Biophilic Design

🌿 MOSS: The Tiny Climate Warrior We've Been Ignoring WHAT SCIENCE SHOWS ABOUT THIS HUMBLE PLANT: 🌎 CARBON CAPTURE CHAMPION - Absorbs 4X more CO₂ than trees by volume - Captures pollutants from air and rainwater - Continues photosynthesis when trees are dormant - Creates own ecosystem in urban "dead spaces" 💧 WATER MANAGEMENT GENIUS - Absorbs up to 20X its weight in water - Prevents urban flooding during heavy rains - Slowly releases moisture during dry periods - Naturally filters contaminants from runoff ❄️ URBAN COOLING SYSTEM - Creates natural air conditioning effect - Reduces building surface temperatures by up to 15°F - Thrives on vertical surfaces where trees can't grow - Requires zero irrigation or maintenance 🏙️ CITIES ARE CATCHING ON - Tokyo installing moss walls to combat urban heat - Seattle encouraging moss growth on buildings - European cities creating moss-covered bus stops - Living moss installations purifying indoor air While we spend billions on high-tech carbon capture, this ancient plant has been perfecting the process for 450 million years - for free. Next time you see moss, don't scrub it away. You're looking at one of nature's most efficient climate solutions. #ClimateAction #UrbanGreening #NaturalSolutions

A Leaf of the Future: The First Artificial Biological Leaf 🌿🚀 This groundbreaking innovation mimics photosynthesis, turning water & CO₂ into oxygen—just like a real plant! 🍃✨ 🔬 Made from silk protein & chloroplasts, it could revolutionize: 🌱 Sustainable living 🏙️ Urban air quality 🛰️ Space exploration A step closer to bio-inspired solutions for a greener future! Would you want to see cities integrating tech like this? 💡💚 #Biomimicry #GreenTech #SustainableInnovation #FutureOfNature #EcoDesign #CleanAir #Photosynthesis #UrbanSolutions Image: Explorify

🔐🌱🌎 Unlock Nature's Secrets - For Free. Discover how nature’s time-tested strategies can inspire smarter design, sustainable solutions, and a deeper (re)connection to the natural world around us. All the Biomimicry tools you need to get started. Gain the fundamentals of biomimicry with this FREE ebook: A Field Guide to Biomimicry https://buff.ly/46rRGQF

🌿 Nature doesn’t just heal — it hustles. In the heart of Mexico City, biophilic design is proving something powerful: 🌱 Nature is not a luxury. It’s an economic engine. We often talk about how trees cool streets, how green roofs reduce runoff, how parks make people happier. But let’s connect the dots — nature also drives value. Real, measurable, bottom-line value. ✨ Here's how living infrastructure supports thriving urban economies: 💸 Parks = property value. Just being near trees can bump a home’s value by 5–20%. 🛍️ Tree-lined streets = more shopping. Greenery boosts foot traffic and time spent locally. 💊 Access to green = less stress + fewer doctor visits. Healthier people, lower costs. 💼 Natural light and views = focused, happier employees. Biophilic offices boost performance. 🌞 Green roofs = smaller utility bills. Shade and insulation save serious energy. 🌊 Urban forests = fewer floods. Less concrete, more sponge. 🎒 Iconic parks = global tourism magnets. Think revenue, not just recreation. 👷 Green investments = green jobs. Landscapers, ecologists, planners, maintainers. 🤝 Tree canopy = safer communities. Studies link it to lower crime. 💧 Permeable streets = smarter infrastructure. Nature as a service. So the question becomes: how do we shift from seeing green as garnish... to seeing it as capital? 🌍 📢 Video / source: Katie Patrick 🌈 + Hello World Labs #BiophilicDesign #NatureMeansBusiness #GreenCities #SustainableDesign #ClimateSmart #UrbanInnovation #DesignForEquity #NatureBasedSolutions #RewildTheCity #ThisIsLandscapeArchitecture

