The Living Future Conference’s Journey from Humble Beginnings to Critical Hub for the Regenerative Movement

In 2007, a pivotal moment marked the inception of a transformative journey with the launch of the Living Future unConference. With a modest assembly of around 100 attendees, this event illuminated a path for those fervently committed to green building and design. It served as a rallying point for practitioners, students, and architects, united under a shared cause: Moving beyond incremental improvement in sustainable design to boldly ask “What does good look like?” and pushing the industry towards net positive performance.

Fast forward to our 18th year, and the Living Future Conference now proudly stands as the International Living Future Institute’s (ILFI) flagship event. It has metamorphosed into the preeminent gathering for regenerative design professionals, positioned at the forefront of climate action, health, and equity in the built environment. Attendees are drawn not only for the cutting-edge technical expertise embedded in the sessions but, more significantly, for the lifelong connections forged—a catalyst for transformative change in the built world.

Inspiring Voices, Bold Visions

Year after year, the Living Future Conference becomes a magnet for global leaders and visionary voices emerging from the environmental and justice movements. Past conferences have featured luminaries such as Paul Hawken, Pliny Fisk, Majora Carter, Naomi Klein, Bill McKibben, and Janine Benyus. These leaders have brought forth the critical questions, ethos, vision, and calls to action for the holistic vision of a LIving Future that encompasses climate, health, and equity for all.

The Urgency of Our Mission and Movement

We are acutely aware of the threats posed by the continued warming of our planet and the rapid degradation of our natural environment due to fossil fuel consumption. Now, more than ever, the Living Future Conference is not just relevant but essential. Fortunately, our fundamental belief remains unshaken: we hold the solution. Our goals remain as they always have been — to provide a platform for learning from this community, forging deep connections, and catalyzing bold, visionary transformations in the built environment.

The Living Future Community is unlike any other. It comprises practitioners, nonprofits, educators, developers, manufacturers, builders, architects, sustainability professionals, artists, and individuals from diverse industries. All are united by a common purpose: a deep commitment to sustainable practices and a shared vision of creating transformative and scalable impact. The Living Future Community has made excellent progress on adopting regenerative practices as seen in the increase of both registered and certified projects within Living Future building programs. We have witnessed exciting growth in materials transparency labeling through the Declare program as well as a growth in Just organizations as well. This community comes together not only for the much needed inspiration, but to take the critical action needed now.

Now drawing ~1000 attendees per year representing over 300 leading and emerging change making organizations in the regenerative movement, one fundamental theme is apparent year over year: 

Convening together to celebrate the advances in the movement and gaining new connections, inspirations, and insights to face the challenges of tomorrow is critical to sustaining and scaling the impact of the regenerative movement.

Each year, the Living Future Conference serves as a dynamic hub where key leaders, change-makers, and advocates in the regenerative movement converge. Beyond celebrating achievements, the conference becomes a forward-looking platform, anticipating future challenges. It’s a space where we not only share critical questions, new insights, and innovative tools but also engage in collaborative learning that empowers us to take impactful action from the very next Monday morning. The collective discourse fostered at the Living Future Conference serves as a wellspring of inspiration and compels us throughout the year as we continue tackling the big challenges we face at the intersection of climate, health, and equity. 

The key collective questions we are asking at LF24 are:

How are we revolutionizing climate action?

How do we design and manufacture at the nexus of human and ecological health?

What are the key issues to illuminate for designing an equitable future?

In the spirit of continuous innovation, this year’s conference introduces a new element to further elevate our critical collective discourse in the regenerative movement: FutureFlow. FutureFlow injects a burst of dynamism into the mainstage by featuring inspiring leaders in a concise presentation format that centers on delivering key messages on climate, health, and equity through compelling storytelling. As we anticipate the upcoming Living Future Conference in Atlanta in May 2024, here’s a glimpse of what we eagerly look forward to experiencing together.

