Refuge / Prospect Views and the Experiential Economy

Recent research published in the Health Environments Research & Design Journal (HERD)are two examples of the importance of Biophilic Design and Evidence-Based-Design as considerations when building healthcare facilities.  One paper describes the calming and pleasing effect of Refuge / Prospect views (Vincent, Ellen et. al. 2010. The Effects of Nature Images on Pain in a Simulated Hospital Patient Room. HERD v3,n3, PP 42-55).  Another paper describes the implications for health care design from studies of the experiential economy from retailing and services marketing. (Van Rompay, Thomas, and Karin Tanja-Dijkstra. 2010. Directions in Healthcare Research: Pointers From Retailing and Services Marketing. HERD v3, n3, PP 87-100).

The value of Refuge / Prospect views should not be taken lightly whether for healthcare design or residential space.  On a recent tour in Omaha we learned that people are willing to pay a differential of $80,000 for the view!  For healthcare, what price can be put on patient satisfaction, faster healing, less staff turnover, and less medical errors just for the healing effect of a roof top green roof garden?

Dale Ball, PhD, GRP

Student of Biophilia

Want to learn more or talk about the return on investment (ROI) of green roofs?

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Biophilic Design Health Refernces

The references here are a good starting point to learn more about biophilia the basis for biophilic design and also the increasing move to evidence-based-design for health care facilities.  Contact us for more information.


Nature, race, and parks: past research and future directions for geographic research.  J. Byrne and J. Wolch (2009) Progress in Human Geography 33, 743-765

The Effect of Environmental Design on Reducing Nursing Errors and Increasing Efficiency in Acute Care Settings: A Review and Analysis of the Literature.  H. Chaudhury, A. Mahmood, and M. Valente (2009) Environment and Behavior 41, 755-786

Can Nature Make Us More Caring? Effects of Immersion in Nature on Intrinsic Aspirations and Generosity.  N. Weinstein, A. K. Przybylski, and R. M. Ryan (2009) Pers Soc Psychol Bull 35, 1315-1329
  
Does A View of Nature Promote Relief From Acute Pain?.  G. A. Kline (2009) J Holist Nurs 27, 159-166
  
Influence of Limitedly Visible Leafy Indoor Plants on the Psychology, Behavior, and Health of Students at a Junior High School in Taiwan.  K.-T. Han (2009) Environment and Behavior 41, 658-692
  
A Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Green Spaces in European Cities.  T. Baycan-Levent, R. Vreeker, and P. Nijkamp (2009) European Urban and Regional Studies 16, 193-213
  
Health promotion, environmental psychology and sustainable development -- a successful "menage-a-trois".  M. Annerstedt (2009) Global Health Promotion 16, 49-52

The Relationship of Built Environment to Perceived Social Support and Psychological Distress in Hispanic Elders: The Role of "Eyes on the Street".  S. C. Brown, C. A. Mason, J. L. Lombard, F. Martinez, E. Plater-Zyberk, A. R. Spokane, F. L. Newman, H. Pantin, and J. Szapocznik (2009) J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 64B, 234-246

Virtual Nature Experiences as Emotional Benefits in Green Product Consumption: The Moderating Role of Environmental Attitudes.  P. Hartmann and V. Apaolaza-Ibanez (2008) Environment and Behavior 40, 818-842
  
The stress-reducing effects of art in pediatric health care: art preferences of healthy children and hospitalized children.  S. L. Eisen, R. S. Ulrich, M. M. Shepley, J. W. Varni, and S. Sherman (2008) J Child Health Care 12, 173-190
  
Office Type in Relation to Health, Well-Being, and Job Satisfaction Among Employees.  C. B. Danielsson and L. Bodin (2008) Environment and Behavior 40, 636-668

Does a Wander Garden Influence Inappropriate Behaviors in Dementia Residents?.  M. B. Detweiler, P. F. Murphy, L. C. Myers, and K. Y. Kim (2008) American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias 23, 31-45
  

Impact of Emergency Department Built Environment on Timeliness of Physician Assessment of Patients With Chest Pain.  K. K. Hall, D. N. Kyriacou, J. A. Handler, and J. G. Adams (2008) Environment and Behavior 40, 233-248
  
Undertaking an Art Survey to Compare Patient Versus Student Art Preferences.  U. Nanda, S. L. Eisen, and V. Baladandayuthapani (2008) Environment and Behavior 40, 269-301

Conserving Biodiversity in Metropolitan Landscapes: A Matter of Scale (But Which Scale?).  J. R. Miller (2008) Landscape Jrnl. 27, 114-126
  
