The pursuit of happiness: biophilic design and why it matters

One of the ways we do this is through using the principles of biophilic design, and by incorporating this philosophy into every project we develop.

Put simply, biophilic design brings nature into the built environment.

Indoor and outdoor landscaping, non-toxic materials, natural patterns and processes, light and space, recuperative zones, sensory variability and a community connection to nature are all elements of the approach. It works because humans are hardwired with an affinity for nature, and when we have access to it there’s an observably positive effect on mood and wellbeing. The concept is powerful in its simplicity, but you’d be amazed at how often it’s overlooked when it comes to modern-day placemaking.

The World Green Building Council published a study called: ‘Health, Wellbeing & Productivity in Retail – The impact of green buildings on people and profit’ (2016) which bears out the positive effects on retail employees and the general public. Healthy environments lead to productivity gains, better retail metrics and happier people, which in turn reinforces that our approach to our centre design is the right one. As the report notes we need to remember that buildings are fundamentally for people and that if they don’t work for people then they have failed to deliver no matter what their sustainability credentials may be.

You can see biophilic principles at work in the design for Burwood Brickworks, a retail destination that’s also vying to obtain something never before done in any retail context anywhere: achieve Living Building Challenge certification - the built environment's most rigorous performance standard for sustainability.

In plain terms, Burwood Brickworks will put back more than it takes out of the environment and the community.

In addition to being net positive in water and energy, 20% of the site will also be given over to food-producing urban agriculture, including a 2,000sqm rooftop urban farm that will grow produce to be made available to the food and beverage tenants in the centre as well as for direct sale to the public. In keeping with the urban farm theme, much of the northern facade of the building will be covered in potted plants, which besides providing food, will also provide sun protection to the northern façade as a passive design initiative. And with an ‘eat street’ that opens out onto an alfresco dining plaza, Burwood Brickworks sets new standards for a 21st-century super-neighbourhood shopping centre and public place that strives to connect people to light, air, food, nature, and community.

It’s not just Burwood Brickworks that’s incorporating biophilic design.

A number of our other retail properties around the country are showcasing these principles too. For example:

• The use of vertical gardens designed by Pritzker Prize winning artist Jean Nouvel at Central Park Mall in Sydney to create a visually striking aesthetic that also contributes to naturally overcoming the urban ‘heat island’ effect;
• The use of recycled and sustainable materials, natural ventilation, and indoor biodiversity to achieve Australia’s first 6-Star Green Star Design Rating for a retail development at The Ponds in New South Wales;
• The planned greening of previously unproductive land at our Eastern Creek development;
• The Edmondson Square town centre is another, which aims to be 6-Star Green Star, and will incorporate naturally ventilated malls, urban landscaped spaces, a play on light in spaces and a real connection to the local community through an ‘eat street’ and landscaped urban plaza providing an active amenity for kids and adults alike.

Our approach fosters sustainability on every level.

We believe our approach fosters sustainability on every level - social, environmental and financial. True triple bottom line. That’s because biophilic design taps into our species’ need for nature as a tonic to a highly urbanised world of concrete and glass. Healthy, pleasant places encourage us to take our time, spend more time, share with friends and family and breathe a bit easier. And of course, a retail environment that’s a pleasure to spend more time in is likely to be a profitable and vibrant destination by attracting people.

We believe in doing good, but it must be more than a tokenistic nod to appearing green for green’s sake. This last point is perhaps most important of all. To work, to really be powerful, our places must encourage people to visit often and stay longer because they love being there. Designing a centre with access to an abundance of natural light, fresh air, and living greenery just makes smart business sense, supporting our retailers and happy shoppers alike. For us it is about creating a place that’s worthy of an ‘Instagrammable moment’ recognisable to others in the local community so that people can say they have visited a memorable destination and not just gone shopping at the local supermarket.

Biophilic design may be based on ancient wisdom, but it’s more relevant to our modern times than ever. I look forward to keeping you updated on our progress as we strive to create places that are genuinely alive on every level.

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Frasers Property would like to acknowledge our collaborators and inspiration: World Green Building Council | Living Futures Institute | Jean Nouvel