Biophilic Design Patterns Towards Well-Being and Sustainability in School Built Environment

Connectedness to nature is significant for environmental sustainability. It is believed to be a potential moderator of the relationship between pro-environmental behaviors, happiness, and well-being. The UN Environment Program (UNEP) report mentions that children, the future citizens, are the most impacted by today’s environmental crisis. Through increased contact with nature, children can develop stronger conservation attitudes, which will lead to overall environmental sustainability in the future. Therefore, to ensure long-term development knowing the elements of built environment that promote sustainable behaviors in children becomes important. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) guide us with the rules that contribute to attain the elements of sustainability. Biophilia means an innate connection of humans with nature. The concept of biophilia and biophilic design patterns is explored to understand its potential impact on children’s well-being. This will lay the groundwork for thoughtful and critical examination of children’s relationships with nature, as well as the use of biophilic design patterns as a tool for improving and enhancing biophilia in children. The biophilic design patterns are identified and investigated in school buildings that improve the connection between children and nature, with the goal of bringing about large-scale societal change in the future. Thus, pointing to the SDG 11 “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.”