Biophilic Design Avant la Lettre: Japanese Edo-Period Residential Architecture
M.C. van de Ven (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
V. Baptist – Mentor (TU Delft - History, Form & Aesthetics)
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Abstract
This thesis investigates how Edo-period (1603–1868) Japanese residential architecture intuitively embodies biophilic design principles, centuries before the term was formally defined, offering potential insights for contemporary sustainable and health-supportive housing. Biophilic design, which emphasises the integration of natural elements into built environments, has been shown to support mental well-being by reducing stress, enhancing mood, and improving cognitive function. While the concept has received growing attention in recent decades, traditional architectural styles often incorporated nature in ways that closely aligned with these principles. This study explores that relationship through a comparative analysis of modern biophilic frameworks and Edo-period design.
Using the theoretical framework developed by Zhong et al. (2021), which defines biophilic design through three strategies and eighteen elements, this research applies a visual-analytical method to evaluate two case studies: the Katsura Imperial Villa and the Aizu Samurai Residence. These case studies were selected for their architectural richness and representation of elite social classes, allowing for detailed exploration of material use, spatial organisation, and connection to nature.
The findings reveal a strong alignment between Edo-period residential design and modern biophilic strategies, including features such as open indoor-outdoor transitions, use of natural materials, seasonal responsiveness, and patterns inspired by nature. While certain aspects of contemporary biophilic design, such as technological interventions or explicit biomorphic symbolism, were not present, the core principles were inherently embedded in historical design practices. These findings highlight the relevance of Edo-period architecture as an early example of biophilic design avant la lettre, and suggest its continued value as a source of inspiration for contemporary housing strategies that aim to reconnect people with nature in urban contexts.