than the light and plants, another major focal point is the airport’s mass timber roof. Spanning 9 acres, this unforgettable roof highlights about 400,000 square feet of beams and lattice with many curves. The wood was locally sourced from within a 300-mile radius of the airport.
The firms and contractors involved in this project, including general contractor Hoffman Construction and Skanska USA under the entity Hoffman Skanska Joint Venture, reduced traveler stress while allowing people to wander through a forest that guides them to their next destination. With Phase 1 of the renovation done, Phase 2 is expected to be completed in 2026.
“The design of the new PDX Airport evokes the best of our region yet offers other airports a new model for how to expand and renovate in place to meet the travel demands of future generations,” says Sharron Van Der Meulen, ZGF managing partner.