Nurturing Minds: Biophilic Campus Design for Comfort and Stress Reduction at Nizwa University

Student connection to nature in an educational setting plays a vital role in nurturing their minds. This study examines the impact of biophilic design on the University of Nizwa's (UNIZWA) educational campus, located in Oman's arid and hot region. Currently, there is a rise in the student population, and the available biophilic infrastructure is insufficient to support this growing number of students. A connection to human nature is essential for maintaining a healthy balance in students' physiological, psychological, and sociological well-being, which in turn affects their academic performance. The three interconnected elements, Climate, Culture, and Context (3Cs) also influence human behavior; thus, this study explores how these elements shape student behavior. This research employed various methods to investigate challenges, analyze them, and develop design guidelines as strategies. These align with UN-Habitat's 3-30-300 formula and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), contributing to addressing these challenges and providing solutions for educational campuses to foster healthy environments in arid regions. The methodology included in-depth questionnaire surveys, satisfaction level assessments, literature reviews, theories, and best practices that promote health-centric outdoor spaces to boost students' mental and physical well-being. Additionally, simulation-based thermal comfort assessments evaluated the impact of biophilic interventions such as tree canopies, vegetated facades, and green roofs on outdoor and semi-outdoor campus zones. This paper presents a model for a 3Cs-sensitive design framework that enhances student-centered, healthy spaces.