In the concrete jungle of modern urban living, we've lost something fundamental: our connection to the natural world. But Biophilic Design is offering a lifeline, promising to transform our cities from sterile, energy-hungry environments into vibrant, living ecosystems that nurture both human health and planetary well-being.
We speak with Luke Engleback, who has over 40 years' experience as a designer at all scales. We talk about biophilic design, ecourbanism, biodiversity, climate change adaptation and health. Luke is a board member and former chair of the Landscape Foundation. He also sits on the Landscape Institute Policy and Public Affairs Committee, and the Midlands Design Panel, the Cambridge Quality Panel and the South Downs National Park. For Luke Biophilic Design isn't just another architectural trend. It's a radical reimagining of how we live, work, and interact with our surroundings. At its heart lies a simple yet profound understanding: we are not separate from nature, but intrinsically part of it.
Recent groundbreaking research provides compelling evidence of nature's transformative power. In Finland, a remarkable study revealed the profound impact of natural environments on children's health. Two daycare centres became an unexpected laboratory of discovery. One centre introduced forest soil and leaf litter into its play area, allowing children to get delightfully messy. The results were astonishing. Children in this natural setting developed more diverse microbiomes and, crucially, had fewer harmful pathogens compared to their peers in clinically clean environments.
The Triangle, Swindon - Kevin McCloud’s (see photo below) social housing - we fought hard to have a central greenspace, and two kitchen gardens. We wrote a book ‘Grow to eat - the edible landscape manual’ which we had printed and I gave out with Kevin’s help with packets of seeds and recipes - it won the LI awards 2011.
Similar research in Barcelona uncovered another revelation. Medical researchers discovered that children raised in greener urban spaces demonstrated significantly better cognitive performance. This wasn't about wealth or privilege, but about the fundamental human need to connect with living systems.
Cattle Market Quarter, Chippenham -formerly an expanse of flattened buildings - we added a central park and greener streets
These aren't isolated examples, but part of a growing understanding that our built environments dramatically impact our physical and mental well-being. Climate change has accelerated this recognition. Cities are becoming unbearable heat islands, with temperatures rising dramatically. But biophilic design offers a sophisticated, multi-layered solution.
Eco-urbanism emerges as the critical framework for this transformative approach. It's not just design, but a holistic systems thinking methodology that challenges traditional urban planning. Where conventional approaches work in rigid, isolated silos – treating transportation, water management, energy, and green spaces as separate challenges – eco-urbanism sees the city as a living, interconnected organism.
Luke describes this approach as "elastic thinking" – the ability to zoom in and out, understanding how individual interventions connect to broader ecological systems. It's about breaking down artificial boundaries between disciplines, recognising that a rain garden isn't just about managing water, but about hydrating urban soils, supporting biodiversity, sequestering carbon, and creating cooling microclimates.
The Woodcote, Graffham Sussex - sits been submitted for planning - this assures to be a Michelin Green Star restaurant with some rooms in the South Downs National Park
This systems approach means reimagining every urban element. A street becomes more than a transportation corridor – it's a potential site for water management, carbon capture, biodiversity support, and community well-being. A building's facade isn't just a structural element, but an opportunity for vertical gardens, air purification, and thermal regulation.
Innovative urban planners are reimagining cityscapes as living, breathing entities. In Florence, architects designed a revolutionary urban cooling system using natural wind patterns, channelling sea breezes over water features to reduce the need for energy-intensive air conditioning. In the UK, a visionary project Luke worked on in Ashford proposed transforming large agricultural fields into interconnected woodland patches, simultaneously addressing flooding risks, carbon sequestration, and landscape restoration.
a former sand quarry in Redhill
But biophilic design isn't just about grand architectural gestures. It's accessible to everyone. As landscape architect Luke passionately argues, even small actions matter. A pot plant on a windowsill, a patch of wildflowers instead of a concrete driveway – these seemingly minor interventions create a cumulative positive impact.
The potential is extraordinary. Imagine cities where every surface becomes an opportunity for life – green roofs, living walls, urban forests, and integrated water management systems. Where buildings don't just shelter us but actively contribute to ecological regeneration.
This isn't wishful thinking. Luke reminds us that leading scientists like Edward O. Wilson have long advocated for a radical reimagining of our relationship with the natural world. His vision of dedicating half the Earth to nature isn't about creating vast, untouchable reserves, but about understanding our fundamental interdependence.
A private garden in Kent at Penshurst - roof trees rather than a constructed pergola
Biophilic design represents a paradigm shift from the destructive, linear "take-make-waste" economic model to a circular, regenerative approach. It challenges the siloed thinking that has dominated urban planning, replacing it with systems thinking that recognizes the intricate connections between human health, ecological systems, and urban infrastructure.
Luke also says that the benefits extend far beyond environmental sustainability. Research consistently shows that exposure to natural environments reduces stress, improves cognitive function, and supports overall well-being. This is true, in an age of increasing mental health challenges, this isn't just design – it's a form of collective therapy.
As our cities continue to grow and climate change intensifies, biophilic design isn't a luxury. It's a necessity. It offers a hopeful, practical pathway to creating urban environments that don't just sustain us but help us thrive.
The revolution starts small, as Luke suggests, even a plant on a windowsill, a community garden, a green roof. But its potential is limitless. We are at the pivot point to the future of urban living, where every design choice is an opportunity to reconnect, regenerate, and reimagine our relationship with the living world.
Luke has written a brilliant article in our Journal “Biophilic Design and Ecourbanism – an example at Cannock Mill Co-housing, Colchester Winner of the 2024 SALUS Healthy City Design Award for Healthy homes & neighbourhoods”, The Journal of Biophilic Design, Issue 14, Third Age, pp. 82 -87
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