ABSTRACT
Biophilic homes, especially those built to suit, differ in character by building type and climate, as well as in the ways in which the resident spends their time while at home. Affordance theory postulates that spaces signal underlying psychological conditions to occupants, whether a home is convivial, reflective or reclusive. For young children, the home is the prime location for nurturing those experiential and emotional connections with nature. Opportunities for incorporating biophilic experiences will naturally vary depending on the home location, ownership structure and the designer’s scope of work. A biophilic design strategy for new multi-family residences can incorporate many strategies similar to a single-family home: outdoor space, a balanced floor plan and biophilic finishes. Unlike a single-family home, design solution replicability across units will make it easier to withstand quantity surveying or cost engineering exercises.