🐠 🌊 In a bold move blending biophilic design and eco-innovation, Sydney is transforming its coastline with 3D-printed living seawalls — textured structures that mimic natural habitats like rock pools and mangroves. 🪸🌱 Unlike traditional flat seawalls, these living systems support marine biodiversity by offering refuges for kelp, crustaceans, fish, and more. The results? ✅ 30–40% increase in species variety ✅ 90+ species now calling these habitats home ✅ Filter feeders like oysters + barnacles improving water quality within months 🌊✨ This is design that heals — enhancing biodiversity and coastal resilience. It's a powerful reminder that even in the most urban of spaces, nature has a place — and a voice. 💚 📍Sydney Harbour is leading the way — where else could this be possible? #BiophilicDesign #SustainableDesign #EcoInnovation #MarineRestoration #LivingSeawalls #NatureInDesign #LandscapeArchitecture #ThisIsLandscapeArchitecture #CoastalResilience #DesignForBiodiversity

🌱 We know how to build cities that don’t cost the Earth. The solutions are here — we just need to plant them. 🌍 Nature-based solutions make our cities not just more livable — but more resilient, equitable, and economically smart. Here’s how we green our cities from the roots up 👇 🌿 1. Let Nature Do the Heavy Lifting ✔️ Urban trees = cleaner air + cooler streets ✔️ Green roofs = energy savings + beauty ✔️ Wetlands = flood defense ✔️ Rain gardens = stormwater sponges 🏞️ 2. Design with Green in Every Neighborhood 🛝 Turn empty lots into parks kids can play in 🥕 Build community gardens for fresh food + connection 💚 Pocket parks for joy and shade, block by block 🚶♀️ 3. Move with Nature 🌳 Shaded walking paths = more people walking 🚲 Safe bike lanes = cleaner air + healthier commutes 🚆 Electric transit = lower emissions, happier lungs 🏗️ 4. Build Smarter 📜 Require green building codes that reduce energy + waste 🏙️ Use zoning to protect green space and manage growth 📈 Reward buildings that give back to the environment 👥 5. Power to the People 🌱 Support urban farming + rooftop gardens 🛠️ Give communities the tools to design their own green future 💬 Center equity — everyone deserves a healthier city 💧 6. Rethink Water 🌊 Bioswales, permeable pavements, and smart drainage = flood resilience 🚰 Green infrastructure can make cities water-secure in a warming world 💸 7. Fund the Future 🌍 Invest in green infrastructure through public-private partnerships 📈 Offer tax credits for eco-friendly projects 💡 Tap global climate funds to scale faster 📸 Photo: Namba Parks, Osaka, Japan – a stunning example of green urban vision SOURCES: - The Critical Role of Nature-Based Solutions for Enhancing Climate Resilience in Informal Areas - UN-Habitat - World Cities Report 2024, UN-Habitat - RISE UP: Resilient Settlements for the Urban Poor, UN-Habitat - Climate Change Vulnerability and Risk Guide, UN-Habitat - Sustaining Urban Water Supply under Climate Change: Lessons from Southern Africa & China – UN-Habitat - NDC Global Report 2023, UN-Habitat & UN #BiophilicDesign #GreenInfrastructure #NatureBasedSolutions #UrbanResilience #ClimateAdaptation #SustainableCities #WUF14 #DesignWithNature #CitiesThatHeal #LandscapeArchitecture

🚧➡️🌿 Removing car infrastructure isn’t about taking away — it’s about giving back. The transformation of Seattle’s waterfront is a powerful example of what happens when we prioritize people over cars. 🛣️ Before: For 60 years, the Alaskan Way Viaduct loomed over the waterfront — a noisy, double-decker freeway that cut off downtown Seattle from Elliott Bay. It blocked views, added pollution, and after the 2001 earthquake, posed a serious safety risk. 🌊 After: In 2019, the viaduct was torn down and replaced with a 2-mile tunnel. Now? ✅ 20 acres of parkland opened up ✅ A walkable, bikeable promenade in progress ✅ New street connections and restored access to the water ✅ A vibrant, people-first public space emerging This is what reclaiming space for nature and people looks like. 🌿 It’s not just about aesthetics — it’s about climate resilience, public health, and equity. 💬 Could your city benefit from turning gray infrastructure into green space? 📸 Credit: Ken Steiner Field Operations #BiophilicDesign #UrbanTransformation #PeopleOverCars #GreenInfrastructure #WalkableCities #RewildTheCity #SeattleWaterfront #SustainableUrbanism #CityDesign #NatureBasedSolutions

