Biophilic Solutions: Nature Has the Answers

Architect Suchi Reddy discusses connecting human emotion to design, biophilic spaces, and technology's role in a serene world. Reddymade's innovative approach, blending art and architecture, is highlighted. The podcast explores the impact of architecture on well-being and the cultural significance of nature in design. Suchi's focus on emotional well-being, recovery, and creating serene spaces is a central theme, emphasizing hope, beauty, and serenity in design.

This week we’re exploring the neuroscience behind our relationship to beauty. Are we culturally conditioned to prefer certain landscapes, works of art, and types of buildings or are those preferences universal? Why do some people embrace nature while others are fearful? Is there a way to measure biophilic design’s effect on neurodivergent individuals? We investigate all of those questions and more with our guest Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, a renowned professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Chatterjee is at the forefront of a relatively new field called neuroaesthetics which examines the neural basis of aesthetic experiences. In other words, why do we deem certain things beautiful or pleasurable over others? Particularly with nature and biophilia, the answer may not be as clear-cut as you think. Show NotesAnjan Chatterjee, M.D.NeuroaestheticsBiophilia as Evolutionary Adaptation: An Onto- and Phylogenetic Framework for Biophilic Design (Frontiers in Psychology)Biophilia by Edward O. WilsonBuildings, Beauty and the Brain: Q&A with Anjan Chatterjee (CNS: Cognitive Neuroscience Society)What We Like About Built and Natural Spaces (Psychology Today)How Our Brains Decide What Is Beautiful (TED)Key Words: Neuroscience, Neurology, Neuroaesthetics, Neuroarchitecture, Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Brain Health, Beauty, Art History, Architecture, Aesthetics, Nature, Psychology, Science, Research, Research and DevelopmentBiophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

What if we told you that a global commercial flooring company has achieved carbon neutrality and is well on their way to net negative emissions? This week, we’re joined by Kari Pei, the Vice President of Product Design at Interface, to discuss the inspiration she finds in nature, the sustainable materials and manufacturing techniques that have made Interface a standard-bearer for environmentally friendly corporate practices, and the importance of awe. We also touch on some overlooked aspects of biophilic design, including texture and the impact that ambient noise has on our wellbeing. Interface is a commercial flooring company that specializes in carbon neutral tile and resilient flooring. Interface helps their customers create interior spaces that support wellbeing, productivity, creativity, and the health of the planet. As VP of Global Product Design, Kari Pei brings her fine art background to every aspect of the design process, drawing inspiration from nature and biophilic patterns. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2020 Manufacturer Leader HIP Award presented by Interior Design Magazine.Key Words: Biophilia, Biophilic Design, Nature, Sustainable, Corporate Responsibility, Net Zero Emissions, Carbon Negative, Awe, Product Design, Wellness Show NotesKari Pei of Interface Takes Home 2020 Manufacturer Leader HIP Award (Interior Design)Interface’s Sustainability JourneyInterface Achieves Carbon Negative Milestone with the Launch of Innovative Products to Decarbonize the Built Environment (PR Newswire)Ep. 156 Creating Happier Places with Biophilic Design (Clever Extra Podcast)Walk with Walsh at Serenbe with Kari Pei14 Patterns of Biophilic Design (Terrapin Bright Green)Awe (Terrapin Bright Green) - Coming Soon!Spotlight: I.M. Pei (ArchDaily)Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

Delve into the psychology of biophilic design, the evolutionary basis of landscape preference, and fears of natural elements like snakes. Explore social experiences in nature, the impact of climate change, and Dr. Judith Heerwagen's expertise in behavioral impacts of buildings. Unpack the importance of integrating nature into building design for human health and well-being, and the challenges of education programs in biophilic design.

This week, we’re chatting with Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, a renowned acupuncturist and practitioner of Chinese Integrative Medicine, who works with clients on everything from autoimmune support to holistic beauty. Elizabeth has received widespread acclaim for her work and has been featured in publications like Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Allure. Elizabeth’s journey to holistic medicine began early in life, but her own experience battling chronic illness led to a very personal interest in green, nontoxic beauty, household, and building materials. In this episode, we chat with Elizabeth about Helia House, the new wellness center she just launched in Miami using the strictest standards for environmental impact. Show NotesDr. Elizabeth TrattnerThe Helia HouseSick Building Syndrome (WebMD)Living Building Challenge (Living Futures)Sacred Geometry Is Literally Everywhere - Here’s Where To Look & How To Use It (MindBodyGreen)15 Green building materials for an eco-conscious home (The Zebra)Elizabeth Trattner Debuts Helia House, a Non-Toxic Healing and Wellness Oasis for Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (Well Defined)Elizabeth Trattner Uses Alternative Medicine and Gemstone Facials to Treat Patients (Allure)Could We Be Inhaling Plastic? (Coveteur)7 Ways Acupuncture Changes Your Brain, According to Science (Bustle)Key Terms: Wellness and Beauty, Green Beauty, Health and Wellness, Holistic Medicine, Alternative Medicine, Clean Beauty, Sustainable Living, Biophilia, Biophilic Design Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

