A biophilic year: a look inside the creative process
Introducing my book: A Biophilic Year: 365 thoughts on the essence and practice of biophilic design.
What follows is a journey behind the scenes of A Biophilic Year, with a look into the creative process and an overview of the editorial project…
The structure: thought-provoking inspiration
Through 365 aphorisms, A Biophilic Year explores the essence of biophilic thinking, looking into its connections with sustainability, interior design and architecture, urban planning, and the way in which we see the world as a whole.
This is a book that requires engagement from the reader’s perspective. It’s not only about reading; it’s about reflecting, unveiling new ways to bring nature in designed spaces and designed spaces close to nature.
The choice of aphorisms comes from the book’s thought-provoking intent: sometimes a concise sentence is more powerful than long pages of words. The beauty of aphorisms is that reading the same words at different times often yields a different thought, and two people reading the same words could come up with different ideas. This is the strength of this book: being a guide that leaves space for imagination and interpretation, setting a direction for creative thinking to unfold.
The content: a flowing journey
The journey unfolds across 4 states:
Connection. Chapter 1 looks into the nuanced relationship between people and nature, exploring its intriguing complexity.
Perspective. Chapter 2 shifts the focus to designed spaces, looking into their impact on wellbeing as well as their role in restoring a deep and balanced relationship with the natural world.
Experience. Chapter 3 looks into biophilic design insights, translating the essence of biophilic thinking into design solutions.
Integration. Chapter 4 ventures into the realm of urban environments, looking into the potential of biophilic thinking and design in the development of better cities for people and nature.
The journey continues in a dedicated online area that extends the books’ physical pages into digital ones, providing additional insights and visual inspiration.
The graphic project: intentional simplicity
A Biophilic Year has an intentionally minimal layout, with abundant negative space mirroring the mental space for reflection the book seeks to create. The cover introduces a hint of colour – a soothing green – while drawing attention to the delicate and infinitely elegant details of a fern leaf.
A new take on display books
I believe display books shouldn’t only provide aesthetics, but also meaning to those who see them every day. A Biophilic Year seeks to be this kind of display book.
When closed, the fern leaf portrays the beauty of the natural world. Inside, every page provides a hint of inspiration. Displaying the book open on a particular page is a way to fix a thought and bring it back to mind at every glance.
