The Concept of Biophilic Design

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 12 views

Embracing Nature: Biophilic Youth Activity Center in the Pulo Brayan Cultural Heritage Area, Medan

Medan City, with a population of over 2 million people, predominantly comprising young individuals, faces the challenge of providing adequate public spaces. The city's rich cultural diversity has not been accompanied by optimal management of green spaces, leading to a pressing need for creative solutions to create public spaces that cater to the needs of young people while restoring the image of abandoned green spaces.

The Need for Innovative Public Spaces

The rapid urbanization of Medan has resulted in a significant increase in the number of young people, who are in dire need of public spaces that cater to their physical and psychological well-being. The lack of adequate public spaces has led to a range of issues, including increased stress levels, decreased physical activity, and reduced social interaction among young people. Therefore, it is essential to design public spaces that not only provide a sense of community but also promote physical and mental well-being.

The Concept of Biophilic Design

Biophilic design, developed by Stephen Kellert, is an approach that emphasizes the interaction between nature and humans. This approach involves integrating natural elements, such as water and plants, into building design to create a sense of calm and comfort for visitors. Biophilic design has been shown to have a positive impact on both physical and psychological health, making it an ideal approach for designing public spaces that cater to the needs of young people.

The Benefits of Biophilic Design in Public Spaces

Biophilic design offers a range of benefits for public spaces, including:

Building connections with nature: The integration of water and plant elements in building design provides a sense of calm and comfort for visitors, promoting a sense of well-being and reducing stress levels.
Improving health and well-being: Research has shown that the existence of natural elements in public spaces can increase concentration, creativity, and physical and mental resistance.
Encouraging social interaction: Open spaces provided in biophilic-designed public spaces can serve as a platform for young people to interact, learn, and recreate together, promoting social cohesion and community building.
Preserving cultural heritage: The location of the Youth Activity Center in the Pulo Brayan Cultural Heritage area makes it a forum for cultural and historical preservation for the younger generation.

Challenges in Applying Biophilic Designs

While biophilic design offers a range of benefits for public spaces, it also presents several challenges, including:

Careful planning: Ensuring the sustainability of natural elements in the building requires careful planning and consideration of factors such as climate, soil quality, and maintenance requirements.
Paying attention to the aesthetic aspect: The integration of natural elements must be done while considering the aesthetic aspects of the building, ensuring that the design is visually appealing and harmonious.
Appropriate concept development: Developing a deep understanding of biophilic concepts is essential to produce optimal designs that meet the needs of users.

Conclusion

The Center for Youth Activities in the Pulo Brayan Cultural Heritage Area with a biophilic approach offers innovative solutions in addressing the needs of public spaces for young people in Medan. The existence of this activity center is expected to serve as an example for the development of other public spaces in the city, which is able to integrate nature and humans in harmony. By embracing biophilic design, we can create public spaces that not only promote physical and mental well-being but also preserve cultural heritage and foster social interaction among young people.

Design Principles for Biophilic Youth Activity Center

The design of the Youth Activity Center in the Pulo Brayan Cultural Heritage Area is guided by the following principles:

Integration of natural elements: The design incorporates natural elements, such as water and plants, into the building to create a sense of calm and comfort for visitors.
Sustainable design: The design prioritizes sustainability, ensuring that the building is energy-efficient and minimizes its impact on the environment.
Community engagement: The design involves community engagement, ensuring that the needs and aspirations of young people are taken into account in the design process.
Cultural sensitivity: The design is culturally sensitive, respecting the cultural heritage of the Pulo Brayan area and incorporating elements that reflect the local culture.

Design Elements

The design of the Youth Activity Center incorporates a range of design elements, including:

Green roofs: The building features green roofs, providing a natural habitat for plants and reducing the urban heat island effect.
Rainwater harvesting: The design incorporates rainwater harvesting systems, reducing the demand on municipal water supplies and minimizing stormwater runoff.
Natural ventilation: The design prioritizes natural ventilation, reducing the need for mechanical ventilation and promoting a healthy indoor environment.
Public art: The design incorporates public art, providing a platform for young people to express themselves and engage with the local community.

Implementation and Maintenance

The implementation and maintenance of the Youth Activity Center are critical to ensuring its success. The following strategies are employed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the center:

Community engagement: The design involves community engagement, ensuring that the needs and aspirations of young people are taken into account in the design process.
Maintenance planning: The design incorporates maintenance planning, ensuring that the building is regularly maintained and repaired to prevent deterioration.
Sustainability monitoring: The design incorporates sustainability monitoring, tracking the building's energy and water usage to identify areas for improvement.
Community education: The design incorporates community education, providing training and education programs for young people on sustainable design and maintenance practices.