🌿 For over a century, we’ve relied on energy-hungry air conditioners and heaters—but there’s a better way. 💡🌍 Ancient civilizations kept buildings cool in the summer and warm in the winter without electricity. Today, we can combine their wisdom with modern innovations for nature-based heating and cooling. ✨ How it works: 🌱 Vertical Gardens: Block sunlight, absorb heat, and naturally cool buildings. 🪨 Thermal Mass Storage: Materials like stone absorb heat by day and release it at night. 💨 Natural Ventilation: Systems like wind towers channel cool air inside and push warm air out. With these simple solutions, buildings can regulate temperature naturally—cutting energy use and helping the planet. 🌎💚 Source: BIOTONOMY Moein Nodehi https://buff.ly/3D1kO6L #Biotonomy #NatureBasedSolutions #GreenArchitecture #SustainableBuilding #PassiveCooling #PassiveHeating

🌿 Green Factory Innovation in Vietnam! 🌿 The Jakob Factory in Ho Chi Minh City takes sustainability to the next level by integrating plant-covered facades and natural ventilation into its design! 🌱 Designed by G8A Architects and Rollimarchini Architects, this factory stands out for its environmentally-friendly approach in an industrial park that has seen rapid urbanization. 🔸 Key Highlights: Vertical Design: Instead of sprawling horizontally, the factory features two- to three-storey buildings that reduce land use, allowing for spacious landscaped gardens in the inner courtyard. Green Facades: Layered greenery not only creates aesthetic appeal but also serves as a natural air purifier, cooling the factory and absorbing rainwater. 🌧️ Natural Ventilation: The building uses ventilated manufacturing halls inspired by traditional tropical architecture to enhance air flow and reduce energy use. 🌬️ Sustainable Materials: The use of steel cables and mesh netting helps support the plantings, allowing for a see-through balustrade that blends the factory with its natural surroundings. 🌍 Why It Matters: Urban Heat Reduction: In a region dominated by concrete, this green approach helps cool down the surroundings and supports the local ecosystem. 🌳 Air Purification: The greenery helps filter the air, reducing dust and pollutants, while offering workers a healthier and more pleasant workspace. 🌱 📸 Photo credit: Hiroyuki Oki #SustainableDesign #GreenArchitecture #BiophilicDesign #UrbanGreening #IndustrialArchitecture #GreenBuilding #NatureInArchitecture #ClimateResilience #HoChiMinhCity #DezeenAwards

A hotel that waters its green wall with shower water? Yes, really. This is Hotel Mariposa in the center of Málaga, Spain — and it’s turning heads for all the right reasons. Designed and built by Biotonomy, this vertical garden is not just for looks. It brings real, everyday benefits to the building and the city. Here’s what makes it special: 1️⃣ Greywater Irrigation: The garden is watered using water from the hotel’s own showers and sinks. Instead of wasting water, it’s cleaned and reused — directly on the plants. 2️⃣ Better Air and Lower Temperatures: The plants clean the air and help cool the street, making the city more livable for everyone. 3️⃣ Noise and Energy Reduction: The green facade blocks heat and sound, helping reduce the need for air conditioning and creating a calmer space inside and out. 4️⃣ Boosts Biodiversity: Flowers and greenery attract pollinators and small animals, helping nature return to the city. 🔹 Behind this project is Biotonomy, a design and engineering team that brings nature back into architecture. They work with hotels, developers, and cities to turn grey walls and empty roofs into living, breathing ecosystems — powered by natural solutions. This is what happens when buildings start giving back. #NatureBasedSolutions #GreenBuildings #Greywater #VerticalGarden #Biotonomy #UrbanGreening 🍃 BIOTONOMY for design and implementation. Moein Nodehi