STATE CANCER INSTITUTE AT AMRITSAR

BIOPHILLIC DESIGN PRINCIPLES 6.0 DESIGN CRITERIA

6.1 BIOPHILLIC DESIGN APPROACH

 Biophilic design can reduce stress, improve cognitive function and creativity, improve
our well-being and expedite healing; as the world population continues to urbanize,
these qualities are ever more important.
 biophilic design – is essential for providing people opportunities to live and work in
healthy places and spaces with less stress and greater overall health and well-being

6.2 CONTEXT TO SITE

In accordance to site at Amritsar following principles for biophillic design can be applied :

6.3 CONNECTION WITH NATURE

 Prioritize real nature over simulated nature; and simulated nature over no nature.
 Design spatial layouts and furnishings to uphold desired view lines and avoid impeding
the visual access when in a seated position.
 Visual connections to even small instances of nature can be restorative, and
particularly relevant for temporary interventions, or spaces where real estate
(floor/ground area, wall space) is limited.
 The benefits of viewing real nature may be attenuated by a digital medium, which
may be of greatest value to spaces that, due to the nature of its function (e.g., hospital
radiation units), cannot easily incorporate real nature or views to the outdoors.
 Prioritize nature sounds over urban sounds.
 The proposed project aims to maintain a strong and constant connect with nature in
any possible manner. This connection can be achieved in multiple ways ranging from
simple window views to physical presence.
 The planning of a building should involve consideration of acoustical impacts to
achieve a productive environment. Acoustical separation of activity zones from
zones requiring peace and quiet should be considered.
 More emphasis will be laid on pedestrian circulation than vehicular movement thus
 FIG1- FAMSWORTH HOURSE vehicular movement will be restricted to service areas and public areas while Maggie
 SOURCE- REHUMANIZING HEALTH CARE BY MANUSHI JAIN centre and institute block would be pedestrianized.

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THERMAL AND AIRFLOW VARIABILITY – CLIMATIC AND ECONOMIC RESPONSE

 Incorporation of airflow and thermal conditions into materials, daylighting, mechanical ventilation
and/or fenestration will help distribute variability over space and time.
 Thermal comfort is a vital bridging component between biophilic design and sustainable design,
especially in the face of climate change and rising energy costs. When Thermal & Airflow
Variability is implemented in a way that broadens people’s perception of thermal comfort, it may
also help reduce energy demands for air conditioning and heating.
 Designing in features that allow users to easily adapt and modify their perceived thermal
conditions of their environment will increase the range of acceptable temperatures by two
degrees Celsius above and below the conventional parameters for thermal comfort.
 FIG 2– MASSING TO CONTROL PASSIVE HEAT GAIN AND ADEQUATE
 Coordination of design strategies among a project team (e.g., architect, lighting designer and
PROJECTION TO SHADE WINDOWS MEP engineers) as early as the schematic design process will be particularly important for
achieving design intent.
 Use of shading devices to minimize heat isolation.
 Thermal insulation on west facing walls to minimize air-conditioning costs.
 North-South axis should be kept open in the building to allow for flow of the air through the
building.
 Extensive use of site features to minimize environmental features.
 Adequate projection to shade window openings.
 Massing is an effective tool to control air conditioning expenses by controlling passive heat gain.

PRESENCE OF WATER- PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE

 FIG 3– DOUBLE HEIGHT FOR STACK EFFECT AND CROSS
VENTILATION THROUGH STRUCTURE.
 Prioritize a multi-sensory water experience to achieve the most beneficial outcome.
 Prioritize naturally fluctuating water movement over predictable movement or stagnancy.
 Water features can be water and energy intensive and as such should be used sparingly,
particularly in climates with little access to water. Shading the water, using high albedo surfaces,
and minimizing the exposed water surface area will minimize water loss through evaporation, and
possibly contribute to the biophilic experience.
 Dynamic lighting conditions can help transition between indoor and outdoor spaces.
 Drastically dynamic lighting conditions, such as with sustained movement, changing colors, direct
 FIG 4– KEEPING CORRIDORS TOWARDS OUTSIDE ALLOW
EASY VENTILATION AND DISTRESSING MECHANISM FOR sunlight penetration and high contrasts, may not be appropriate for spaces where directed
THE USERS. attention activities are performed.

