Design Strategies for Retrofitting Elementary School Campus Spaces Based on Biophilic Designs
Authors: Xu Li , Jiang Xiaoxuan , Yu Ao , Zhou Yuquan 
Published: June 2024

Due to the national emphasis on the physical and mental development of students and the development of the environment, the current campus construction can no longer meets the educational needs. The design of primary school campuses is too stereotyped, which disconnects students from nature and leads to problems such as unsatisfied psychological and cognitive needs. Biophilic design introduces beneficial nature into artificial environments by recreating elements that mimic nature, enhance the cognitive and psychological connection between human and nature, and provide theoretical support and design guidance for healthy and sustainable human settlements.This article aims to combine the goal of biophilic design and sustainable campuses, use the KJ method to summarize the current problems of the campus and the needs of teachers and students and update the primary school campus space.First of all, through research, it is concluded that biophilic design is a design concept that coexists with the natural environment in artificial spaces and seeks sustainable development; there are three design methods:1) Natural space: Use natural elements to create space layout, such as planting green plants in the atrium of office buildings to expand the view;2) Natural-like things: things that simulate nature and indirectly connect humans and nature, usually in the form of natural patterns, colors, materials, etc.;3) Nature in space: Establish space and create atmosphere to realize the connection between people and nature. The corresponding design modes are direct experience of nature, indirect experience, and experience of space and place.Then, through field investigation, questionnaire surveys, situational observations, etc., the current problems of campus space and user needs were collected. The specific process is as follows: first, the campus space and the behavior of teachers and students were observed, questions were sorted out and analyzed, and questionnaires were designed. The questionnaire mainly focuses on the experience of campus space, usage needs, and landscape preferences. Then select the interviewees; A total of 360 teachers and students were selected for the questionnaire survey, and 15 people were selected for in-depth interviews based on the differences in the results. After sorting the information, KJ method was used to screen. Combined with the preliminary analysis and classification summary of the space and teacher and student behavior, the space transformation needs were summarized according to the correlation into experiential needs, interactive needs, safety needs, interesting needs and belonging needs.Finally, according to the transformation needs, biophilic design was introduced, direct experience was taken as the first-level design mode, direct introduction of natural space, and interaction between students and nature were improved by means of five senses experience. Indirect experience was used as secondary design mode to enhance students' experience and sense of belonging through natural materials and pattern association. Abstract experience was used as a three-level design model, through the transition of space landscape and atmosphere to enhance the interest of space. Through systematic investigation, this study summarizes the current problems, enhances the credibility of the research, and proposes new transformation strategies under the framework of biophilic design principles to optimize the transformation results and explore a more complete and ecologically sustainable campus space.