Architectural engineer Daan Bruggink on biophilic architecture in educational establishments
17 February 2021In Mobilane’s Green Talk series, experts get the opportunity to talk about their area of expertise. In this edition, Daan Bruggink (ORGA Architect) discusses biophilic architecture and its importance in educational establishments.
“Astonishingly, schools are amongst the poorest buildings we’ve got in terms of quality: they’re old, not sufficiently insulated, too cold, too hot, and they have too much CO2”. According to Daan, a lot can be gained from redeveloping schools. In the built environment our children inhabit — classrooms and outbuildings — biophilic design should be the obvious choice. Our brains, and by extension, the developing brains of our children, evolved as we started to discover and explore our natural environment. Instinctive responses to the natural world are deeply rooted in the human psyche. We are all psychologically programmed to react to materials, surfaces, animals, greenery, shapes, temperature, humidity, air, sound, light, shadow, weather, sun, seasons, daily routines, and so on.
Biophilic principles to improve performance and wellbeing
Biophilic design principles should be the obvious choice in educational buildings. Schools really ought to consider biophilic principles as a simple way to improve the academic performance of their pupils, while simultaneously improving the wellbeing of their employees. Daily exposure to natural elements is one of the main factors in the quality of a learning or working environment and serves as an effective and holistic way to ensure children and adults function better. An environment that improves wellbeing and morale, while reducing staff turnover and increasing productivity, results in higher levels of satisfaction, with better retention of staff and students as the end result. The costs of absenteeism, recruitment, extra staff, and support will all be reduced.
Biophilic design principles
Biophilic design is an approach to architecture that connects the users of the building more closely to nature. These buildings incorporate natural lighting and ventilation, natural landscape features and other elements to create a more productive and healthier built environment.
Daan Bruggink, architectural engineerDaan’s designs are rooted in the belief and biophilic vision that by using natural, reusable materials, you not only create beautiful, sustainable buildings, but you also foster an organic balance in which people, flora. and fauna can co-exist, live, and work in the best way possible. Daan Bruggink founded ORGA Architect in 2007 with a single vision: biophilic and bio-based building is the future. Over the past two decades, with a healthy dose of courage, passion, and verve, Daan has broken down existing conventions and working methods in construction, shifting the focus instead to the transition to fossil-free, healthy, and circular buildings. As Chair of the Newbuild and Renovation Advisory Group for BREEAM-NL at DGBC, he has worked at a national level to promote circular construction, and to seek better alignment between the construction sector and the current trend toward a circular economy. These activities have not gone unnoticed, and Daan and ORGA Architect have received significant recognition and several awards along the way. |
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