Biophilic cities and health
Sarah Milliken, Benz Kotzen, Sonali Walimbe, Christopher Coutts, Timothy Beatley
Abstract
Biophilic cities aim to promote connection between humans and nature, and there is growing evidence that this connection benefits our health and well-being. The design of biophilic cities operates at various scales, from city-regions down to individual buildings. This special issue brings together contributions from different disciplines – urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, environmental and design psychology, and public health – in order to present inspiring and innovative approaches that are transferable to cities around the world. This editorial sets these articles within the context of an overview of the health and well-being benefits of urban nature, and concludes with some suggestions for advancing the biophilic cities agenda.