Biophilic design in higher education: A review

In the challenge of achieving sustainability, the education of future designers plays a fundamental role not only in providing the technical knowledge to minimize the impact of buildings and products on the environment but also in fostering the critical spirit and strategic vision needed among future planners, architects, and designers to lead the transition to sustainability. Aware of this role, higher education institutions have long included sustainable design in their curricula, focusing on technical issues, such as reducing resource consumption and emissions during the life cycle of products and construction, while often overlooking the relationship between people and the environment. Approaching design students to the concept of biophilia, based on the intrinsic connection between humans and nature, could help address this gap and facilitate the transition toward a holistic view of sustainability. Considering the above, this paper aims to promote the inclusion of Biophilic Design in educational paths. To this end, a critical review of the literature on Biophilic Design in higher education is conducted within the framework of the PRISMA Statement. The review provides a set of teaching strategies for Biophilic Design inclusion in design courses, organized into learning approaches, teaching modes and tools, and theoretical contents, highlighting the most effective ones alongside other proposals for promoting Biophilic Design in design education.