The Biophilic Effect: Embodied Self and Nature as Cluster of Affordances

The article aims to develop the concept of the biophilic effect in architecture rooted in the biophilia hypothesis based on embodied cognition theories and a phenomenological background. The biophilia hypothesis, an evolutionary psychology assumption stating that human beings possess an inherent affinity toward nature, has been a widely discussed topic in the climate change crisis era. A brief history and summary of schemes of biophilic architecture will be given to exhibit its potential while underlining the theoretical ambiguities of the existing framework. First, a theoretical account of embodiment theory will be given to overcome the ambiguities and clarify how we are connected to the outer world. The concept of the embodied self emphasizes a human-centric approach to design, recognizing humans as hybrids of mind and body interacting within their environment. Second, the theory of affordances will be proposed to explain how nature is connected to us. The concept of affordances defines how our environment offers opportunities for action, shaping our interactions based on our physical and cognitive capabilities. Third, the concept of the biophilic effect will be introduced to explain how architecture mediates between nature and humans by illustrating its three primary components: the source, the architectural medium, and the inhabitant. In its multidimensional, temporal, and proxemic dynamics, the biophilic effect as a design aspect stimulates architectural experiences of nature in ways that align with human perceptual and cognitive processes. As a case study, the sun light biophilic effects of the Institute du Monde Arabe by the Ateliers Jean Nouvel will be analyzed. The article concludes that, through the biophilic effect, we can connect inhabitants with the natural environment, exploiting our inherent affinity to nature, enhancing human well-being and ecological harmony.