Framed Nature: Bayard Ewing Building (BEB)

I chose to place my Framed Nature installations in the stairway at the Bayard Ewing Building (BEB) on RISD's campus. The BEB houses studios, classrooms, and offices for the Landscape Architecture and Architecture departments. I chose this location because of its obvious lack of biophilic attributes as well as the desire to expose it to as many people as possible. It is the main stairway to the computer lab, and almost everyone in the building uses the lab. 

I do not think that I chose a suitable location for the installation due to the small scale of the pieces in relation to the stairwell. However I do think that small scale biophilic interventions can make a difference in peoples lives, they just need to be scaled accordingly. The stairway is too large for one to notice something as small as the framed plants, that combined with the function of the location plays a large part in the lack of a biophilic success. The stairwell is a transitional space where few people spend any considerable amount of time and even when they do they are usually focusing on their feet as they move up and down. I might consider moving these pieces to a location that is more conducive to their small scale.

In the future I would like to see larger scaled pieces that are more intrusive either in their presence or their intent. Can a biophilic intervention be designed to focus in on one particular attribute or can it overtake the room in way that image on the wall in the RISD Museum classroom does? 

How can the term Guerilla in Guerilla Biophilia be leveraged in such a way that it lives up to its reputation and become a force that solicits a response?

Six Within Six

Six Within Six is a guerrilla biophilia project. The intervention invites six natural planters within the six windows located on the sixth floor of CIT, which houses the Interior Architecture department.  The room is static, plain, and lacking of natural features.  This is completely opposite of what a room where creativity is key should be. Six Within Six looks at several biophilic attributes to help mend the breach; parts to wholes, views and vistas, natural material, curiosity and enticement, etc. It houses these within a small-scale design, which hopefully brings a sense of well-being and productivity to those who interact with the piece(s. 

I received a surprise package the other day. These little jewels of nature are a nice addition to my desk. Its nice to see them layered and the reflections they make, I think they would make great windows. Plus they are fun to have your friends pose with them!

Framed Nature: Your mission should you chose to accept it...

I received my assignment on a cold, cloudy, wintery afternoon while working on a project in a dark studio illuminated by only the desk lamp and what little light was filtering through the window.

The fresh, clean, and unnaturally shiny plant cuttings definitely added a new and interesting dimension to my work space. My initial thoughts: I wish the plants themselves were bigger, filling more of the frame. I like my nature bold, bright, and obvious, like tropical plants with leaves as big as your head and so green in color they almost seem to glow. The size of my framed pieces is great, I just want more plant in each frame.

 Everybody notices them right away and wants to know what they are and where they came from. They are great for starting conversations and making friends!

"Framed Nature"

"Framed Nature" is the first Guerrilla Biophilia project to be completed.  Clippings of nature from around Providence were set in resin within a frame.  The piece looks at how nature can affect a person, even if it looks synthetic. Ten interventions were completed. These ten interventions were distributed amongst five individuals for observation.  They were given two pieces (in brown wrapping) each with the following memo:

 

Here are some images of "Framed Nature"

GUERRILLA BIOPHILIA (what's the idea?)

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Edward O. Wilson introduced the biophilia hypothesis in his book "Biophilia." It suggests that there is a bond between the human race and the living systems around us.  Biophilia literally means a love or desire for living things. The term has transformed the design realm in the form of a newer typology called biophilic design.  “Biophilic design helps to mend the prevailing breach existing in our society between the modern built environment and the human need for contact with the natural world.” By using biophilic attributes in design it has been shown to help human health and function, prompts thinking, and also makes one feel better about their habitat. 

One would think a collegiate environment like Rhode Island School of Design would have biophilic design elements in their learning spaces; but they do not.  Most studios are boxes that do not get natural light or air and contain no living systems.  This type of setting does not promote a creative or mentally stimulating environment for the students.

Through the independent study “Guerrilla Biophilia,” the goal will be to begin changing the sterile-build mentality.  This will be accomplished by designing, fabricating, and installing small-scale biophilic design elements into various spaces within the interior of RISD buildings. 

The independent study will be broken up into three phases.  The first phase will focus on design development of biophilic concepts. During this phase, I will focus on alternative building methods that will allow me to carry out my design ideas. Moving forward, the second phase will consist of fabricating my design ideas using the alternative building methods learned primarily with reclaimed material. The last and final phase of “Guerrilla Biophilia” will be to develop structure methods to install my designs into the existing fabric of the RISD buildings.

 Feedback will also be an important component of the process, after the installation phase.  Thoughtful feedback will help me better understand the psychological impacts my installations have on the space and its inhabitants. I will encourage students who will be interacting with my installations to write comments or talk with me about the difference, if any, biophilic design has made.

Biophilic Elements

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The two dimensions of biophilic design can be related to six biophilic design elements:

·      Environmental features

·      Natural Shapes and Form

·      Natural Patterns and Processes

·      Light and Space

·      Place-Based Relationships

·      Evolved Human –Nature Relationships

  

  These six elements are then broken into 70 biophilic design attributes distributed between the six elements. 

Environmental feature attributes (12)

Natural shapes and forms attributes (11)

Natural patterns and processes attributes (15)

 Light and space attributes (12)

Place-based relationship attributes (11)

Human-nature relationships attributes (12)

 

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