Assessment of Importance and Characteristics of

Biophilic Design Patterns in a Children’s Library

Link:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324051725_Assessment_of_Importance_and_Characteristics_of_Biophilic_Design_Patterns_in_
a_Children's_Library

 Aim of the study :

To suggest a space design method for children’s libraries, applying several natural
elements based on biophilic design patterns.

 Research Question :
How to find a solution to link between systematic applications of natural elements and
children’s libraries?

 Hypothesis :
Nature has a positive impacts in children’s growth and development also it effects
their mental and physical health well.

 Research structure :

1. Methodology :
o The elements that have been included in patterns of biophilic design in
previous studies were summarized.
o The characteristics of biophilic design patterns in children’s libraries
were analyzed through case studies.
o A questionnaire survey from 261 caregivers of children’s libraries was
done to determine the most important pattern of biophilic design in
libraries.
o The data was collected and analyzed by frequency, average, and factor
analysis using SPSS.

2. Literature review :
o Biophilic design patters were divided to 3 main patterns which divided to
9 secondary patterns :
1- Nature in Space
- Visual Connection with Nature
- Non-Visual Connection with Nature
- Dynamic & Diffuse Light
- Connection with Natural Systems

2- Production of Nature
- Biomorphic Forms & Patterns
- Material Connection with Nature
- Complexity & Order
 3- Charactaristics of the space
-Prospect
-Refuge

3. Analysis Criteria :
o Case study of the Biophilic Design of Children’s Libraries in 20 selected
children’s libraries in different locations and have different areas “ from
1400m2 to 29,240m2’’ and were built in different periods.

o The case study show the characteristics of the biophilic design patterns in
these different children’s libraries.

o This study created a survey tool consists of 33 questionnaire of 9 patterns

including photographs of cases shown to help the respondents understand
the questionnaire.

o The survey was done in the children’s reading room of the public library
and 261 respondents was surveyed divided into “82.4% female 17.6%
Male’’ and their ages from 20 years old and above.

o The Survey results show that:

- 58.2% of children visit library twice a week.

- The importance of direct experiences of nature such as light, plants, and

water through the openness of the library in architectural applications of
biophilic design.

-The Top 5 most important avarage of biophilic design patterns was:

1-Provision of an environment for easy viewing
2-Visual connection with nature
3-Connecting with ecosystems
4-Dynamic light in the environment
5-Provision of natural materials

- The Top Priority characteristic items:

1- ‘Space design that facilitates visual connection with nature in a learning space with a long
stay time’
2- ‘Children’s reading room, education room, study room are alopen and observable spaces’
3- ‘Environment where visitors can receive forms of various sensory information from nature,
by the composition of a resting space in the natural center space’
4- ‘A space where the children’s reading room can be observed through a large open space
in the upper and lower layers’
5- ‘Visual connection with nature by organizing the upper and lower floors of
the library study/reading space as a large-scale open space’
6- ‘Space structure that allows for theobservation of outer space and each floor through
large open space’
7- ‘Natural lighting environment was reflected in the dynamic lighting environment, including
the intensive learning space and lobby’
 o According to the previous survey results, study was done to analysis the
factor that was conducted based on the importance evaluation results in
order to identify the characteristics of the children’s libraries based on
biophilic design.

o As a result of the factor analysis, factors were classified into five

categories From the most important :
1- ‘Design a Learning Space that Can Experience Nature’
2- ‘Open Space Design that Allows for Easy Observation, Viewing, and Monitoring’ 3-‘Space Design
to Support Multiple Functions’
4- ‘Interesting Space Design using Natural Elements’
5- Design Capable of Providing for Various Sensory Information Experiences’

o The study results show that demonstrate that we should construct various
learning spaces through the use of various factors of nature such as
natural light, from an ecosystem point of view.

4. Findings and conclusion :

o First, children’s libraries need to offer an experience of nature,
considering a natural ecosystem.
o Second, children’s libraries need natural shelter space designs and open
space designs based on natural elements.
o Third, children’s libraries need multi-functional space designs that enable
reading, rest, gathering, play, performance, and facilitate children of
various ages interacting with each other.
o Fourth, children’s libraries need space designs that can induce interest
and experiences by various forms of sensory information created by
natural elements.