FutureFlow
Biogenic Materials x Generative Justice

Mae-ling Lokko
Yale University

From plant fibers to peat, cellulose to lignin, fungi to carbon-neutral concrete– the use of a broad renewable material ecology from the field is becoming the feedstock of the 21st century materials revolution. On one hand, the design of renewable material streams are framed within today’s carbon framework as ‘substitutes’ within a hydrocarbon material economy and on the other, such materials are proposed in direct resistance to these very systems, as ‘alternatives’ to such ‘development’. Using case study biogenic materials, this talk aims to evaluate the pitfalls of historical and contemporary transformation of biogenic building materials using a “generative justice” framework.

FutureFlow
Designing for Disability Differently

Since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was established 32 years ago, thinking in the disability world has evolved. Disability is seen as natural – not merely a problem to fix, but part of the human experience, seeking greater visibility and inclusiveness. The Core Imperative 17 – Universal Access in the LBC 4.0 Standard requires buildings to only meet ADA and/or other accessibility codes. The session, targeted to architects and designers, advocates the need for the LBC to incentivize design thinking and provisions that go much beyond merely meeting accessibility codes, and are integral to the design process, from inception.

Ganesh Nayak
Metier Consulting, Inc

FutureFlow
Accelerating Low-Carbon Procurement

Josh Jacobs
WAP Sustainability

How do you make sure that low-carbon material procurement becomes a priority…you write it into laws and spend money. Buy Clean laws and the Inflation Reduction Act were historic in many respects, but they have electrified the low carbon procurement conversation to another level even beyond the pace that it was progressing. Writing something into law is simply the first step though…what happened after the laws were written and how does the low carbon procurement work going forward.

FutureFlow
How Biophilic-Driven Development Shifts Community Wellness

How has Serenbe’s founding pillar, biophilic-driven development, impacted the community’s overall wellness from childhood to later in life stages? Given the current climate of the economy, political affairs, the actual climate crisis, stress is at an all-time high & mental health is at an all-time low. Session attendees learn how biophilic-wellness communities, like Serenbe, are affecting their residents’ overall wellbeing. Steve takes attendees through Serenbe’s Biophilic principles – personal well being, community engagement, national security, and global balance, & showcase how this intentionally designed community & a biophilic approach boosts mental & physical wellness.

Steve Nygren
Serenbe

FutureFlow
Is Climate Action a Human Perception Problem?

Upali Nanda
HKS Architects

Let’s start here- I am not a sustainability professional. I am, however, a student of human perception and believe our challenges are foundational because of the way humans think, feel and act. I am often exhausted by how hard it can be to corral around the critical issues of our time. I argue that three things are at play: 1) Ability to truly understand climate change- psychologists have explained why building empathy for the planet can be hard. 2) Ability to build trust with people who may have divergent view points, and 3) Disciplinary arrogance which results in exclusive language and polarization. This session will unpack these issues anchored on the art and science of being human.

FutureFlow
Impact Beyond the Property Line

The green and healthy building industry suffers from a last mile problem. Regulations, financing, and best practice toolkits all orient our efforts firmly within the property line. Meanwhile, we know that all of our actions contribute to larger systems – such as the urban heat island, the flood plain, regional air pollution, transportation options, economic opportunities, and structures that perpetuate historic segregation and redlining. This FutureFlow talk will demonstrate how you can use co-benefit design to bridge that gap. When you reorient your practice outside of the property line, new possibilities open up for making tangible contributions to neighborhood climate, health, and equity.

Adele Houghton
Biositu, LLC

FutureFlow
Unlocking Abundance with Methods to Discuss a Regenerative Future

James Kitchin
MASS Design Group

The world we live in has been fabricated on a zero-sum economic system centered around fossil fuels that prioritizes never-ending growth over the health of people and the planet. We have been made to believe that we never have enough and that we need to consume more, a scarcity mindset, when, in reality, we’re surrounded by abundance. This session is for thought leaders that want to demonstrate how the future we’re creating together, through our practices and built environment, is more abundant than the one we’re leaving behind.

