��«����Ƶ

“Biophilia is defined as the inherent human inclination to affiliate with nature. Biophilic design incorporates natural materials, natural light, vegetation, nature views and other experiences of the natural world into the modern built environment.”

Students explored ways in which the natural environment can not only enhance our experience within buildings but also how nature can inform how buildings are inherently conceived. This course looked into the past of how humans came to appreciate “architectural space” and nature while designing for future generations. Students started the semester with an in-depth plant and animal study to learn more about design in nature. 

For the final project, students developed their own version of a “living building” through the program of an interpretive nature center near Wonderland Lake in ��«����Ƶ, CO. Students collaborated in order to justify and define the needs for space. Based on their plant and animal studies, students explored ways that these natural biological systems could act as a driver for many of their design decisions. Concurrently, students emulated the real-world process of architectural design by following the process of schematic design through construction documents.

Studio 3: Capstone in Architecture | Spring 2020

Instructor: Betsy Johnson