Conclusion

The design of the Youth Activity Center in the Pulo Brayan Cultural Heritage Area with a biophilic approach offers innovative solutions in addressing the needs of public spaces for young people in Medan. The existence of this activity center is expected to serve as an example for the development of other public spaces in the city, which is able to integrate nature and humans in harmony. By embracing biophilic design, we can create public spaces that not only promote physical and mental well-being but also preserve cultural heritage and foster social interaction among young people.

Q: What is biophilic design, and how does it relate to the design of the Youth Activity Center?

A: Biophilic design is an approach that emphasizes the interaction between nature and humans. It involves integrating natural elements, such as water and plants, into building design to create a sense of calm and comfort for visitors. In the context of the Youth Activity Center, biophilic design is used to create a space that promotes physical and mental well-being, while also preserving cultural heritage and fostering social interaction among young people.

Q: What are the benefits of biophilic design in public spaces?

A: Biophilic design offers a range of benefits for public spaces, including:

Building connections with nature: The integration of water and plant elements in building design provides a sense of calm and comfort for visitors, promoting a sense of well-being and reducing stress levels.
Improving health and well-being: Research has shown that the existence of natural elements in public spaces can increase concentration, creativity, and physical and mental resistance.
Encouraging social interaction: Open spaces provided in biophilic-designed public spaces can serve as a platform for young people to interact, learn, and recreate together, promoting social cohesion and community building.
Preserving cultural heritage: The location of the Youth Activity Center in the Pulo Brayan Cultural Heritage area makes it a forum for cultural and historical preservation for the younger generation.

Q: What are the challenges in applying biophilic designs?

A: While biophilic design offers a range of benefits for public spaces, it also presents several challenges, including:

Careful planning: Ensuring the sustainability of natural elements in the building requires careful planning and consideration of factors such as climate, soil quality, and maintenance requirements.
Paying attention to the aesthetic aspect: The integration of natural elements must be done while considering the aesthetic aspects of the building, ensuring that the design is visually appealing and harmonious.
Appropriate concept development: Developing a deep understanding of biophilic concepts is essential to produce optimal designs that meet the needs of users.

Q: How does the design of the Youth Activity Center incorporate biophilic principles?

A: The design of the Youth Activity Center incorporates a range of biophilic principles, including:

Integration of natural elements: The design incorporates natural elements, such as water and plants, into the building to create a sense of calm and comfort for visitors.
Sustainable design: The design prioritizes sustainability, ensuring that the building is energy-efficient and minimizes its impact on the environment.
Community engagement: The design involves community engagement, ensuring that the needs and aspirations of young people are taken into account in the design process.
Cultural sensitivity: The design is culturally sensitive, respecting the cultural heritage of the Pulo Brayan area and incorporating elements that reflect the local culture.

Q: What are the design elements of the Youth Activity Center?

A: The design of the Youth Activity Center incorporates a range of design elements, including:

Green roofs: The building features green roofs, providing a natural habitat for plants and reducing the urban heat island effect.
Rainwater harvesting: The design incorporates rainwater harvesting systems, reducing the demand on municipal water supplies and minimizing stormwater runoff.
Natural ventilation: The design prioritizes natural ventilation, reducing the need for mechanical ventilation and promoting a healthy indoor environment.
Public art: The design incorporates public art, providing a platform for young people to express themselves and engage with the local community.

Q: How is the implementation and maintenance of the Youth Activity Center ensured?

A: The implementation and maintenance of the Youth Activity Center are critical to ensuring its success. The following strategies are employed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the center:

Community engagement: The design involves community engagement, ensuring that the needs and aspirations of young people are taken into account in the design process.
Maintenance planning: The design incorporates maintenance planning, ensuring that the building is regularly maintained and repaired to prevent deterioration.
Sustainability monitoring: The design incorporates sustainability monitoring, tracking the building's energy and water usage to identify areas for improvement.
Community education: The design incorporates community education, providing training and education programs for young people on sustainable design and maintenance practices.

Q: What is the expected impact of the Youth Activity Center on the local community?

A: The Youth Activity Center is expected to have a positive impact on the local community, including:

Promoting physical and mental well-being: The center provides a space for young people to engage in physical activity, socialize, and learn, promoting physical and mental well-being.
Preserving cultural heritage: The center serves as a forum for cultural and historical preservation for the younger generation, promoting cultural sensitivity and appreciation.
Fostering social interaction: The center provides a platform for young people to interact, learn, and recreate together, promoting social cohesion and community building.
Supporting community development: The center serves as a hub for community development, providing resources and support for young people to engage in community activities and projects.