FutureFlow
Your Voice & Our Common Future

This community is designing the future. How we communicate about what we do (making places, policy, and organizations) and what we are working towards(a common living future) is as important as the work itself. It is our role to help people see, understand, engage in, and value this work in ways that invites them to join as fellow advocates. Without cohesive communication, we will not have opportunities to manifest the results of our vision. But conveying information can be fraught: contemporary communications ecosystems are noisy and fragmented, hyperbole and signaling are rampant, and many actors are stoking chaos and confusion. Kira will share key concepts about communication that can help those working towards a living future be clear, be heard, and be powerful. This includes defining terms and articulating value authentically for multiple stakeholders.

Kira Gould
Kira Gould CONNECT

As we look ahead to this journey of FutureFlow talks, our anticipation is fueled by the knowledge that these sessions will not only inform but inspire action. The Living Future Conference, through initiatives like FutureFlow, remains a testament to the power of collective discourse and collaboration. It is a space where questions become catalysts for change, and ideas transform into actions that shape a regenerative future for all. Together, let us continue to evolve, learn, and create a world where Living Buildings and regenerative development redefine the very fabric of our built environment. Change starts here, and the journey is bound to be transformative.

In the dynamic realm of regenerative design, products, and organizations, the Living Future 2024 Conference (LF24) emerges as a paramount gathering for experienced and emerging leaders. Themed “Change Starts Here,” LF24 serves as an immersive exploration into the interconnected principles of the regenerative movement—climate, health, and equity. In this article, we delve into the profound significance of these principles, examining regenerative practices at various levels, scrutinizing the conference tracks aligned with regenerative ideals, and offering a sneak peek into the remarkable speakers and talks that will shape the discourse.

Climate, Health, and Equity: The Interconnected Pillars of Regenerative Principles

At the heart of the regenerative movement lie three interconnected pillars: climate resilience, human health, and social equity. At the International Living Future Institute, we believe this holistic approach is critical to achieving a regenerative future.

Climate Resilience

Regenerative design recognizes the urgency of climate action goes beyond mere sustainability, aiming to actively regenerate ecosystems and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Human and Ecological Health

Regenerative practices extend beyond minimizing harm; they actively promote well-being, not just for building occupants but also for the local ecology.

Social Equity

True sustainability cannot exist without social equity. The regenerative movement emphasizes inclusivity, justice, and community resilience.

We will explore the intersection of these pillars of regenerative development at LF24 as the programming seeks to intertwine these principles with its overarching theme, acknowledging that true sustainability transcends environmental considerations alone.

Exploring the Vanguard Issues of the Regenerative Principles through LF24 Conference Tracks

LF24 boasts a diverse range of conference tracks, each aligned with the three core regenerative principles. These tracks provide a structured framework for attendees to explore specialized areas within the regenerative movement:

LF24 Track: Revolutionizing Climate Action

Explore game-changing net positive strategies, groundbreaking technologies, and bold policies aimed at tackling climate change within the realm of regenerative development. Gain insights into how zero carbon buildings, renewable energy integration, climate resilience solutions, and circular economy practices are actively shaping a regenerative future.

LF24 Track: The Nexus of Human and Ecological Health

Discover the transformative potential of designing spaces that support human health and enhance the vitality of ecosystems. Delve into the profound connections between regenerative development and the well-being of both people and the planet. 

LF24 Track: Illuminating an Equitable Future

Prepare to challenge the status quo and redefine what it means to build inclusive, just, and equitable communities. Engage in dynamic sessions spotlighting affordable housing breakthroughs, community-driven engagement models, visionary approaches to equitable access and empowerment, and economic opportunities arising from regenerative development.

LF24 Track: Change Starts Here

This conference track delves deep into the core theme of the conference, offering a focused exploration of central ideas, concepts, and challenges related to the event. Get immersed in stories of success that become beacons, radiating positive influence and inspiring transformative action beyond boundaries.

Discovering Living Future Programs & Projects

Discover ILFI programs and how they catalyze the regenerative design movement and offer key tools, as well as hear from project case studies. This track provides an opportunity to connect with ILFI leadership and gain key updates and information on Living Future programs. 

