Learn to Design More People Friendly Landscapes

• Learn to Design More People Friendly Landscapes.
• Learn how to apply biophilic design concepts to -
  • Gardens.
  • Parks.
  • Industrial Landscapes.
  • Commercial Landscapes.
  • City and Urban Streets.
  • Any other outdoor environments.
• Understand and evaluate how landscapes impact on the mental and physical well-being of people.
• This is an important course for -
  • People working in the landscape industry.
  • Professionals engaged in developing the environment, such as architects, planners, health service provides, builders and more.

Biophilic design incorporates our need to be with nature by using natural elements and systems in the design of the built environment. The underlying principle is that the inclusion of nature in both man made landscapes and buildings has a significant impact on our health and well being. Biophilic design is more than simply using plants everywhere because it engages natural systems and processes.

People's health can be affected by many different factors and providing natural and environmentally sympathetic surroundings is one route to promoting the well-being of individuals.

Course Structure and Lesson Content

Course Duration: 100 hours.

Start Date: Start at any time - study at a pace that suits you, and with full tutor support for the duration of your studies.

Lessons: The course comprises 10 lessons as detailed, below.

Lesson 1. Relationship between Outdoor Environments and Human Well-being

• What is Biophilia?
• Understanding Biophobia.
• Health Problems of Biophilic Design - Urban Heat Island Effect, Psychological and Physiological Street, Breakdown of Ecosystems, Environmental.
• Degradation.
• Health Benefits of Biophilic Design - Theories of Stress Recovery, The Value of Green Space.
• Terminology Explained.

Lesson 2. Design Considerations

• Introduction - Evolution of Design Considerations.
• Learning from Past Mistakes - Not Designing for Use, Failure to Involve the Local Community, Isolation from Nature, Poor Accessibility.
• Good Biophilic Design - Connection with Nature, Sense of Place, Long-Term Sustainability, Sensory Stimulation, Beneficial User Experience.
• Practical Considerations - Multidisciplinary Approach, Town Planning, Consideration of Outcomes.
• Looking at the Future - Further Research, Amendments to National Standards.

Lesson 3. Patterns and Principles in Urban Design

• Introduction.
• Design Principles.
• Design Patterns.
• Case Study - A Blueprint for Biophilic Design.

Lesson 4. Components of the Landscape

• Introduction - Biophilic Components.
• Hard Landscape Components - Surfaces, Stone and Brick, Timber, Metal.
• Soft Landscape Components - Turf, Plants.
• The Relationship Between Health and Design Components - Direct Experience of Nature, Indirect Experience of Nature, Experience of Space and Place.
• Some Natural Components in More Detail - Trees, Vegetation, Animals, Water.

Lesson 5. Providing Services to People

• Introduction.
• Five Principles of Healthy Places.
• Water Harvesting, Retention, and Re-use - Stormwater, Rainwater, Urban Runoff, Integrated Urban Water Management.

Lesson 6. Affecting the Individual

• Introduction.
• Biophilia in Different Environments - Environmental Stress, General Adaptation Syndrome, Physiological Effects of Stress, Biophilia in the Workplace.
• Conclusions for Biophilic Design.

Lesson 7. Affecting Environmental and Climate Conditions

• Introduction.
• Water Contaminants - Public Health (Water Chemical Problems, Microbiological Problems), Water Quality for Aquaria and Ponds, Legionnaires Disease in Soil and Potting Media.
• Using Plants to Extract Contamination - Growing Plants in Contaminated Soil.
• Biological Filters for Water Pollution and Waste Water.
• Air Quality.
• Roof and Wall Gardens to Improve Air Quality and Aesthetics.
• Plant Selection - Climatic, Structural, Aesthetic.
• Construction of Vertical and Roof Gardens.
• Plants Suited to Roof and Vertical Gardens.

Lesson 8. Assessing and Analysing Existing Landscapes

• Introduction.
• Assessing the Landscape.
• Measuring Pollutants.
• Creating Buffer Zones for Pollution.
• Designing a New Home Garden using Biophilic Design Principles.

Lesson 9. Integrating Biophilic Design into Existing Landscape

• Introduction.
• Retrofitting Greenwalls and Roofs.
• Redevelopment of Public Institutions.
• Water Chemistry of Runoff.
• Reducing the Use of Pest Control Chemicals in the Garden.

