273: Buildings as Habitat: Biodiversity-Informed Investments in Public Health

In this episode of The Passive House Podcast, Ilka Cassidy and Kristof Irwin discuss with Helena van Vliet the concept of biophilic design and its impact on human wellbeing. Helena explains how designing environments that reconnect humans with nature can optimize physiological energy and reduce stress and inflammation. The conversation delves into practical applications of biophilic design in urban environments, exploring how elements like dynamic sunlight, water features, and vegetation can improve health and connect people with natural surroundings. The episode also touches on the challenges of integrating these concepts with traditional architectural practices focused on energy efficiency and durability.

Helena van Vliet Dipl.-Ing. AIA is an internationally recognized expert in Biophilic Design. She is a registered Architect, Consultant, Researcher, Educator, and Speaker focusing on the direct connections between human and bio-habitat resilience in built environments. In her designs, consulting work and teaching, she integrates insights from her 40 years of practice, as well as data from her ongoing research in evolutionary biology, cognitive neuroscience, biopsychology, and chronobiology.

https://www.helenavanvliet.com/
https://www.biophilly.org/
https://www.biophiliccities.org/

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