A Call to Leadership in Regenerative Practices to Come Together at LF24

As experienced and emerging leaders within regenerative design, products, and organizations, LF24 provides the community for the critical exploration of climate, health, and equity that aligns seamlessly with the interconnected principles of the regenerative movement. It offers a multifaceted examination of regenerative practices at various levels and provides a structured framework through its diverse conference tracks.

The speakers and talks at LF24 promise to be a source of inspiration, offering valuable insights and practical knowledge to fuel our journey toward regenerative futures. As we collectively engage in this deep dive into regenerative principles, let us seize the opportunity to shape the discourse, share our experiences, and contribute to the regenerative movement’s momentum. “Change Starts Here,” and within the immersive landscape of LF24, leaders in regenerative practices are poised to be architects of that change.

At the vanguard of transformative change, architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals, regenerative enterprise leaders, and product manufacturers find themselves positioned at the intersection of innovation and sustainability. The Living Future 2024 Conference (LF24), themed “Change Starts Here,” stands as the International Living Future Institute’s annual flagship event and a platform to explore the leading issues facing the regenerative community today.

Serving as a dynamic platform that transcends conventional business boundaries, LF24 is uniquely poised to offer a critical space for exploration and dialogue on the key priorities of the regenerative movement. This annual event is more than a conference—it is a catalyst, fostering conversations that delve into the profound significance of both individual and collective actions in propelling positive change within the built environment and beyond. Now more than ever, exploring the outsize impact that one project, one product, or one organization can have on the greater industry is critical to scaling the adoption of regenerative practices and addressing the converging issues of climate, health, and equity.

The theme, “Change Starts Here,” encapsulates a vision that transcends passive sustainability and aims for regenerative practices that actively contribute to ecological restoration. We have seen Living Buildings used as teaching tools, mechanisms for advocacy, and paradigm-shifting design experiences. These buildings, products, and organizations signify a departure from the status quo and beckons professionals to be architects of positive change within their respective spheres.

As the community celebrates wins, we also continue to grapple with key challenges and opportunities such as materials vetting, carbon accounting, occupant health, nature-positive solutions, and more. The conference promises an immersive experience for exploring these questions in community—featuring an array of sessions, workshops, and discussions that delve into regenerative design, sustainable business practices, and innovative product solutions. It is an opportunity for AEC professionals, regenerative enterprise leaders, and innovative product manufacturers to converge, collaborate, and chart the course toward a regenerative future.

Experiencing the Kendeda Building as a Living Example

One of the stars of LF24 exemplifying the theme of “Change Starts Here” will be the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, the first Living Building in Georgia and the 28th Living Building worldwide. The twin goals of The Kendeda Foundation and Georgia Tech, when creating the Kendeda Building, were to lead by example through demonstrating that a building can foster regenerative systems in a mixed climate and to amplify the impact by inspiring change on the Georgia Tech campus, across the Southeast building industry, and the world. Individuals involved in the construction of the Kendeda Building made deliberate choices in materials sourcing, energy systems, and water management. These choices, when aligned with a collective vision, resulted in a structure that not only minimizes its environmental impact but actively contributes to ecosystem regeneration.

The Kendeda Building stands as an inspiration for professionals attending LF24, demonstrating the tangible outcomes of integrating regenerative principles into the built environment. LF24 attendees will spend time at the Kendeda Building, and the partners that participated in this project will be at LF24 to talk about their experiences and the lessons learned during the design and construction of the Kendeda Building.

The theme “Change Starts Here” underscores the profound impact of both individual and collective actions on driving positive change. The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design serves as an exemplary case and is a living testament to the transformative power of conscious decision-making and collaborative efforts.

