Surface Enriched Spaces

There is empirical evidence that design which reconnects humans to natural contents and landscape configurations helps to enhance human wellbeing; with positive, therapeutic consequences on physiology. This is Biophilic design. However, currently 80% of people in the most economically advanced nations now live in urbanised areas, spending over 90% of their time indoors. Surface Enriched Spaces aims to reconnect people with their sensory responses and consequently the natural environment through nature-derived, haptic surfaces. The sample library of wide-ranging, mixed-media outcomes puts forward experimental insight on how elements of the surrounding natural environment can be injected into urbanised spaces through the principles of tactility and materiality. The project questions the future notion of Biophilic design as we descend into increasing urbanised and digitalised living.