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Thesis Statement
This thesis project is located on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Peoples of the Kulin Nation. I pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Humans have evolved to have an inherent connection with nature and our surroundings. What happens when we lose that connection in our built environment? Increasingly architects are designing more ecologically sustainable buildings but overlooking the need to design buildings that meet our emotional needs. We have been ignoring our own innate desire to be connected with nature and this is turn is effecting our mental health. Biophilia, recently introduced in architectural theory tries to meet some of these lost needs, but does it do it effectively?
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Browning’s 14 principles of biophilia may be too generalised in the specific design considerations for this thesis to effectively implement into the architectural typology of the campus hub. This thesis seeks to re imagine the biophilic principles to target the fundamental emotional and physiological needs. In turn providing a better framework for architects to implement the biophilic principles into their designs.
Question
How could our environments change if we designed for our evolutionary needs; does a reinterpretation of Browning’s biophilic principles provide an improved architectural solution that caters for our emotional wellbeing?