The ‘nature’ of vertical school design—an evolving concept

Vertical design may offer an approach for integrating nature into urban schools

Biophilic school architecture, “bringing the outside in, diffusing boundaries between classrooms and the outdoors, and creating opportunities for students to connect with nature,” is linked to many benefits. However, integrating nature can be difficult in urban schools that have limited outdoor space. This paper focuses on the architectural practice of biophilic school design and provides evidence to advocate for vertical (high-rise) urban school design to enhance learning and connect children and nature.

The paper offers a nature-positive design methodology for educational settings using an established and tested biophilic model, the “Biomimicry Design Spiral,” which may offer an effective approach to engage both building designers and education professionals. In urban settings, building tall, vertical schools is an approach to biophilic design that can provide students with unique views of nature and new outdoor experiences. Vertical schools provide a “learning landscape on each level, protected from the urban setting, while encouraging connection and collaboration for the students both indoors and outdoors.” Vertical design features such as elevated courtyards, playgrounds, or terraced outdoor spaces offer creative opportunities for learning and play in the presence of living nature. In addition to providing direct access to living environments on each floor, benefits to indoor classrooms can include ample daylight, fresh air, and views of nature. Such nature-positive design strategies can improve school design to promote student-centered learning and positive health, wellbeing, and academic outcomes.

Ample evidence exists to support the inclusion of daylight, fresh air, and living nature in school settings. The author contends that “applying biophilic design principles through a biomimicry lens has the potential to transform the nature of new school design by integrating function, form, and the student experience in schools, helping to restore architecture that promotes health and wellbeing in educational environments, particularly in dense urban locations.” Biophilic design can take many forms and should take the overall experience of students and educators, as well as the curriculum and school location, into consideration.