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BIO MORPHIC DESIGN FORMS AND PATTERNS

 Apply on 2 or 3 planes or dimensions (e.g., floor plane and wall; furniture windows and
soffits) for greater diversity and frequency of exposure.
 Avoid the overuse of forms and patterns that may lead to visual toxicity.
 More comprehensive interventions will be more cost effective when they are
introduced early in the design process.

DOMESTIC SCALE – BUILDING FORM

 FIG 5- PENDA TOWERS, GOLDEN HOLIDAY HOTEL
AT VIETNAM
 SOURCE- REHUMANIZING HEALTH CARE
 the design feature attempts to avoid mass gatherings where the user would feel
unimportant as one among hundreds, due to size of gathering. However , at the
same time , it is essential to maintain communal activities on smaller scale.
 The design of healing environments will accommodate variations of private and
semi – private spaces to enable the user to retreat into a private space or enter a
social zone wherever he wishes to.
 Through the proposed project is a high density housing facility , it aims to achieve a
domestic scale within its internal spaces in an attempt to enable the users to
connect with them.
 in spite of this verticality , the project aims to maintain a domestic scale ,
connection with nature and home – like environment.

 FIG6– FUTURE EXPANSION AREAS PROVIDED WITH LARGE COLUMN

NATURE -MATERIAL CONNECTION
SPACES FOR FUTURE REQUIREMENTS
 Quantities of a (natural) material and color should be specified based on intended
function of the space (e.g., to restore versus stimulate). In the same vein, a degree
of variability of materials and applications is recommended over high ratios of any
one material or color.
 Real materials are preferred over synthetic variations because human receptors
can tell the difference between real and synthetic, so minimally processed
materials from real nature are preferred whenever possible.

 FIG 8– EXTENSIVE USE OF SITE FEATURES TO MINIMIZE ENVIORNEMNTAL

IMPACT

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FORM COMPLEXITY & ORDER – ORIENTATION AND ZONING RESPONSE
 FIG 7– STATIC ELEMENT SUCH AS T.V REPLACED BY ART FORMS TO
INVOKE EMOTIONS
 FIG 8– WASTE WATER MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
NEED FOR SUSTAINABILITY – ENVIORNMENTAL RESPONSE
 FIG 9– URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
 Multi courtyard typology to ensure each block is connected with the exterior.
 Courtyard within each block will be there in design.
 Furthermore , courtyard can be utilized as place for promoting natural healing by
placing components of nature within building footprint
 Prioritize artwork and material selection, architectural expressions, and landscape
and master planning schemes that reveal fractal geometries and hierarchies.
 Fractal structures with iterations of three will be more impactful than a design
limited to two iterations.
 Over-use of and/or extended exposure to high-fractal dimensions could instill
discomfort or even fear, countering the intended response: to nourish and reduce
stress. Avoidance or under-utilization of fractals in design could result in complete
predictability and disinterest.
 A new building or landscape design should take into account its impact on the
fractal quality of the existing urban skyline.
 Orienting building, fenestration, corridors and workstations will help optimize visual
access to indoor or outdoor vistas, activity hubs or destinations.
 Locating stairwells at building perimeter with glass façade and interior glass
stairwell walls can form a dual Prospect condition.
 When high ceilings are present, perimeter or interior spaces elevated 12-18" will
enhance the Prospect condition.
 Water management systems might be incorporated to assure a continuous
supply of water without wastage.
 U s e o f p a s s i v e d e s i g n s t r a t e g i e s t o ensure natural lighting and
ventilation can reduce power consumption.
 Use of urban water management system.
 Use of waste water management system
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