In her book ‘’The Nature Fix’’, Florence Williams writes that ‘’the most restorative landscapes are the ones that hit the sweet spot of being interesting but not too interesting. They should entice our attention but not demand it. The landscapes should also be compatible with our sense of aesthetics and offer up a little bit of mystery. You can find these conditions indoors if you’re lucky, but they spring easily from natural environments.’’ This is referred to as Attention Restoration Theory, or ART, the Kaplan’s ART Theory. It suggests that Nature Makes Us Happier and Smarter.
In my world of art, I am overwhelmed with nature’s timelessness of beauty and harmony for to Love Art is to Love Nature. I am a dreamer and I dream of cities where city dwellers mingle in harmony with the natural world. I see skyscrapers intertwined with vines and rooftop gardens. There is a strong parallel between the natural world and that of our humanity.
Various studies demonstrate that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature. Edward Osborne Wilson, American biologist, naturalist and writer, introduced the biophilia hypothesis whereby connections that human beings seek are deeply rooted in our biology. Eric Fromm refers to a psychological orientation of being attracted to all that is alive and vital, while Aristotle’s concept is summarized as the “Love of Life”. The Biophilia Hypothesis is at the heart of the concept of biophilic design to increase our connectivity to the natural environment.