Biophilic Furniture

by Marcus Grant

Abstract

Biophilic design is a testament of time embedded in our innate connection with nature. This approach to design takes inspiration from and mimicks the natural landscape. It is an emerging response, transforming urban environments in a society where cities are expanding and becoming progressively disconnected from the natural world. Biophilic design is a solution that promotes urban spaces and provides an opportunity to enhance them.

Biophilic Street Furniture is an application of this emerging approach, which explores the value of creating systematic change in environments that have been altered by urbanisation. This project is a product-based urban intervention applying the biophilic design principles to street furniture. This research-led design approach aims to understand all contextual factors and biophilic attributes in the chosen site to create harmony between an urbanised site and the existing landscape to improve the environment and the quality of life for those who inhabit and enjoy the space. The significance and nature of this research project provides implementable strategies for design driven innovation for street furniture in urban spaces that provides meaningful change, creating a sensory immersion.

Design Intent

The design purpose is to create biophilic street furniture that seamlessly integrates nature into the fabric of furniture in an urban setting, promoting a strong connection between people and the natural environment. This intuitive approach to street furniture yields a relaxing, place-specific product that belongs to its context of Clovelly beach in Sydney. The design decisions are influenced by the contextual biophilic attributes in the chosen site. By incorporating natural elements, organic forms and sustainable materials that reflect the existing site, this project aims to enhance user experience and promote well-being, and invites all forms of biodiversity to inhabit the space, which benefits the ecology. This product, made in deference to the landscape, is designed to curate sensory immersion. The aim is to nurture a deeper appreciation for nature and transform an urbanised environment through street furniture, creating meaningful change for society.

Bio

Using a design approach, Marcus has always been interested in social interaction and how this benefits various environments. He is passionate about the biophilic research that explores and identifies how society can design for a future focused direction that considers community, functionality and the ecology as a collective, creating an immersive connection between humans and nature.

Marcus has graduated with a Diploma of Design and Architecture, Bachelor of Design in Product Design, and a postgraduate Honours in Product design. He previously received the Carl Neilson Legacy Scholarship Award. His desire to create meaningful change in public spaces is at the forefront of his goals to explore how urbanised environments can bring back a connection to the natural world.

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