Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability

1. Introduction

Biophilic design represents a design philosophy that advocates for the integration of natural and sustainable systems to enhance the built environment across various scales (e.g., the building, site, city, and regional levels) [1]. In recent years, an increasing number of biophilic programs, policies, and initiatives have been implemented in numerous cities, promoting the conservation of natural resources, as well as environmental and social sustainability within the built environment [2]. This growing trend underscores the profound implications of biophilic perspectives for cities and communities, warranting further investigation. Nevertheless, enhancing the physical environment of cities to foster biophilic cities and communities remains a significant challenge [3]. Thus, we edited a topic titled “Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability” (https://www.mdpi.com/topics/KX5WREG227 (accessed on 27 February 2023)).

This topic contains and suggests the roles of biophilic cities and communities, with contributing journals including Buildings, Forests, Land, Remote Sensing, Smart Cities, and Sustainability. It comprises thirty-seven papers addressing biophilic-related studies on natural resources, as well as environmental and social sustainability, with contributions from Asia, Europe, and America. This topic encompasses three primary research fields: (1) biophilic urbanism and processes, which emphasize topics such as land use/cover change, spatiotemporal trends, geodesign, bioclimatic design, and sustainable urban–rural planning; (2) natural resources conservation and management, which focuses on topics such as urban ecosystems, ecological patterns and processes, environmental education and policies, forest management, and nature-based solutions; and (3) computational social science and human behavior, which investigates topics such as multi-sensory interaction experiences, social and historical sensing, mental health and well-being, big data, and cognitive computing.

2. Summary of Articles Included in the Topic

Biophilic urbanism and processes play a significant role in fostering environmental sustainability within biophilic cities and communities. In the context of smart cities and communities, various technologies have been applied to urban open spaces and building interiors, including intelligent monitoring systems for the elderly [4], urban physical environment monitoring, and semantic segmentation hybrid models. In the realm of sustainable urban–rural planning, key drivers have been identified for socially sustainable urban mobility [5], digital countryside development, informal settlements [6], and hill-neighboring blocks. In the assessment of the built environment, the natural dose of blue elements plays a crucial role in the indoor environment, human activity, and mental restoration [7,8,9]. Moreover, one study highlights the balance between environmental impacts and practical considerations in cement-stabilized rammed earth construction.

Natural resources conservation and management play a pivotal role in promoting the sustainability of natural resources within biophilic cities and communities. Regarding Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), the characteristics of island mountain plant communities provide a scientific foundation for island ecological restoration, with similar applications extendable to mountainous and riverside areas [10]. In the context of urban ecosystems, cross-scale driving factors exhibit both shared and distinct characteristics, as reflected in ecosystem services, ecological vulnerability, and biodiversity. With respect to green sites and regions, social media and multi-source geospatial data play a crucial role in analyzing visitor preferences and accessibility [11].

Computational social science and human behavior play a critical role in advancing social sustainability within biophilic cities and communities. With regard to multi-sensory interaction experiences, the sound, light, heat, and smell of urban and rural environments significantly influence how people perceive and evaluate them, including in contexts such as water environments and green spaces [12]. Concerning public health and green exercise, biophilic design makes a notable contribution to promoting public health in both outdoor and indoor spaces [13]. Moreover, this contribution also facilitates the advancement of economic and cultural sustainability [14]. With respect to mental health and well-being, the audiovisual functions of urban blue-green spaces have garnered significant public attention, encompassing elements such as urban parks, urban greenways [6], urban waterfronts [15,16], and other forested areas [17,18]. In the domain of big data and cognitive computing, WiFi data and social media provide critical support for the development of optimization strategies within the built environment.

3. The Researchers’ Perspectives on Biophilic Cities and Communities

To collect the perspectives of contributors to this topic, following the completion of their research, we randomly selected seven contributors from the published articles to respond to the following open-ended question: “What are the current priorities and challenges for Biophilic Cities and Communities?”. The contributors were asked to provide concise comments, typically ranging from 120 to 180 words. The complete responses from the contributors, arranged alphabetically by their family name initials, are presented below.