Psychological benefits of greenspace increase with biodiversity.  R. A Fuller, K. N Irvine, P. Devine-Wright, P. H Warren, and K. J Gaston (2007) Biol Lett 3, 390-394
  
Responses to Six Major Terrestrial Biomes in Terms of Scenic Beauty, Preference, and Restorativeness.  K.-T. Han (2007) Environment and Behavior 39, 529-556
  
Appreciation of art in a workers' hospital in Chile.  N. Horwitz and M. Trucco (2007) Med. Humanit. 33, 55-58
  
Healing Environments and the Limits of Empirical Evidence.  L. Day (2007) Am. J. Crit. Care. 16, 86-89
  
The Political Ecology of Uneven Urban Green Space: The Impact of Political Economy on Race and Ethnicity in Producing Environmental Inequality in Milwaukee.  N. Heynen, H. A. Perkins, and P. Roy (2006) Urban Affairs Review 42, 3-25
  
Responses to Scenes with Spreading, Rounded, and Conical Tree Forms.  V. I. Lohr and C. H. Pearson-Mims (2006) Environment and Behavior 38, 667-688
  
Green space, urbanity, and health: how strong is the relation?.  J. Maas, R. A Verheij, P. P Groenewegen, S. de Vries, and P. Spreeuwenberg (2006) J Epidemiol Community Health 60, 587-592
  
Something out of nothing: the placebo effect.  A. K. Vallance (2006) Adv. Psychiatr. Treat. 12, 287-296
  
Design Issues in Hospitals: The Adolescent Client.  R. Blumberg and A. S. Devlin (2006) Environment and Behavior 38, 293-317
  
Arts in health: the value of evaluation.  R. L. Staricoff (2006) Perspectives in Public Health 126, 116-120

Healthy nature healthy people: 'contact with nature' as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations.  C. Maller, M. Townsend, A. Pryor, P. Brown, and L. St Leger (2006) Health Promot. Int. 21, 45-54
  
The Strength-Based Counseling Model.  E. J. Smith (2006) The Counseling Psychologist 34, 13-79
  
Discomfort glare from interesting images.  N Tuaycharoen and P. Tregenza (2005) Lighting Research and Technology 37, 329-338
  
Acoustics and psychosocial environment in intensive coronary care.  V Blomkvist, C A Eriksen, T Theorell, R Ulrich, and G Rasmanis (2005) Occup. Environ. Med. 62, e1

The Effect of Sunlight on Postoperative Analgesic Medication Use: A Prospective Study of Patients Undergoing Spinal Surgery.  J. M. Walch, B. S. Rabin, R. Day, J. N. Williams, K. Choi, and J. D. Kang (2005)
Psychosom Med 67, 156-163
  
Restorative Activities of Community-Dwelling Elders.  D. A. Jansen and V. von Sadovszky (2004) West J Nurs Res 26, 381-399
  
Art Illuminates Patients' Experience at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center.  B. Homicki and E. K. Joyce (2004) Oncologist 9, 111-114
  
Outcomes of Environmental Appraisal of Different Hospital Waiting Areas.  P. Leather, D. Beale, A. Santos, J. Watts, and L. Lee (2003) Environment and Behavior 35, 842-869

Future Directions in Human-Animal Bond Research.  A. M. Beck and A. H. Katcher (2003) American Behavioral Scientist 47, 79-93
  
Healthy Places: Exploring the Evidence.  H. Frumkin (2003) Am J Public Health 93, 1451-1456
  
Health, Supportive Environments, and the Reasonable Person Model.  S. Kaplan and R. Kaplan (2003) Am J Public Health 93, 1484-1489

Health Care Environments and Patient Outcomes: A Review of the Literature.  A. S. Devlin and A. B. Arneill (2003) Environment and Behavior 35, 665-694

Health and nature--new challenges for health promotion.  L. St Leger (2003) Health Promot. Int. 18, 173-175

Restoring Attention in Pregnancy: The Natural Environment. M. A. Stark (2003) Clin Nurs Res 12, 246-265

Correlates of Urban Forest Canopy Cover: Implications for Local Public Works.  N. C. Heynen and G. Lindsey (2003) Public Works Management Policy 8, 33-47
  
A review of the development of daylighting in schools.  W. Wu and E. Ng (2003) Lighting Research and Technology 35, 111-124
  
Nearby Nature: A Buffer of Life Stress among Rural Children. N. M. Wells and G. W. Evans (2003) Environment and Behavior 35, 311-330
  
Distraction Therapy With Nature Sights and Sounds Reduces Pain During Flexible Bronchoscopy: A Complementary Approach to Routine Analgesia. G. B. Diette, N. Lechtzin, E. Haponik, A. Devrotes, and H. R. Rubin (2003) Chest 123, 941-948
  