This week, we’re speaking with Jared Hanely, the CEO and founder of NatureQuant, a company whose mission is to leverage technology to promote a greater connection to nature. The idea for NatureQuant came out of a multi-day ski trip with Jared’s co-founders Christopher Minson and Christopher Bailey, when they realized that the power of metrics and trackable data could encourage people to get outside and reap the benefits of time spent in nature. NatureQuant’s applications include NatureScore, which measures the quality of greenspace in a given area, and NatureDose which individuals can use to keep track of their time spent outdoors. In this episode, we talk to Jared about the exciting applications of his technology beyond individual health, the possibilities of measuring biophilic design benefits, and if he is at all worried about “app fatigue.”Show NotesNatureQuantNatureScoreNature DoseNatureQuant White Paper: Delivering Technology to Assess and Promote Nature ExposureNature is Medicine. But What’s the Right Dose? (Outside Magazine)The benefits of green exercise go far beyond physical fitness (The Globe and Mail)10 Minute Walk PledgeKey Ideas: Nature based solutions, technology and society, environmental issues, health and wellness, biophilic design Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

Have you ever felt instantly calm upon arriving at the ocean or a rural lake? Or even felt the need to dip into a hot bath after a tough day? This week on Biophilic Solutions, we’re chatting with Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, scientist, activist, and author of Blue Mind, about why we are so innately drawn to water and the neuroscience behind water’s healing properties. We’ll dive (pun intended) into the ways we might reconnect with our favorite bodies of water, the innate spiritual properties that water contains, and even why too much “blue mind” isn’t necessarily a good thing. Show NotesThe Blue Mind: How Water Makes You Happier, More Connected and Better at What You Do by Dr. Wallace J. NicholsThe Blue Mind Book ClubBook review: ‘Blue Mind,’ on the benefits of being near water, by Dr. Wallace J. Nichols (Washington Post)Our Love of Living Near Water Persists Despite the Dangers (New York Times)Applying Blue Mind to Our Ocean Conservation Mindset (Plastic Oceans)Dr. Wallace J. Nichols: Getting in touch with Blue Mind (Creative Mornings HQ)Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

This week, we’re chatting with urban designer and author Hannah S. Palmer about the second longest river in Georgia, the Flint River - a river that few Atlantans have even heard of because it’s headwaters run underneath Hartsfield Jackson, the world’s busiest airport. Hannah is the  Project Coordinator for Finding the Flint, a partnership between The Conservation Fund, American Rivers, and the Atlanta Regional Commission, whose mission is to bring this forgotten river to light, opening up spaces for public access, and connecting the wider South Atlanta community. Show NotesHannah S. PalmerFinding the FlintFlight Path: A Search for Roots Beneath the World’s Busiest Airport by Hannah S. PalmerThe River Beneath the World’s Busiest Airport by Hannah S. Palmer Wet Boundary: How the Flint River Defined Atlanta by Hannah S. PalmerNew photo show explores the hidden beauty of the Flint River in metro Atlanta by Felicia FeasterThe Lake and the Landfill: In Search of Atlanta’s Lake Charlotte by Hannah S. PalmerThe Sum of Us: How Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGheeBiophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

“Biophilia is the connection that human beings innately seek with the natural world.” - E.O. WilsonThis week on Biophilic Solutions, Monica and Jennifer speak with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Rhodes about his latest work, Scientist: E.O. Wilson: A Life in Nature. Recorded in early December, a few weeks before Wilson passed away at the age of 92, this interview delves into Wilson’s extraordinary life and contributions to the field of biology, Richard’s interest in him as a subject, and the important role that science plays in society. We also explore Wilson’s conception of biophilia and Richard’s own relationship with the natural world. Show NotesScientist: E.O. Wilson: A Life in Nature by Richard Rhodes (2021)E.O. Wilson, A Pioneer of Evolutionary Biology, Dies at 92 (New York Times)A Biography of E.O. Wilson, the Scientist Who Foresaw Our Troubles (New York Times)The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes, Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction(1987)Why They Kill: Discoveries of a Maverick Criminologist by Richard Rhodes (2000)Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers

Biophilic Solutions will be back on January 18th! Here, Monica and Jennifer check in about what they've learned over the past year and give our listeners a sneak peak of what to expect in Season 2. Biophilic Solutions is available wherever you get podcasts. Please listen, follow, and give us a five-star review. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn and learn more on our website. #NatureHasTheAnswers