3.1. Interviewee 1

A key priority for biophilic cities could be the integration of nature into urban environments to increase exposure to natural elements, thereby enhancing human well-being. Urban green spaces in close proximity to residential areas, particularly mini urban green spaces, play a crucial role in facilitating daily recreation and green exercise. The development of high-quality mini urban green spaces aligns closely with the objectives of biophilic cities. A significant challenge involves designing and optimizing urban green spaces to promote human activity while accommodating diverse user needs. The incorporation of behavioral attributes into the design phase is both essential and inherently complex. Investigating the associations between urban green space layouts and human activity can inform the development of innovative, evidence-based design strategies aimed at balancing the recreational, social, and ecological functions of urban green spaces.

(Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shi Cheng—Southeast University, China)

3.2. Interviewee 2

Biophilic cities and communities are attracting growing attention worldwide. In China, the integration of nature into urban design is particularly significant due to the challenges posed by rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, and air pollution. The priorities for biophilic urbanism in China could include enhancing green infrastructure, such as urban parks and green roofs, to mitigate urban heat island effects and improve air quality. A key challenge lies in balancing the demand for green spaces with the competing pressures of population density and land scarcity. Furthermore, fostering community involvement and incorporating traditional Chinese landscape elements, such as garden art and water features, could enhance the richness of biophilic designs. Additionally, stronger policy frameworks and cross-sector collaboration may be required to support long-term biophilic planning, thereby ensuring that both ecological and human health benefits are accessible to all urban residents.

(Assoc. Prof. Dr. Qunyue Liu—Fujian University of Technology, China)

3.3. Interviewee 3

From my perspective, biophilic cities and communities represent an approach to urban and community planning that is grounded in nature-based solutions. Amid today’s rapid urbanization, an increasing number of city dwellers are experiencing various forms of stress. As a result, the application of nature-based solutions—such as natural infrastructure, natural resources, and digital nature—has become a fundamental component of contemporary urban and community planning, aimed at alleviating stress across diverse population groups. Our research has demonstrated that natural resources, particularly green spaces, have significant positive effects on human mental health. However, empirical studies on blue spaces remain limited, and this is an area we are actively exploring.

Nonetheless, the application of such natural solutions to enhance mental health is still accompanied by several challenges. These include the difficulty of generalizing laboratory findings to real-world environments, determining the optimal “doses” of natural resources, and understanding how different population groups respond to various natural stimuli. We strongly encourage further scholarly efforts in these areas to advance the development of biophilic cities and communities.

(Assi. Prof. Dr. Shixian Luo—Southwest Jiaotong University, China)

3.4. Interviewee 4

Biophilic cities and communities aim to inspire a deeper connection to nature by creating opportunities for residents to engage with natural environments and cultivate a sense of place. This concept can be recognized as a nature-based solution enabling cities and communities to address challenges such as population agglomeration, limited green space, the loss of natural heritage and place attachment, as well as biotic homogenization within urban green spaces. In this context, the promotion of biocultural diversity and natural resource conservation should be regarded as a priority. However, implementing large-scale, targeted conservation measures for natural heritage poses significant challenges under the conventional government-dominated approach. Socio-cultural value assessments of natural resources and heritage (e.g., large old trees) grounded in public perceptions can foster collaborative participation among diverse stakeholders. In turn, multi-scale conservation strategies enhance the intangible yet diverse natural values that characterize biophilic cities and communities.

