In this talk at the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility Spring 2014 Conference, Bill Maclay gives examples of biophilic workplaces in Vermont. The talk is part of a workshop titled "Nature's Inspiration: Biomimicry and Biophilia as a Powerful Business Tool" which was lead by Stephen Keller, Bill Maclay, Sarah-Lee Terrat, and Michael Dupee. Workshop details below. Nature's wisdom and inspiration can be a successful tool for generating design solutions in today's business environment. As humans, we have lived in the bounty of nature for thousands of years and are hardwired to appreciate living systems. This love of engagement with nature is called biophilia. In observing nature's evolution we can learn from the innovative creation of new materials, forms, and living organisms. This learning from living systems is called biomimicry. This forum will explore the emerging fields of biophilia and biomimicry: What are they? How can they be used successfully in business? What are practical and successful examples? And how can they apply to small, medium and large businesses in Vermont today?

1. Nature’s Inspiration: Biomimicry and Biophilia
as a Powerful Business Tool
Bill Maclay, AIA, LEED AP, Maclay Architects
A presentation given at VBSR’s 24th Annual Spring Conference
Examples of Biophilic Workplaces in
Vermont
Derivative by Maclay Architects from Fasaxc / CC BY-SA 3.0

2. View the talk on YouTube
http://youtu.be/a4ChILGL89w
Derivative by Maclay Architects from Fasaxc / CC BY-SA 3.0

3. Nature’s Inspiration
Biomimicry and Biophilia as a Powerful Business Tool
VBSR’s 24th Annual Spring Conference
Stephen Kellert – Introduction and Essential Principles
Bill Maclay – Vermont biophilic workplace examples
Sarah-Lee Terrat –Integration of natural themes
Michael Dupee – Applying biomimicry in businesses
May 14th, 2014

4. The Workplace as an Ecosystem?
Bill Maclay, AIA, LEED AP
We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.
-Winston Churchill Photo by Jim Westphalen
Photo by Carolyn Bates, www.carolynbates.com
Photo by Jim Westphalen

5. We are not walking ON this earth,
We are EARTH that walks.
Derivative by Maclay Architects from Andreas Lederer / CC BY 2.0

6. What is Work?
How might work evolve?
Public Domain
Pulic Domain
Charles R. Knight / Public Domain
Tropenmuseum of the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) / CC BY-SA 3.0
Viktor Vasnetsov / Public Domain

7. Are we inspired by
the 20th century workspace?
Public DomainPublic Domain

8. What might “earth walking” design look
like?
Survival / Health / Beauty
Photo by Pascal Reusch / CC-BY-SA-3.0
Photo by Miguel Vieira / CC BY 2.0
Photo by Martin St-Amant / CC-BY-SA-3.0
Photo by Leonidtsvetkov / CC BY-SA 2.5
Image by Clark Wissler / Public Domain
image by Dmitry Avdeev / CC BY-SA 3.0
Adapted from diagram by the Pearce Partnership
and The Urgency of Change by Eugene Tsui

9. Humans “Walking in” Nature
(Biophilia, Biomimicry, Living Buildings)
Safety Survival /Health Instinct
Belonging Community Emotion
Learning Adaptation / Evolution Reason

10. Photo by John Fowler / CC BY-SA 2.0
Survival/ Health/ Beauty
Pedro Szekely / CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo by Steve Cadman / CC BY-SA 2.0
Timothy A. Price and Nichole I CC BY-SA 3.0
Public Domain
Photo modified by Edfu6 from photo by Rémih / CC BY-SA 3.0

11. Belonging and
Community
Photo by John Atherton / CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo by Pelayo2 / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo by Canoe Island French Camp / CC BY-SA 3.0

12. Learning, Adaptation,
and Evolution
Image by digitalbob8 / CC BY 2.0
Public Domain
Photo by Gary Peeples USFWS / CC BY 2.0

13. Design Within Nature
• Whole Systems
• Organisms / ecosystems
• Parts
• Senses (external)
• Organs (internal)
• Details
• Cells, face, dimension

14. The Background for the Workplace as
an organism in an ecosystem
Moods
Safety
Coordination of
Action
Beauty
Inspiration
Belonging
Caring
Learning
Innovation

15. Workplace by Design: Mapping the High-Performance
Workspace by Franklin Becker and Fritz Steele
Whole Systems/ Organism / Ecosystems
Organizational Ecology

16. HEART
NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMON MEETING/
PROJECT SPACE
PRIVATE
MEETING
SPACEstreet street
PRIVATE
MEETING
SPACE
The Seeds of Design: An emotional and community core

17. The evolution of an ecosystem

18. The pieces and places

19. Spaces for Dialogue and Interaction

20. Eating as a Place for Community

21. Niches for quiet or more reflective conversation

22. NRG Systems
The heart connecting to the entire workplace

23. View towards fireplace & hearth from café
Warehouse Connection
Central Heart
Street & Office Connection

24. Extension into landscape
and landscape to building

25. Entry connections through
to landscape
Connection to light and views

26. VEIC – A community ecosystem

27. Places of Exchange

28. Meeting and work connected
to light and views

29. Resource Systems Group
Light, gathering, and food
at the center

30. Nature in details

31. Light, air, and connection to
nature

32. Transparent ecological
treatment of waste
connecting to the cycles of
nature

33. Nature and gathering at
the “beach”

34. Nature engaging the inside
with places to sit

35. Nature themes in the floor and use of wood

36. Reuse of natural materials

37. Treating water with care

38. Library, Light and Wind Goddess

39. Earth, Air, and Water theme in
the floor

40. Additional Resources:
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zero-book
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