A Nature-Based Approach to Enhance Children’s Landscapes.

Could Nature-based design be the bridge between sustainability and children’s social inclusion? A direct and indirect connection with nature and natural ecosystems is essential for appropriate human development, growth, and general well-being. Different theories emphasize the significance of Biophilia (innate bond with nature) in the early stages of life, as well as Biophilic design in Children’s urban landscapes and the power of playing spaces that reinforce their affinity with the natural environment, their sensory exploration, and the capacity of increasing social interaction. According to the research presented here, children are constrained to indoor environments with a reduced amount of natural resources. Their integration within the city is traditionally merged in adult-centered places where their inherent needs are hardly satisfied. Furthermore, the design of their urban landscapes does not necessarily connect them with nature and limits their ability to learn by using their sensory and natural curiosity. In contrast, an understanding of the city from the perspective of children enables the comprehension of their requirements. By meeting those necessities, also the rest of the inhabitants' needs could be fulfilled, which helps to solve several city issues. Moreover, with the incorporation of biophilic design principles, which stimulate the human senses and take a human-centered approach, caring of ecological sustainability, spaces become more inclusive, healthy, and comfortable. The proposal presented in this thesis is constituted by the conceptual and architectonic design of a biophilic child-friendly library. The project aims to reevaluate these facilities in the technological era and rethink them as free learning spaces that foster creativity, participation, discovery, and refuge, tailored to children's immediate needs. Starting with the analysis of the potential users and considering their age, motor skills, problem-solving abilities, social interactions, and communication capabilities. Moreover, by analyzing the state-of-the-art, and with the study of different models and biophilic solutions, detailing their relevance to biophilic attributes, the target human-nature relationship, the senses they activate, and the associated health benefits; it is presented different ways to integrate the biophilic design elements, and how to adapt them to the activities of interest. In this way, children’s urban landscapes, as libraries, will encourage the bond with nature, a sensory experience through various stimuli, and the space created will be sustainable, accessible and will promote social inclusion. This thesis could be the base for further projects that aim to incorporate biophilic design into urban landscapes focused on children benefiting children’s connection with nature, sensory exploration, their social interactions, and their general well-being, while also addressing environmental sustainability.