(Prof. Dr. Hongjie Wang—Hebei University, China)

3.5. Interviewee 5

In biophilic cities, the integration of nature into urban and landscape design serves to enhance human well-being, strengthen resilience, and support the preservation of cultural heritage. Cultural heritage, as a vital component of communities, fosters profound connections between people, nature, and history. Through the integration of natural and cultural elements, such as historic green spaces and traditional ecological knowledge, biophilic design reinforces local identity while advancing sustainable development. Nevertheless, achieving a balance between urbanization and cultural heritage conservation remains a significant challenge, particularly in rapidly expanding cities. By fostering community engagement and utilizing innovative design approaches, biophilic cities have the potential to harmonize nature, culture, and modern life, thereby contributing to resilient urban futures.

(Dr. Jing Xie—Chiba University, Japan)

3.6. Interviewee 6

A central priority in contemporary urban planning is to cultivate a stronger connection between residents and nature, especially in densely populated areas. Urban planners should emphasize the design of spaces that support both mental and physical well-being by embedding biophilic elements, seamlessly integrating nature into urban environments to elevate the quality of everyday urban life. In this context, public spaces—such as streets and squares—should act as transitional zones that bridge the divide between “gray” urban infrastructure and “green” natural elements, facilitating seamless interactions between the two. Such integration is essential for mitigating the psychological and physical stress commonly associated with urban living.

A major challenge lies in striking a balance between the pressures of urban density and the necessity of maintaining adequate green spaces. It is crucial to strategically plan functional zones in ways that optimize the spatial relationships between built structures and green areas. As cities continue to expand, preserving and integrating green spaces within urban development processes not only enhances urban livability, but also fosters long-term ecological sustainability.

(Dr. Qian Yan—Seoul National University, Korea)

3.7. Interviewee 7

Exploration of human–environment interactions and strategies to create an attractive built environment to encourage people to be close to nature could be one of the topics in biophilic cities and communities. The link between urban green space features and human health and well-being has been increasingly emphasized as more studies on human perception and preference for the built environment and green space have been conducted. However, maintaining urban green spaces in a static spatial form through extensive pruning and other high-intensity maintenance practices to meet people’s preferences is both costly and detrimental to the ecological services provided by vegetation. Thus, it is still challenging to comprehensively consider the long-term dynamic changes in urban green spaces, including vegetation growth, urban development, and shifts in resident behavior, while efficiently utilizing limited spatial resources to meet the increasing ecological and recreational demands and sustainability.

(PhD Candidate Xiaohan Zhang—Technical University of Munich, Germany)

4. Concluding Remarks

We extend our sincere gratitude to the contributors of this topic for their valuable work. As emphasized by many authors in this topic, biophilic cities and communities have garnered significant attention within urban studies, reflecting their growing relevance in addressing contemporary urban challenges. We believe that biophilic cities and communities represent an important area for further exploration and discussion. In particular, the intersection of ecology and exposure science with health-related concerns has led to the progressive integration of these topics into academic discourse. To advance this field, we introduce a new topic titled “Biophilic Cities and Communities: Human-Environment Interaction and Sustainable Governance” (https://www.mdpi.com/topics/DP2IH99GRY (accessed on 25 June 2024)). This topic is designed to unite researchers working on related areas, providing a platform for the exchange of innovative findings and fostering collaboration across disciplines. Furthermore, we encourage future research to focus on the following key areas:

(i) Biophilic urbanism and processes. This area encompasses a range of topics, including smart cities and communities, land use and land cover changes, spatial-temporal trends, geodesign, urban landscape patterns, sustainable urban–rural planning, and built environment assessments. These topics are instrumental in advancing our understanding of the processes and principles underpinning biophilic urbanism.

(ii) Human–environment interaction. This field includes crucial themes, such as environmental behavior and local practices, social and historical sensing, economic and cultural sustainability, the application of big data and social computing, social equity, and sustainable governance frameworks. These perspectives provide a foundation for addressing the intricate relationships between humans and their environments.

(iii) Exposure ecology. Key areas within this field include urban and natural ecosystems, ecological patterns and processes, ecological exposure, forest management, nature-based solutions, and public health and well-being. Research in this domain is essential for understanding the ecological dimensions of urban living and their implications for human health.