What is biophilia?

Biophilia, the innate human inclination to connect with nature, has emerged as a key strategy in addressing environmental, psychological, and social challenges in a world where modern urbanization has weakened this bond. This separation poses significant risks to human health and underscores the urgent need to rethink approaches to architecture and urban planning. The lack of comprehensive qualitative analyses on biophilia has made the present study essential. This study explicates the concept of biophilia, its origins, and its applications in architectural and urban design, proposing a three-dimensional framework, psychological, philosophical, and socio-environmental, to restore this connection and enhance sustainability. Employing a qualitative methodology and interpretive paradigm, the research systematically reviewed the scholarly literature from Scopus and Google Scholar using snowball sampling, with data analyzed through qualitative content analysis. Biophilia, as an active force, promotes mental health, reduces stress, and enhances quality of life in urban contexts through biophilic design. However, barriers such as limited public awareness, insufficient political support, and financial constraints complicate its implementation. Biophilic design represents an effective approach to meeting human needs and advancing sustainability, but it requires public education, promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration, and supportive policy-making. This research offers guidance for architects and planners, and calls for future studies to assess the practical impacts of biophilic interventions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Biophilia Theory ، Biophilic Urbanism ، Human-Nature Connection ، Sustainable Architectural Strategies ، Evidence-Based Environmental Design