Biophilic Design Using Modern Mill Wood

GOALS:

• Define the concept of biophilic design including the human response to nature. Elaborate on the misconceptions of biophilia that may hold the design community back.
• Describe the psychological, economical, and environmental benefits of biophilic design.
• Explain how building products that mimic nature can illicit the same human response as natural materials.
• As an example, discuss simulated-wood products and their use in biophilic design. List the benefits of this tree-free solution that looks and performs like wood, is economical, and low maintenance.
• Identify the numerous design solutions and applications for these simulated wood products.

DESCRIPTION:
Most architects understand biophilic design and agree with the concept of bringing the outdoors inside and the benefits this design offers our physical, mental, and overall, well-being.
However, few designers systematically incorporate it into their plans. Designers tend to assume that biophilic design is expensive or high maintenance, reserved for only high-end projects. Or assume that bringing nature inside is complicated and requires too much customization or cost.
In this one-hour course, we’ll address the assumptions that hold back an effort to scale biophilic design and expand access to these life-changing and sustaining benefits. We’ll introduce a simulated-wood product that mimics nature and elicits that positive human response. You’ll see numerous design ideas and applications that exemplify economical and low maintenance solutions for any project type, making biophilic design accessible to all is a noble and worthy goal.
 
INSTRUCTOR
Zane Swaneopel is the Southeast Regional Sales Manager for Modern Mills.  He was Territory Manager at Westlake Royal Building Products and has 13 years of experience in the building industry.
He received his Bachelor of Business Management from Centec College, Danville, Kentucky