Acting Like a Movement to Scale Change

At LF23, ILFI’s CEO Lindsay Baker called on the community to start acting like a movement as a way to organize, advocate, and scale up impact on the industry. At LF24, this regenerative movement continues to emerge and gain momentum as a critical force propelling sustainable transformation beyond conventional practices. Unlike traditional sustainability, which often focuses on reducing harm, regenerative approaches seek to restore, rejuvenate, and revitalize ecosystems affected by human activities. This movement calls for a paradigm shift in how we conceive and execute projects, emphasizing holistic, interconnected solutions that consider environmental, social, and economic dimensions.

AEC professionals, regenerative enterprise leaders, and innovative product manufacturers have a unique role to play in advancing the regenerative movement. By adopting regenerative principles, they contribute not only to the resilience of ecosystems but also to the well-being of communities and the longevity of their enterprises. The Living Future 2024 Conference serves as a platform to deepen understanding and explore practical applications of regenerative thinking.

At LF24 we will gather together to brainstorm new ideas, learn from one another and to be inspired.  We will discuss the hard things and share the great ideas that will move us all forward – new ideas in materials and reuse, design strategies and project management methods.  It is a time to build your personal community and your professional network. Attendees will have the opportunity to dive into the details of the Living Building Challenge, the Living Future Accreditation program and the Declare & Just Transparency Labels. 

Embracing the Imperative of Change

As we approach the Living Future 2024 Conference, the theme “Change Starts Here” resounds as a call for this regenerative movement. It is an invitation to be at the vanguard of the movement, to embrace regenerative principles, and to actively contribute to the creation of a built environment that regenerates rather than depletes.

The Kendeda Building stands as a living example of what is possible when individual actions align with a collective vision. The Living Future 2024 Conference provides a platform for professionals to delve into regenerative practices, collaborate on innovative solutions, and explore cutting-edge products that pave the way toward a regenerative future.

For AEC professionals, regenerative enterprise leaders, and innovative product manufacturers, LF24 is not just a conference; it is a convergence of minds, a catalyst for change, and an opportunity to be part of a movement that redefines the relationship between humanity and the environment. “Change Starts Here,” and the journey toward a regenerative future begins with the active engagement of each professional within these influential communities.

UPDATE: The 2023 winners of the 2023 Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award have been announced! They are the Marion Fire Station in Marion, Iowa and the De Verwondering school in the Netherlands. Watch the award announcement here.

De Verwondering

Primary School Facility | Almere, Netherlands

As the first of a new generation of biophilic school buildings in the Netherlands, the team had a clear aim of reconnecting the school’s pupils with nature. Nature wasn’t simply the theme for visual design, it was the core principle behind the design: the school is nature.

Learn more.

Marion Fire Station

Civic Facility | Marion, Iowa, USA

The design of this project responded to a challenge from the fire chief to design a station that would be a national benchmark for how biophilic design can reduce PTSD in firefighters. The team implemented a range of biophilic design strategies to support firefighters’ physical and mental health. 

Learn more.

2023 Finalists

Eleven projects have been selected as finalists for the 2023 Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award. Since 2017, the award has recognized achievements in the built environment—including buildings, interiors, and communities—that demonstrate the principles and benefits of biophilic design.

The 2023 award recipient(s) will be announced at the Living Future 2023 Conference May 3-5, 2023 in Washington DC. Want to be there when the winner is announced? Register for LF23 today!

Beirut’s RiverLESS Forest

Community Project | Beirut, Lebanon

Recognizing that we too are part of nature, the aim of Beirut’s RiverLESS Forest is to restore a native ecosystem, designed as a new form of habitat that counters the idea that ‘city’ and ‘nature’ are mutually exclusive.

Learn more.

Darling Home for Kids

Children’s Hospice Facility | Milton, Ontario, Canada

Believing in EO Wilson’s concept of biophilia as human’s innate need to connect with the natural world, the team saw this site as a unique opportunity for children, whose short lives had been spent mostly indoors and in hospital settings, to unite with nature.

Learn more.

Google Bay View Campus

Commercial Office Building | Mountain View, California, USA

Google’s goal was to create a new kind of workplace that supports the local community and is a part of the natural environment, something that’s highly flexible and can adapt to the changing needs of business. The project will enable the creation of vibrant habitats informed by the deep connections between people and nature.