Lesson 10. Working in/ Improving Urban Development

• Introduction.
• Challenges for Design - inc. Permaculture, Hydroponics, etc.
• Working in Urban Development.
• Case Studies.

Course Aims

• Discuss the relationship between physiological and psychological health and outdoor environments.   
• Determine the important biophilic factors which should be considered when designing or renovating an outdoor space.
• Explain different principles and patterns which have been identified as underpinning biophilic landscape design.
• Describe how different elements of an urban landscape can contribute in a positive way to human well-being.
• Describe how a range of landscaping techniques and methodologies can be utilised to benefit human wellbeing by encouraging use of public spaces.
• Evaluate the relationship between the health of individuals and different environments, and how biophilic design can be of benefit to well-being.
• Evaluate landscapes and determine actions that can be taken to improve the environmental conditions of people in those places.
• Understand how to assess and analyse existing landscapes.
• Redesign a landscape to meet biophilic requirements for a renovation of an existing landscape.
• Create a design to show how an urban (town or city) location may be improved to meet biophilic criteria.

Where Can Biophilic Landscaping Be Used?

What you learn in this course has very real applications in both rural and urban environments; in commercial and residential situations; and in fact any situation. It does however have a particularly important relevance to places where the environment is under greater stress, and often that will be in cities and their surrounds.

Urban development offers opportunities to make environments more biophilic. In recent years, whole cities have been called biophilic and there is now a website established by the University of Virginia's School of Architecture (UVA) which is dedicated to listing cities which meet biophilic criteria. The university collaborates with planners and designers of cities around the world in assessment of those cities. They help find solutions to obstacles which impede the incorporation of nature, and monitor progress, as well as offering advice, research and teaching in the area.

A biophilic city is one which has plenty of nature in it and which seeks to encourage and develop interactions with nature.  Professor Tim Beatley from the UVA describes biophilic cities as having the following qualities:

• Abundance of nature - there is plenty of nature close to many of the city dwellers. The biodiversity is rich, and it is cared for and nurtured. Such cities are organic and 'natureful'.
• Relationship with nature - residents of biophilic cities have a caring relationship with the local flora and fauna, as well as other aspects of the natural environment such as the climate. Their relationship with flora and fauna extends to recognisingdifferent species and wanting to look after them. They also relate to the topography of the land and other elements of the place which define the local environment.
• Outdoor activities - there are many opportunities for residents of biophilic cities to get outdoors and mingle with nature whether through walking in parks or cycling along tree lined roads. The city encourages people to be outdoors and enjoy the connection with nature.
• Sensory stimulation - the environments in biophilic cities offer a great deal of sensory stimulation including sights, sounds, odours or touch. Such varied stimulation encourages and enhances our relationships with nature.
• Education opportunities - there is a focus on teaching and learning to recognise the importance of nature within biophilic cities. Residents have many opportunities to interact with nature as part of their learning experience. There are social clubs and group activities which encourage participation in talks, activities or events in which knowledge of nature and natural systems can be passed on. Examples include volunteer work in revegetation projects or garden restoration.
• Suitable infrastructure - within biophilic cities there is suitable infrastructure which helps city dwellers to get close to nature and feel connected with it. It may be through museums and art galleries or more directly through wildlife parks outdoor activities.
• Global outlook - biophilic cities do not see themselves as detached from the rest of the world. Instead, they recognise that they are part of a global effort to protect nature and biodiversity. They are involved in conservation initiatives on the world stage. 

Why Study With ACS?

At ACS we provide you with more than just a set of course notes.

Your 'learning package' includes:

• Course notes.
• Self-assessment quizzes.
• Assignment feedback.
• You can interact one on one with a professional tutor with decades of experience - just email, phone or log on to chat to connect with them.

Flexible Studies

• You study at your own pace.
• You study where you want to - online from home or where you choose.
• You study when you want to - fit your studies around your own busy lifestyle - continue working whilst you study.

Making The Right Choice

Choosing the right course and the right options is important.  If you have any questions, please get in touch with our Horticulture tutors - - they will be happy to answer your questions and discuss your goals.