Human benefit in design
THE sound of water, biomorphic patterns, greenery and varying temperatures and airflows help make underground rail systems innovative and human-friendly.
Deakin University researchers Phillip Roös, David Jones and Josh Zeunert — in association with Paul Downton, of Ecopolis — have worked with the Melbourne Metro Rail Authority to develop an international best practice biophilic design study to inform station designs and possibly create Australia’s first public underground railway stations based on biophilic design principles.
Biophilic design is a ground-breaking method that takes green architecture far beyond landscaping, water tanks or solar panels.
The Deakin research team’s Creating Healthy Places report recommends 15 patterns of design that are rooted in the philosophy of biophilia.
The report has been used to develop and write biophilic design guidelines for the five underground stations being built as part of the Metro Tunnel Project.
The guidelines are informing architects, urban designers, landscape architects and engineers in developing designs and public realm plans.
“This is the first time in Australia where biophilic designs may influence railway station architecture and the surrounding urban design and precinct planning,” said Professor Jones, foundation professor for planning and landscape architecture programs at Deakin’s School of Architecture and Built Environment
“Many people don’t realise that railway stations are at the core of cities and provide the opportunity to create better public places that can support health and wellbeing for city dwellers.”
The design approach is a labour of love for Dr Roös, a senior lecturer in architecture at Deakin, who describes biophilia as humans’ natural affinity with living things and the enhancement of our sensory experiences.
“Australia has been doing rail the same for more than 50 years, but with this project we wanted to look not just beyond standard practice, but beyond standard sustainability practice too,” he said.
He said biophilic design acknowledged any built envi- ronment intruded on a natural environment and should “emulate nature as much as possible”.
“This isn’t just about lowimpact features, it’s also recognising that humans are drawn to the patterns inherent in liv- ing things, so if we can create something that follows these rules of nature, humans will benefit, as well as the planet,” Dr Roös said.
These include aspects such as visual connection to nature, presence of water, variability in airflow, dynamic light, geometric patterns inspired by nature and creating places of refuge or mystery.
He and the research team have developed many years of research to ground these principles.
“To make sure this is legitimate in a large and complex project like the Metro Tunnel, we needed an expert assessment of how biophilic design works, how it gets applied and how this can be applied to a metro project,” Dr Roös said.