Learn more.

Microsoft Silicon Valley Campus

Commerical Office Building | Mountain View, California, USA

Microsoft’s renovated campus is an ecologically-integrated site that uses nature as a building block to be healthier for its workers and the surrounding environment. The people-centric redesign transforms a concrete corporate complex into a mesh of natural and built environments that feel more like a wildlife preserve than an office park.

One Innovale

High Rise Residential | Hong Kong

A complex of residential towers address the health and well-being of its residents. The project is surrounded by natural habitats to emphasize healthy living and biodiversity while blending nature-inspired and technology-infused innovations to connect residents with nature.

Learn more.

Playa Viva Bamboo Tree Houses

Hospitality | Juluchuca, Guerrero, Mexico

United by a shared commitment to regenerative development and a passion for natural building, the team was inspired by the flattened, prismatic bodies of the Mobula Rays that migrate past the site when designing six bamboo tree houses offering guests a deep connection with nature.

Learn more.

Quinnipiac University Health and Wellness Center

Higher Education Facility | Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Through its design, Quinnipiac Health and Wellness Center is an ode to the local landscape. Embracing biophilia posited a powerful proposal for the team: that the architecture of the building itself— not just the clinical and recreational services it hosts— could positively impact mental and physical wellness.

Learn more.

SERA Headquarters

Office Interior Renovation | Portland, Oregon, USA

Drawing inspiration from Portland’s crowning jewel, the 5,200-acre Forest Park located just five miles away, the SERA design team created an experience that mimics a hike through Oregon’s lush trees.

Learn more.

Bundanon Art Museum & Bridge |

Public Museum | Illaroo, NSW
Australia

Bundanon occupies the land of the Yuin peoples. For millennia, it has been shaped by fire and flood. The design of its new buildings, landscapes and infrastructure for expanded education and art programs is necessarily driven by resilience, resistance and ecological repair, supported by indigenous practices of land management. Learn more.

The award applications are judged by a panel of biophilic design experts and experienced professionals. In 2023, the award was chaired by Erin Rovalo, Ph.D. alongside 2023 jurors Rita Trombin, Carlo Battisti, Oliver Heath, Mary Davidge, Tim Beatley, J.D. Brown, and Laura Hamilton-O’Hara. 

Thank you to our 2023 partners that have helped expand the award and further promote the adoption of biophilic design! Please visit their websites to learn more about the category awards, including finalists and winners as they are announced.

Thank you to our sponsors

Bruner/Cott – Glumac

Since 2017, the Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award has honored the legacy of the late Stephen R. Kellert, whose work and passion for biophilic design helped surface the critical connections between the biophilia hypothesis and the built environment. Over the past five years, award recipients and finalists have become an exemplary collection of interiors, buildings, and communities that have inspired the regenerative design community.

These exemplars show what is possible when we design with nature, and what good can really look like. By recognizing these projects, the award helps to carry forward Kellert’s call to action for biophilic design as a birthright of all people, everywhere.These buildings couldn’t exist anywhere else; they are unique to their place. We hope these projects inspire teams to always ask the question: How might we connect with nature here?

This year, the jury selected four finalists, with the award recipient results to be announced at the Living Future Conference 2022. The 2022 Stephen R. Kellert Award Finalists are:

Sonoma Academy

• Location | Santa Rosa, CA USA
• Owner | Sonoma Academy
• Architect | WRNS Studio
• Engineer | Interface Engineering
• Landscape | RHAA Landscape Architects
• Civil | Sherwood Design Engineers
• Structural | Mar Structural Design
• Green Roof | Rana Creek

Focused on connecting students to nature by creating a sense of place that optimizes physical and psychological wellbeing, the project used the 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design, with special emphasis on environmental features, light and space, place-based relationships, evolved human-nature relationships, and natural shapes and forms.