Images of Recovery: A Photo-Elicitation Study on the Hospital Ward.  A. Radley and D. Taylor (2003) Qual Health Res 13, 77-99
  
The Nature of the View from Home: Psychological Benefits.  R. Kaplan (2001) Environment and Behavior 33, 507-542
  
Research and Evaluation of the Exeter Health Care Arts Project.  P. Scher and P. Senior (2000) Med. Humanit. 26, 71-78
  
At Home with Nature: Effects of "Greenness" on Children's Cognitive Functioning. N. M. Wells (2000) Environment and Behavior 32, 775-795

Striving for becoming at-home in the midst of dying.  B. H. Rasmussen, L. Jansson, and A. Norberg (2000)
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine 17, 31-43
  
Brain Plasticity and Stroke Rehabilitation : The Willis Lecture.  B. B. Johansson (2000) Stroke 31, 223-230
  
Urban Patterns and Environmental Performance: What Do We Know?.  M. Alberti (1999) Journal of Planning Education and Research 19, 151-163
  
The Correlates of Small-Town Upkeep.  T. W. Rice and D. N. Miller (1999) Environment and Behavior 31, 821-837
  
Windows in the Workplace: Sunlight, View, and Occupational Stress. P. Leather, M. Pyrgas, D. Beale, and C. Lawrence (1998) Environment and Behavior 30, 739-762
  
Green Common Spaces and the Social Integration of Inner-City Older Adults. B.-S. Kweon, W. C. Sullivan, and A. R. Wiley (1998) Environment and Behavior 30, 832-858
  
The Effect of Indoor Foliage Plants on Health and Discomfort Symptoms among Office Workers.  T. Fjeld, B. Veiersted, L. Sandvik, G. Riise, and F. Levy (1998) Indoor and Built Environment 7, 204-209

Plants in the Workplace: The Effects of Plant Density on Productivity, Attitudes, and Perceptions. L. Larsen, J. Adams, B. Deal, B. S. Kweon, and E. Tyler (1998) Environment and Behavior 30, 261-281

Creativity and the Arts in Health Care Settings. A. Ridenour (1998) JAMA 279, 399-400

Transforming Inner-City Landscapes: Trees, Sense of Safety, and Preference.  F. E. Kuo, M. Bacaicoa, and W. C. Sullivan (1998) Environment and Behavior 30, 28-59
   
A Cross-Cultural Examination of Favorite Places.  P. B. Newell (1997) Environment and Behavior 29, 495-514

A Repertory Grid Test of the Claim That Sense of Landscape Naturalness Is Specific to Culture.  R. Chipeniuk (1995) Cross-Cultural Research 29, 335-360
  
Healing by Design. C. R. Horsburgh (1995) N. Engl. J. Med. 333, 735-740

Schoolyards: The Significance of Place Properties to Outdoor Activities in Schools. G. Lindholm (1995) Environment and Behavior 27, 259-293
  
Urban Design Aesthetics: The Evaluative Qualities of Building Exteriors.  J. L. Nasar (1994) Environment and Behavior 26, 377-401

Inside Windows: An Alternative to Conventional Windows in Offices and Other Settings.  P. M. Biner, D. L. Butler, and D. E. Winsted III (1991) Environment and Behavior 23, 359-382

Restorative Effects of Natural Environment Experiences.  T. Hartig, M. Mang, and G. W. Evans (1991) Environment and Behavior 23, 3-26
  
Environment, Anxiety, and Postoperative Pain. K. Oberle, J. Wry, P. Paul, M. Grace, R. A. P. Smith, and J. F. Shaver (1990) West J Nurs Res 12, 745-757

Environment and opportunity: the potential of horticulture for enriching the life of disabled people. R. Hagedorn (1988) Clinical Rehabilitation 2, 249-251
  
Adaptations to Windowlessness: A Study of the Use of Visual Decor in Windowed and Windowless Offices.  J. H. Heerwagen and G. H. Orians (1986) Environment and Behavior 18, 623-639
  
Dimensions Ofperson-Window Transactionsin the Hospital Environment. S. Verderber (1986) Environment and Behavior 18, 450-466
  
