Landscape design courses that focus on biophilic design combine natural systems and elements into a landscape to increase people’s physical and mental wellbeing. The word biophilic essentially means ‘love of nature’, and this course will teach you how to use landscaping methodologies and techniques to encourage the use of public spaces and make landscapes more people-friendly.

Our Introduction to Biophilic Landscaping is ideal for those working in horticulture, environmental management landscape design and construction, or anyone keen to undertake the design of parks, gardens, cityscapes, streetscapes and more!

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes achieved by undertaking landscape design courses include:

• Exploring the relationship between outdoor environments and human wellbeing
• Learning about and understanding biophilia
• Studying health problems and biophobic design
• Understanding the urban heat island effect
• Examining psychological and physiological stress
• Gaining insights into the breakdown of ecosystems
• Learning about environmental degradation
• Exploring the health benefits of biophilic design
• Studying the theories of stress recovery
• Understanding the value of green space
• Learning about biophilic landscaping terminology
• Exploring design considerations
• Learning from past mistakes
• Understanding the repercussions of failing to involve the community
• Studying isolation from nature
• Examining good biophilic design
• Gaining insights into connections with nature
• Learning about sense of place
• Exploring long term sustainability
• Studying the beneficial user experience
• Understanding the practical considerations
• Examining a multidisciplinary approach
• Gaining insights into town planning
• Learning to consider of outcomes
• Thinking about the future
• Exploring the patterns and principles of urban design
• Studying the terrapin bright green criteria
• Understanding nature in the space patterns
• Examining natural analogue patterns
• Gaining insights into nature of the space patterns
• Learning about biophilic landscaping and its relationship to health
• Exploring the strongest empirical support
• Studying the application of patterns
• Examining the components of the landscape
• Gaining insights into biophilic components
• Learning about hard landscape components
• Exploring stone and brick surfaces
• Studying timber surfaces
• Understanding soft landscape components
• Examining the relationship between health and design components
• Gaining insights into the direct experience of nature
• Learning about air, water, plants animals and weather
• Exploring natural landscapes and ecosystems
• Studying the indirect experience of nature
• Understanding the experience of space and place
• Discovering the concept of prospect and refuge
• Examining natural components in detail
• Gaining insights into vegetation and animals
• Learning about water quality issues
• Exploring the five principles of healthy places
• Studying how to improve air, water and soil quality
• Discovering how to overcome health inequalities
• Examining how to promote healthy lifestyles
• Learning how to increase social interaction
• Exploring how to reduce anti-social behaviour, isolation and stress
• Examining opportunities for working, learning and development
• Studying uplifting and healing for both physical and mental health conditions
• Understanding water harvesting, retention and reuse
• Gaining insights into stormwater, rainwater and urban runoff
• Learning about integrated urban water management (IUWM)
• Exploring biophilia in different environments
• Studying environmental stress
• Understanding general adaptation syndrome
• Examining the physiological effects of stress
• Gaining insights into biophilia in the workplace
• Learning about noise levels and temperature
• Exploring environmental and climate conditions
• Studying water contaminants and water chemical problems
• Understanding microbiological problems
• Examining water quality for aquaria and ponds
• Learning about Legionnaires disease in soil and potting media
• Exploring using plants to extract contamination
• Studying how to grow plants on contaminated soil
• Understanding the biological filters for water pollution and wastewater
• Using roof and wall gardens to improve air quality and aesthetics
• Examining accessibility and safety
• Gaining insights into roof gardens and vertical gardens
• Learning about decorative plant supports
• Exploring the types of installations for roof gardens
• Studying wall gardens
• Examining design considerations and plant selection
• Learning about the building and components of a green roof
• Exploring construction materials
• Studying how to deal with heights
• Understanding plants which cause damage
• Examining plants suited to roof and vertical gardens
• Gaining insights into bromeliads and succulents
• Learning about hardy groundcovers
• Exploring xerophytes
• Being able to analyse existing landscapes
• Studying how to assess a landscape
• Understanding how to measure pollutants
• Discovering how to create buffer zones for pollution
• Examining using windbreaks, hedges and screens
• Gaining insights into creating and landscaping shaded areas
• Learning how to design a home garden using biophilic design principles
• Studying how to consider your priorities
• Understanding how to create a natural approach to gardening
• Learning to avoid problem materials
• Discovering how to dispose of waste and make good compost
• Uncovering simple design procedures
• Exploring how to integrate biophilic design into an existing landscape
• Studying how to retrofit green walls and roofs
• Uncovering how to use hydroponics for a vertical wall NFT system
• Understanding how to redevelop public institutions
• Examining the water chemistry of runoff
• Gaining insights into the quality of urban runoff
• Learning about annual pollutant loadings from runoff
• Exploring water quality in urban compared with rural areas
• Studying how to improve the water quality of runoff in the biophilic context
• Examining how to improve the water quality of recycled water in the biophilic context
• Gaining insights into reducing the use of pest control chemicals in gardens
• Learning about biocontrol
• Exploring a range of chemical weedicides
• Studying how to work in and improve urban development
• Understanding the challenges for design
• Examining permaculture and hydroponics
• Learning how to use swales for water retention
• Exploring how to work in urban development

 

The Patterns of Biophilic Design

Many landscape design courses like ours focus on biophilic design because it can reduce stress and improve well-being – qualities which are important in our increasingly urbanised world. The 14 patterns of biophilic design represent the relationship between human biology, nature and the design of a built environment. And according to research scientists and design practitioners, they define the aspects of nature that most impact our satisfaction within these types of environments.

Nature in the Space:

#1 – Visual Connection With Nature – this is a view to elements of nature, natural processes and living systems. If achieved, it can be either stimulating or calming, and convey a sense of weather, time and other living things.