Sited at the base of Taylor Mountain with panoramas of Sonoma Valley, this Y-shaped building stretches to the horizon and integrates back into the land. Designed around a series of outdoor experiences, two sweeping floors sheathed with an operable, transparent skin, and a lattice of wooden slats, blur the lines between indoors and out. At the project’s heart is a central courtyard that invites students to wander in and out. Visible from both levels, the quad is connected by meandering pathways, smaller gardens that flow around terraced learning environments, a living roof, and cascading planters that capture and filter stormwater for reuse.

Inside, comfortable, flexible learning environments are sunlit, take advantage of mountain breezes, and are constructed with locally-resourced materials. Every aspect of the project is an opportunity to advance better understanding of the region and educate the broader community on becoming stronger stewards of our earth.

JR Kumamoto Railway Station Building

• Location | Kumamoto, Japan
• Owner | Kyushu Railway Company
• Architect | Nikken Sekkei Ltd.
• Interior | Nomura Co., Ltd.
• Landscape | Nikken Sekkei Ltd

This project is a commercial complex located in front of Kumamoto Station, the gateway to Kumamoto. The development includes retail, hotels, offices and residences. This project, as a key facility to development around the Kumamoto station core, is intended to be a symbol of recovery from the large-scale earthquake that hit Kumamoto in 2016, and to bring in new energy and vitality to the area. The centerpiece of the commercial facility is a “vertical landscape of water and greenery” that symbolizes the nature of Kumamoto.

The challenge in introducing biophilic design into the heart of a city is to create a design that allows people to enjoy a very real experience with nature while moving about their busy lives traveling, shopping, working or just being in the city. To overcome this challenge, the biophilic elements in this project were designed in a way that is an honest representation of the natural environment of their native location, the Aso region of Japan, and to be placed up close and personal, so that people can get the natural health benefits both consciously and unconsciously.

Blakely Elementary School

• Location | Bainbridge Island, WA USA
• Owner | Bainbridge Island School District
• Architect | Mithun
• Engineer | Arup
• Structural | PCS Structural Solutions

On an island close to Seattle, Bainbridge Island School District sought to replace an austere 1960s building with a new K-4 elementary school that would support innovative learning with a connection to nature, the island geology and their community. The site is surrounded on three sides by the forested lands of an environmental learning center and is bisected by a 14-foot grade change. Construction phasing required that the new structure span this hill, inspiring a design that celebrates the forest and climbs up the ridge. The multi-layered biophilic design and landscape response is unique in the public school context.

Located on the ancestral lands of the Suquamish Tribe, the glacially carved property is close to the site of the historic Port Blakely Lumber Mill and the rural south end of Bainbridge Island. Biophilic elements include place based relationships, environmental features such as water and vegetation, creative use of light and space, and natural shapes and forms featured in abundance throughout the experience of the space.

Oregon Zoo Education Center

• Location | Portland, OR USA
• Owner | Metro
• Architect | Opsis Architecture
• Engineer | Catena Consulting Engineers
• Engineer | PAE
• Landscape | Jones & Jones

With more than 1.7 million visitors per year, the Oregon Zoo Education Center has a profound influence on community conversations about our impact on the natural world. The project’s goal was to connect those visiting the zoo to the natural world around them; nature that many pass, by but never engage with. Through collaborative workshops with more than 20 community partners (institutions, governments and non-profits), the theme of ‘Small Things Matter’ emerged to emphasize the role we all play in achieving sustainability and resilience–both in the smallest parts of our ecosystem and the smallest actions we as humans take every day.

The building hugs the central plaza, and learning landscapes exist throughout. Inspired by the unique spiral patterns prevalent in natural systems, two curved roofs welcome visitors to the plaza. The spiral shape is one of the unique forms of nature that beautifully describes growth- the basis of all life. Sustainable elements, including solar panels, native plants, bird-safe windows, and rain gardens, are designed to educate the public. The Center has earned LEED Platinum certification and an AIA COTE Top 10 award.

Ready to learn more about biophilic design? Explore ILFI’s online courses on biophilic design.

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