Biophilic Urbanism Working Group

PAGE UNDER DEVELOPMENT // OCTOBER 2022

For info on GWCN working groups visit https://pedestrianspace.org/network-working-groups/

The Biophilic Urbanism working group explores the relationship between cities & nature with topics such as urban agriculture, green spaces & cities & urban heat islands. We are hoping to share knowledge and learn from each other, support the positive change & fast-track the positive change we currently see within cities.

Urban & Community Gardens
Blue Zones
Food Deserts
Food Justice
Food Sovereignty
Farmer’s Markets
Urban Agriculture
Urban heat islands
How nature-based solutions can be a critical part of the equation for developing healthy cities & communities
The role of green spaces for climate-resilient urbanism
How the pandemic exposed great inequity in access to green space in many cities
Equity in tree coverage & shaded paths

GROUP ACTIONS
•Local investigations
•Content production on group topics
•Sharing professional expertise (Presentations & Roundtables)
•Hosting topical experts (Roundtables)

Video by Alvaro on Group Mission (June 2022)

Video by Sulochi on Group Mission (June 2022)

Group Co-Leads: Alvaro Contente (Santiago, Chile), Annika Lundkvist (Warsaw, Poland) & Sulochi Walisinghe (Melbourne, Australia)

Participants: Mohammad (Isfahan, Iran), Nadia (Amman, Jordan), Nicole (St. Petersburg, FL, USA), Brianna (San Luis Obispo, CA, USA), Jamie (Phoenix, AZ), Nancy (Madurai, India), Moksha (Amritsar, India), Atina (Uppsala, Sweden), Maria (Crete, Greece), Divantha (Kandy, Sri Lanka), Carlos (Toronto, Canada), Alan (London, England)

Location: Santiago, Chile

Interests: Urban & community gardens, urban heat islands, role of green spaces for climate-resilient urbanism, the pandemic’s exposure ofgreat inequity in access to green space in many cities, green infrastructure, equity in tree coverage & shaded paths

Location: Kandy & Colombo, Sri Lanka

Climate Zone: Tropical

Elevation: Kandy-500m; Colombo-1m

Interests: Urban & community gardens, urban heat islands, urban agriculture, the pandemic’s exposure of great inequity in access to green space in many cities, role of green space in climate resilient urbanism, green infrastructure, equity in tree coverage & shaded paths, biophilic design & water, green corridors, urban woodlands, and the role of street trees in residential neighborhoods

Surface Temperature Measurements in Colombo

Urban Heat Investigations:

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Overheating
Amplified risks for marginalized communities

MITIGATIONS

Tree planting
Cool roofs

Location: Warsaw, Poland

Elevation: 100 m

Interests: Urban & community gardens, blue zones, food deserts & food justice, farmer’s markets, food sovereignty, food security, urban agriculture, urban heat islands, the role of green spaces for climate-resilient urbanism, tree coverage & shaded paths

On founding the Biophilic Urbanism group: I think integrating nature-based solutions into cities is one of the key (as well as most exciting) aspects of developing sustainable cities. I am particularly interested in issues of food security in urban areas and how we transform our current behaviors & systems towards more sustainable production & consumption, as well as empower urban communities to participate in this process.

Coverage by Annika

-‘Shade at Bus Stops‘ (August 2022). Read here: https://pedestrianspace.org/shade-at-stops/

-‘Discussing Urban Heat with Dr. Benjamin Zaitchik‘ (July 2022). Read here: https://pedestrianspace.org/discussing-urban-heat-with-dr-benjamin-zaitchik/

-Notes on ‘Outdoors, Green Space & Mental Health‘ (January 2021). Read here: https://pedestrianspace.org/green-space-mental-health/

–Oslo as European Environmental Capital 2019 (April 2021). Read here: https://pedestrianspace.org/oslo-as-european-environmental-capital-2019/

Urban Heat Investigations:

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Health risks
Amplified risks for marginalized communities

MITIGATIONS

Tree planting
Parks & parklets

Location: Isfahan, Iran

Climate Zone: Arid/Dry

Elevation: 1600 m

Interests: Urban & community gardens, Blue Zones, food deserts & food justice, farmer’s markets, equity in tree coverage & shaded path, biophilic design & water

Urban Heat Investigations:

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Health risks
Overheating

MITIGATIONS

Tree planting
Parks & parklets
Permeable surfaces

Location: London, England

Coverage by Alan

Organic Lea: Rethinking the Food System (October 2022) Read here: https://pedestrianspace.org/organic-lea-rethinking-the-food-system/

Location: St. Petersburg, FL, USA

Interests: Urban & community gardens, blue zones, food deserts & food justice, farmer’s markets, urban agriculture, urban heat islands, role of green spaces for climate-resilient urbanism

“Biophilic urbanism has emerged as a way to bring nature more purposefully into cities, not just between buildings and infrastructure, but into and onto them in ways that increase the connectivity between people and nature and derive benefits from natural services and functions.”
– From “Biophilic streets: a design framework for creating multiple urban benefits” by Agata Cabanek, Maria Elena Zingoni de Baro & Peter Newman

Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

Elevation: 76 m

Interests: Urban & community gardens, urban agriculture, the pandemic’s exposure of great inequity in access to green space in many cities, Equity in tree coverage & shaded paths, pollination & insect resilience

On joining the Biophilic Urbanism group: I first hear the term “Biophilic” after joining the Network but for many years I’ve been interested in the use of “live” nature in the design and construction of cities, roads & buildings.

Coverage by Carlos

Toronto’s ‘Urban Agriculture Week’, September 2022: Urban Agriculture & Community: Toronto’s local community gardens bring people together. Read here: https://pedestrianspace.org/urban-agriculture-community/

Urban Heat Investigations:

NEGATIVE EFFECTS