UMD Theses and Dissertations

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/3

New submissions to the thesis/dissertation collections are added automatically as they are received from the Graduate School. Currently, the Graduate School deposits all theses and dissertations from a given semester after the official graduation date. This means that there may be up to a 4 month delay in the appearance of a given thesis/dissertation in DRUM.

More information is available at Theses and Dissertations at University of Maryland Libraries.

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Biophilia

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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    ENVIRONMENT BUILT FOR HEALING
    (2024) Abel, Paul; Kelly, Brian; Architecture; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    ABSTRACT Title of Thesis: ENVIROMENT BUILT FOR HEALING Paul Abel, Master of Architecture, Master of Community Planning, 2024 Thesis Directed By: Professor Kelly, School of Architecture Planning and Preservation Healthcare facilities can be intimidating places. To many people these facilities represent things that they fear like pain, disease, and death. However, while they are associated with these things the connection is misplaced. These facilities contain unpleasant human experiences for the purpose of resolving them. As advancements are being made in medical technology more operations are becoming available to patients. This means more patients are being exposed to fear inducing situations than ever before. These operations are also more commonly on an Out-patient basis where an extended hospital stay is not necessary. Healthcare facilities are often large hulking central hospitals with winding labyrinthine corridors separated from the world outside. These environments can cause fear and stress in their own right, piling on to the already difficult situations of the patients and their families. The typology of out-patient medical facilities provides an opportunity to address the fear and anxiety patients experience when anticipating an operation. This thesis will explore the role of the built environment in health and how architectural design can address medical fear, anxiety, and stress. Healthcare spaces can be welcoming, nurturing, healing, spaces that people no longer fear but recognize for their role of restoration and recovery.
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    Spreading the Seeds of a Solidarity Landscape: Co-creating a Biophilic Landscape and Training Curriculum in Northern Italy
    (2024) Christensen, Mary Elizabeth; Ruggeri, Deni; Plant Science and Landscape Architecture (PSLA); Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    A wealth of research explores the link between biophilia, access to nature, health, well-being, and quality of life (Wilson, 1984; Kellert, 1997; Louv, 2008; Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989; Cooper Marcus & Sachs, 2013). Drawing on this body of research, nature-based interventions employed by social work professionals promote positive connections to nature and improve health and well-being for vulnerable populations (Obeng et al., 2023; Overbey et al., 2021). This thesis explores a participatory action research project using the case study of Villaggio Solidale, a charitable co-housing community in Northern Italy. Following the use of participatory methods, including co-creation, listening, observation, and prototyping, researchers are co-designing a Solidarity Landscape and co-creating a training curriculum with community social workers and educators to integrate nature-based interventions, biophilia, and well-being into the larger ecosystem surrounding Villaggio Solidale, ensuring that the landscape will become a central tool to support community solidarity, health, and well-being.
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    Road to Recovery: Bringing the Outdoors In
    (2023) Mencer, Abigail Brurya; Williams, Joseph; Architecture; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Patients in oncology centers experience extreme physical and psychological anguish due to illness. Patients spend a lot of time in these facilities, often during the most turbulent times in their lives. Current healthcare facilities are designed around medical technology. Medical centers thrive on scientific ingenuity and innovative technology. However, through this process the wellbeing of patients is disregarded almost entirely, leaving healthcare facilities barren and cold. Incorporating biophilia into the design of healthcare facilities provides for a patient’s health and wellbeing. Utilizing biophilic design with a focus on health and wellness within healthcare design can transform the recovery of patients as they seek care. This thesis investigates how designing for a patient's wellbeing can benefit their medical experience. The philosophy for the design of this thesis is to utilize biophilic design approaches to focus on the wellbeing of patients as they receive care. This includes design strategies that include natural elements, views to nature, as well as a biophilic approach to materiality and lighting. The context for this project is a cancer center that incorporates biophilic design with the technology of modern medicine resulting in a facility that is designed for a patient's wellbeing.
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    MICROCLIMATIC EFFECTS AND BIOPHILIC PROPERTIES OF LIVING UMBRELLAS
    (2017) Cloyd, Nicholas Renzi; Tilley, David; Environmental Science and Technology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    The living umbrella is resembling of a traditional patio umbrella but with a canopy made of a layer of plants rather than fabric or metal. It is thought to provide comfort and shade to users while increasing nature in hardscaped areas. The study aimed to compare the microclimates of metal canopy umbrella to that of living umbrellas. Metrics used were Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), UV transmittance, solar transmittance, air temperature, canopy temperature, and humidity. Compared to ambient conditions, the living umbrella reduced WBGT by 1.5˚C, and UV and solar transmittance by 24.2% and 18%, respectively. The metal umbrella reduced UV and solar transmittance more than the living umbrella, but not WBGT. A second aim was to determine whether there was a Biophilic connection between the living umbrella and its users, which was explored through surveys. The Biophilic connection is exemplified by people who experience feelings of comfort when they are close to nature. The majority of respondents felt strong positive emotions towards the living umbrella, while 81% preferred a living umbrella over a metal umbrella. The research showed that an innovative green technology can improve the microclimate experienced by people while making them feel better.