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​"BIOPHILIC DESIGN seeks to connect our inherent need to affiliate with nature in the modern built environment."       - Stephen R. Kellert

"NET-POSITIVE DESIGN is often used as short-hand for buildings that generate more resources/energy than they consume.... Adding [positive] value to an ecological system means increasing its systemic capacity to generate, sustain and evolve increasingly higher orders of vitality and viability for life of a particular place."      - Pamela Mang & Bill Reed

BIOPHILIC NET-POSITIVE DESIGN PROJECT: A "Living Lab" collaboration in research, teaching & practice

The Biophilic Net-Positive Design Project is a collaboration between faculty in architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture to explore the intersections between new theories and practices in biophilic, net-positive design, AND regenerative design, including their relationships to sustainable, resilient, socially responsible and equitable design. The project explores the potential of developing a Biophilic Living Lab at the University of Minnesota to improve health and environmental benefits across design scales and disciplines.

While the climate-change, energy, and performance benefits of net-positive design are well understood, we also believe that a biophilic approach to comfort, aesthetics, and well-being provides “added value” that supports mutual health and environmental benefits for humans, other species, and living systems. The project includes a series of online "Expert Conversations” with guest practitioners in Fall 2020 and a “Biophilic Living Lab Design Workshop” in Spring 2021. This research effort brings together a group of researchers, practitioners, faculty, students, and stakeholders to explore:                                                                                                             

  1. A framework for strategic intersections between biophilic and net-positive design across scales and disciplines and relationships to sustainable, resilient, regenerative, and socially responsible and equitable design.
  2. Integrated performance metrics.
  3. Design opportunities for related “living lab” projects at the University of Minnesota.