Finding New Models for Medicine. R. J. Baron (1986) JAMA 255, 3404-3405

Biophilic Design going beyond LEED

LEED is wonderful, but will ultimately have done it's job when it is no longer needed.  In other words, when we all think that way!  The important step Biophilic Design takes after LEED is to ask the question: What does the restoration of human connection with nature do for us?  LEED or low impact environmental design by reducing consumption of energy, materials, and waste helps restore compromised ecological systems.  Biophilic design, by providing nature contact in the built environment, restores psychological needs like psychophysiological stress reduction and increased directed attention for children.  How can we put a value to what nature does for us?  We believe that when people understand all that nature does for them, then they will appreciate nature enough to take care of it.  There is a very good textbook that goes into much more detail:  Biophilic Design. 2008.  Stephen R. Kellert, Judith H. Heerwagen, and Martin L. Mador. Publisher John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.    And now, there are several scientific journals with current articles almost every month.  We invite your comments and discussion and encourage the sharing of anecdotal experiences that will help us all appreciate natu

Triple Bottom Line Company

Biofilic, LLC  is a Triple-Bottom-Line company.  in other words, we are in business to make a profit; but not at the expense of the environment, our people, or society.  We believe, if we can walk this talk, then our company will be sustainable.  We will strive to evaluate all business decisions considering: 1) making money, 2) it's impact on the environment, 3) it's impact on our people and on society.   We want to be awesome to our customers, suppliers, and lenders.  Our whole business is about restoring our innate connection to nature in the built environment and the health and the wealth this affords.  We always welcome your comments and thoughts on both what we've done right and what we could do better.

Interesting Links International Green Roof Activities

The International Green Roof Association (IGRA) offers the platform for the worldwide promotion and dissemination of ecological Green Roof ideas.

Greenroofs.com is the international Green Roof industry’s resource and online information portal

Research Journal Club for Biophilic Design and Evidence Based Design

Roger Ulrich's Science article in 1984 entitled "View through a window" marked the introduction of peer-reviewed science linking biophilic-elements of design to clinical outcomes.  In 1998 there were about 85 studies published, now a literature search shows Roger's 1984 study has been cited 1013 times.  Now there are a number of scientific journals publishing articles on biophilic design and evidence based design.  Here are a few:  Health Environments Research & Design Journal (HERD), Environment and Behavior, New England Journal of Medicine, Science, Journal of Environmental Psychology, Preventive Medicine, Children's Environments Quarterly.  The list is really much larger.

I am proposing a Journal Club to discuss the articles on a regular basis.  We not only to understand the science behind the findings, but also how to interpret the results in a practical way for design, and to understand the return on investment (ROI).

Architects, Health Care Workers, Hospital Administrators, Loft Developers, Schools, Mom's and Building Owners -- Will you join us?

Preferred Place

Residential Real Estate has taught us that when money is not limiting, people choose to buy a nicely landscaped home up on a hill looking down at water surrounded by trees. Really, we shouldn’t be surprised when there are reports of loft buildings with accessible green roofs filling up faster and maintaining higher occupancy than the typical urban lofts. The opportunity for more communal living activities is a common response to “why do you like the green roof on your building”? Think of the ROI enjoyed by building owners with green roofs who like 909 Walnut in Kansas City, MO enjoy a 90% occupancy in a 75% market!

People who work in biophilic buildings have reported higher job satisfaction, lower job stress, less sick days, and pride in their workplace for the building and the environmental message it conveys. How much are these factors worth to your business? We hope to continually build the evidence for the immediate ROI of investing in green. We need your help to bring all the evidence to this site. Will you join us?

Childrens Attention & Learning

Though much of the evidence is anecdotal observation, we cannot afford to ignore the possibility that nature can do as much or more than therapy to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Richard Louv believes that lack of contact with nature may be responsible for the dramatic rise in ADHD in recent years. Several studies have shown a correlation between outdoor views and performance in schools. Does this not make a more compelling case for bringing green roofs and other aspects of Biophilic Design to schools?

What do you think?

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
Richard Louv Chapel Hill: Algonquin Books, 2006. ISBN: 9781565125223.


Wells, Nancy. M. 2000. At Home with Nature: Effects of “Greenness” on Children’s Cognitive Functioning. Environment and Behavior (32)6 775-795.

Biomimicry

Ventilation principles from termite mounds that naturally cool buildings without air conditioning, super tape developed by studying geckos, and a company’s transformation inspired from mountains are examples of the fountain of profitable innovation possible when we restore our connection with nature! What inspires you? What if scientists and engineers could take a break with nature and come back with a solution?

If you have examples, or a story of your own please share on our blog.

Neighborliness

Twenty eight high rise low income housing buildings in Chicago demonstrate the strong calming effect of nature contact. Half of the buildings had landscaping and access to green space and half did not. Tenants were randomly assigned to one or the other based on availability. After 5 years , there were significantly less domestic and property violence and more communal relationships in the apartments with access to green space. Residents of lofts with a green roof in Kansas City site the communal living opportunities as one reason for their preference that results in a higher occupancy (90% in a 73% market).