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The Potential of Biophilic Fractal Designs to Promote Health and Performance: A Review of Experiments and Applications

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  • Richard P. Taylor

    (Physics Department, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA)

Abstract

Fractal objects are prevalent in natural scenery. Their repetition of patterns at increasingly fine magnifications creates a rich complexity. Fractals displaying mid-range complexity are the most common and include trees, clouds, and mountains. The “fractal fluency” model states that human vision has adapted to process these mid-range fractals with ease. I will first discuss fractal fluency and demonstrate how it enhances the observer’s visual capabilities by focusing on experiments that have important practical consequences for improving the built environment. These enhanced capabilities generate an aesthetic experience and physiological stress reduction. I will discuss strategies for integrating fractals into building designs to induce positive impacts on the observer. Examples include fractal solar panels, fractal window shades, and fractal floor patterns. These applications of fractal fluency represent a fundamental and potentially impactful form of salutogenesis.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard P. Taylor, 2021. "The Potential of Biophilic Fractal Designs to Promote Health and Performance: A Review of Experiments and Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-24, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:2:p:823-:d:481123
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Colleen A Marlow & Indre V Viskontas & Alisa Matlin & Cooper Boydston & Adam Boxer & Richard P Taylor, 2015. "Temporal Structure of Human Gaze Dynamics Is Invariant During Free Viewing," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(9), pages 1-13, September.
    2. R P Taylor & T P Martin & R D Montgomery & J H Smith & A P Micolich & C Boydston & B C Scannell & M S Fairbanks & B Spehar, 2017. "Seeing shapes in seemingly random spatial patterns: Fractal analysis of Rorschach inkblots," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(2), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Richard Taylor, 2009. "Reflecting the impossible," Nature, Nature, vol. 460(7254), pages 462-462, July.
    4. Alison Abbott, 2006. "In the hands of a master," Nature, Nature, vol. 439(7077), pages 648-650, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Deborah Lefosse & Arjan van Timmeren & Carlo Ratti, 2023. "Biophilia Upscaling: A Systematic Literature Review Based on a Three-Metric Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-34, November.
    2. Dorothy Day Huntsman & Grzegorz Bulaj, 2022. "Healthy Dwelling: Design of Biophilic Interior Environments Fostering Self-Care Practices for People Living with Migraines, Chronic Pain, and Depression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-16, February.
    3. Yuxiang Lan & Qunyue Liu, 2023. "The Restorative and Contingent Value of Biophilic Indoor Environments in Healthcare Settings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-15, July.
    4. Hung-Ming Tu, 2022. "Confirmative biophilic framework for heritage management," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(3), pages 1-19, March.
    5. Richard P. Taylor & Richard York, 2022. "Fractal shifts and esthetic rifts: climate change and emotional well-being," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 173(1), pages 1-9, July.
    6. Michael W. Mehaffy & Nikos A. Salingaros & Alexandros A. Lavdas, 2023. "The “Modern” Campus: Case Study in (Un)Sustainable Urbanism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-37, November.
    7. Marco Aresta & Nikos A. Salingaros, 2021. "The Importance of Domestic Space in the Times of COVID-19," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-9, October.
    8. Tobias M. Ramm & Mathias Werwie & Tim Otto & Peter A. Gloor & Nikos A. Salingaros, 2024. "Artificial Intelligence Evaluates How Humans Connect to the Built Environment: A Pilot Study of Two Experiments in Biophilia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-19, January.

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