VIRTUAL Lisbon Livable Cities
Abstract
Biophilic design approaches emerged in the 1980s, coinciding with the rise of eco-philosophies such as Edward O. Wilson’s concept of Biophilia. These ideas began to influence literature, policy and landscape architectural practices globally by shaping novel urban park design and ecological strategies. This paper investigates the attitudes towards biophilic design projects by focusing on Berlin, a city widely regarded as a model for progressive urban ecological policies and sustainable design practices. The study examines key post-reunification environmental policies and analyses their influence on landscape architectural practice, specifically Park am Nordbahnhof (2009). By drawing on detailed site observations and interviews with a Berlin Senate city planner and the landscape architect responsible for the park, the paper provides insights into the complex eco-cultural dynamics that drive the positive interaction between Berliners and their urban ecological systems. These interactions, it is argued, play a crucial role in fostering a resilient and sustainable urban culture. Critically, the study highlights how Nordbahnhof’s biophilic design supports long-term ecological and social sustainability in Berlin, which can be utilised as an exemplar for other urban park designers.
Brent Greene is a lecturer in Landscape Architecture at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). Brent’s teaching and research focuses on urban ecological design through spontaneous plants, queer ecology, marginalized landscapes and post-industrial urban renewal. He utilizes design research methods to investigate the impact of cultural values on urban ecological design approaches—and to expand perceptions of spontaneous urban plants in the metropolis.