 

#2 – Non-Visual Connection With Nature – this is stimuli connected to the other senses (hearing, touch, smell and taste) that gives a positive reference to nature, natural processes or living systems. Spaces feel well balanced and fresh, and the conditions are both complex and familiar.

 

#3 – Non-Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli – when in these spaces, people feel as though they are experiencing something fresh, stimulating, interesting and energizing. They also give people brief, but welcome distractions.

 

#4 – Thermal and Airflow Variability – this pattern is characterized by subtle changes in humidity, temperature and airflow across the skin that mimics a natural environment. These spaces feel alive, refreshing and invigorating, while providing a feeling of both flexibility and control.

 

#5 – Presence of Water – these are spaces that enhance someone’s experience through hearing, touching or seeing water. They feel captivating and compelling, and sound, lighting, accessibility and proximity can contribute to whether someone feels calm or stimulated or both.

 

#6 – Dynamic and Diffuse Light – this pattern leverages varying intensities of shadow and light that change over time to create natural conditions. They convey expressions of movement and time and evoke intrigue and drama combined with a sense of calm.

 

#7 – Connection with Natural Systems – this is an awareness of natural processes especially seasonal changes that define a healthy ecosystem. These spaces make people aware of the cycles of life, and they are nostalgic, relaxing, enlightening and frequently anticipated.

 

Natural Analogues:

#8 – Biomorphic Forms and Patterns – these are symbolic references to textured, patterned or numerical arrangements that we see in nature. These spaces feel comfortable and possibly contemplative, captivating and even capable of absorbing energy.

 

#9 – Material Connection with Nature – this pattern refers to elements and materials from nature that reflect the local geology or ecology. These spaces feel warm, authentic, rich and sometimes stimulating to people’s touch.

 

#10 – Complexity and Order – this is rich, sensory information to connects to a spatial hierarchy that is similar to what you would experience in nature. These spaces feel engaging and are a balance between being boring and overwhelming.

 

Nature of the Space:  

#11 – Prospect – this pattern offers an unobstructed view over distances. These spaces feel freeing and open while offering a sense of control and safety, particularly when people are alone or in an unfamiliar environment.

 

#12 – Refuge – these are places for withdrawal from activity or environmental conditions where people are protected overhead and from behind.  They feel safe, contemplative, embracing and offer people a sense of retreat.

 

#13 – Mystery – this pattern is a promise of more information, and entice people to travel deeper into the environment. They evoke a feeling of anticipation and offer a combination of denial and reward that compels people to further investigate the space.

 

#14 – Risk or Peril – this pattern refers to an identifiable threat combined with a reliable safeguard. These spaces feel exhilarating because people feel they may be dangerous but nevertheless intriguing and worth exploring.

Winners of the 2019 AILDM National Awards

Every year, the Australian Institute of Landscape Designers and Managers (AILDM) recognises the very best landscape designers and their projects from around the country. Here is a list of last year’s Gold Award winners who will offer plenty of reasons for you to consider landscape design courses as your next career move!

Landscape Design – Rooftop

Richard Rimell of Quercus Gardens
Judy Dolin of South House Gardens
Claudia Crawley of Grindstone Landscapes
Alison Watson of Outdoor Designs

 

Residential Landscape Design – less than 50m²

Rebecca Colechin and Michael Doak of Ecodesign

Steve Warner of Outhouse Design
Charlie Albone of Inspired Exteriors
Nicola Cameron of Pepo Botanic Design
Julia Levitt of Sticks & Stones Landscape Design

 

Residential Landscape Design – 50 to 150m²

Adrian Swain and Michael Doak of Ecodesign
Jane Stark of Stark Design
Gerrad Everson of Octopus Garden Design
Steve Warner of Outhouse Design
Mitchell Turner of Goodmanors Pools and Gardens
Nicola Cameron of Pepo Botanic Design

 

Residential Landscape Design – over 150m²

Adam McDonald of Impressions Landscape Design
Colin Marchant of Costata Landscape Design
Nathan Burkett of Nathan Burkett Design
Phil Antcliff of Fifth Season Landscapes

 

Rural or Coastal Landscape Design

Nathan Burkett of Nathan Burkett Design
Steve Taylor of C.O.S Design
Fiona Ericsson of Sticks and Stones Landscape Design

 

Commercial Open Space

Jamie Clapham of Clapham Landscape Architecture
Robert McIlroy of Saunders Havill Group

 

Commercial – Educational/Institutional/Playspace

Adrian Swain of Ecodesign
Ruth Czermak of Botanical Traditions
Brendan Barmby of Blue Landscape Architecture
Daniel Kavanagh of The Gardenmakers

 

Plantscape Design

Adam McDonald of Impressions Landscape-Design
Jane Stark of Stark Design
Gerrad Everson of Octopus Garden Design
Nathan Burkett of Nathan Burkett Design
Judy Dolin of South House Gardens
Steve Taylor of C.O.S Design
Barbara Landsberg of Landsberg Garden Design
Alison Watson of Outdoor Designs
Phil Antcliff of Fifth Season Landscapes

 

Landscape Management – Environmental and Amenity Horticulture

Adrian Swain of Ecodesign
Robert McIlroy of Saunders Havill Group

Allan Correy Award for Design Excellence

And finally, this award is named in honour of landscape architect and horticulturist Allan Correy, who was known for his ecological and modernist approach to design. The winner of last year’s most coveted award (and the ultimate inspiration for undertaking landscape design courses) was…Adrian Swain from Ecodesign

 

Keen to create landscapes that positively enhance people’s physical and mental wellbeing? Put that green thumb to good use with a landscape design course like our Introduction to Biophilic Landscaping!