Biophilia Camp 2023
... co-creating conditions for all life to thrive
Welcome to Regen Notes.1
Biophilia Camp 2023
Our second Biophila Camp will be held in the Italian Dolomites in September. Places are limited to ensure a meaningful biophilia exploration.
Biophilia Camp 2023 is an awesome opportunity to explore the many aspects of biophilia and biophilic design. Whilst we will cover the science and frameworks behind biophilic design, the camp also explores regenerative biophilia, how biophilia and reconnection with nature can save our society, and enable life to thrive. You will find the time and space for mindful reflection and yoga to nourish the biophilia self. There is also the opportunity to experience biophilic walks, disconnecting from devices, and reconnecting with nature, moving and navigating guided by our relationship senses with nature.
Our Biophilia Camp also brings Agile thinking and structure into our thinking, lifting biophilic design to a new level ...
“Biophilia is about being a human in a natural world, and biophilic design about co-creating habitats in harmony with nature, enabling all life to thrive”
More details can be found here
Notes and thoughts from the first 2022 Biophilia Camp …
»» The ‘retreat’ brought into being something that will stay with me, and all of us, for a very long time, with the conviction that more, all, regenerative sessions and biophilia events should be like this … co-creating conditions for all life to thrive … through nurturing our own personal and inner biophilia.
»» How we look after, nourish and nurture ourselves is a vital and key aspect of both being regenerative and practising regenerative. Biophilia, biophilic design and regenerative practice is not a crossword to solve with ups and downs but a myriad of questions, reflections and connections. It is who we are. It is what makes the biophilia camp so powerful.
» We look after our bodies, keep fit and seek healthy food and clean air. But how do we give our minds that same time and space, to improve, stay healthy, and deal with the constant barrage of thoughts we have in today's world? The need for that quiet time … yoga, mindfulness, affirmations, meditations … whichever you are comfortable with is increasing vital.
Biophilia - Notes
Biophilic design is about kinship - and so much more. Here are a few biophila-related topics on my agenda and reading at the moment.
Reconnecting.
Fixing our fragile and fractured connectivity with nature. The climate and biodiversity crisis cannot be solved without addressing the issue of how people relate to the wider natural world. Read this Regen Note exploring Miles Richardson’s book ‘Reconnection’
Petrichor
Sensing the rain. While many areas around the world suffer from insanely high temperatures, here in the UK we are experiencing heavy rain showers. Over recent weeks this has given rise to petrichor - that wonderful sense and smell we experience just before and during a storm. For many aware of this, it enables us to sense coming rain.
Petrichor triggers our senses and evokes a sense of calm, freshness, and connection to the environment.
Read more on Petrichor (incl extract from climate novel draft) on this Regen Note
Light
Biophilic design feature light highly - from the daily circadian rhythms to the changing seasonal light. However far too many buildings, many with interior biophilic designs contribute to light pollution furthering biodiversity loss. See Light and noise pollution are “neglected pollutants” in need of renewed focus from the UK Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology.
Water
On our regenerative journeys, and in search of climate, biodiversity and social solutions, “what if water is more important than carbon” Take a listen to this Alpha Lo conversation podcast with fascinating insights into slow water, small and large water cycles.
Many biophilic design applications incorporate water in designs, But here, an award-winning housing design from Hong-En Lin uses local materials and weaving traditions to bring access to clean water. A clever regenerative and biophilic design (with a water catchment feature improves water sustainability in Africa and other countries with water problems. And soon that could be most of the planet.
Nature Positive
In the UK we have one of the lowest biodiversity rates in the world. Just bringing nature or natural patterns into our buildings, or increasingly the views to nature will not address the biodiversity crisis unless we truly see ourselves as connected with nature, and with reciprocity give back through healing nature. Lee Raye writing in the conversation shares research that reveals the biodiversity we’ve lost since the industrial revolution. (see also Regen Notes - the abundance of biodiversity and connectivity with nature shared in diaries of Gilbert White writing 1751 to 1793
Regenerative Recalibration
Our next Zoom regenerative on the 25th of July with Jo Petroni will address some of the regenerative, and biophilic questions that are vital to our time. Building on work from the Klosters Conferences
How do we bring Regenerative from niche to mainstream?
How do we communicate complexity better?
How do we recalibrate our roles to the new challenges ahead?
Jo Petroni brings an interactive regenerative architecture focus to the ZR discussion, but the conversations will be key for anyone in the built environment and indeed other sectors.
All revious articles on Regen/Notes can be explored here - and the best of 2022 can be read here - ENJOY.