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Biophilic Cities

Integrating Nature into Urban Design and Planning

  • Book
  • © 2011

Overview

Authors:
  1. Timothy Beatley
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  • Includes examples from cities around the world as well as many in the U.S. (bat watching in Austin, urban programs in NYC, San Francisco)

  • New perspective for those working to implement urban sustainability programs - it is not just about environmental preservation, but about the need of humans to connect to nature and the benefits to community and well-being

  • Interest to planners, architects, urban designers practicing “biophilic design”, ecologists and other environmentalists

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Table of contents (6 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvi
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  2. The Importance of Nature and Wildness in Our Urban Lives

    • Timothy Beatley
    Pages 1-16

  3. The Nature of (in) Cities

    • Timothy Beatley
    Pages 17-43

  4. Biophilic Cities: What Are They?

    • Timothy Beatley
    Pages 45-81

  5. Biophilic Urban Design and Planning

    • Timothy Beatley
    Pages 83-129

  6. New Tools and Institutions to Foster Biophilic Cities

    • Timothy Beatley
    Pages 131-150

  7. Concluding Thoughts: Growing the Biophilic City

    • Timothy Beatley
    Pages 151-158

  8. Back Matter

    Pages 159-191
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Keywords

About this book

Tim Beatley has long been a leader in advocating for the "greening" of cities. But too often, he notes, urban greening efforts focus on everything except nature, emphasizing such elements as public transit, renewable energy production, and energy efficient building systems. While these are important aspects of reimagining urban living, they are not enough, says Beatley. We must remember that human beings have an innate need to connect with the natural world- (the biophilia hypothesis). And any vision of a sustainable urban future must place its focus squarely on nature, on the presence, conservation, and celebration of the actual green features and natural life forms.

A biophilic city is more than simply a biodiverse city, says Beatley. It is a place that learns from nature and emulates natural systems, incorporates natural forms and images into its buildings and cityscapes, and designs and plans in conjunction with nature. A biophilic city cherishes the natural features that already exist but also works to restore and repair what has been lost or degraded.

In Biophilic Cities Beatley not only outlines the essential elements of a biophilic city, but provides examples and stories about cities that have successfully integrated biophilic elements--from the building to the regional level--around the world.

About the author

Tim Beatley has long been a leader in advocating for the “greening” of cities. But too often, he notes, urban greening efforts focus on everything except nature, emphasizing such elements as public transit, renewable energy production, and energy efficient building systems. While these are important aspects of reimagining urban living, they are not enough, says Beatley. We must remember that human beings have an innate need to connect with the natural world (the biophilia hypothesis). And any vision of a sustainable urban future must place its focus squarely on nature, on the presence, conservation, and celebration of the actual green features and natural life forms. Timothy Beatley is Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities in the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning, in the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia, where he has taught for more than twenty years. He is the author of many books, including Resilient Cities, Green Urbanism, and Green Urbanism Down Under, all published by Island Press.

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