William Browning
I am a partner in Terrapin Bright Green, a research and consulting firm dedicated to improving the built environment. Our work focuses on addressing complex green building challenges through the use of biomimicry and biophilic design. We conduct research, craft project specific strategies, and share what we learn.
I am passionate about bringing nature into the built environment, and have been exploring the impact of green buildings on ecological restoration, and human health and productivity for more than 40 years. My career began with building domes with Buckminster Fuller, and launching a green building consulting group for Rocky Mountain Institute. Along the way I have worked on diverse projects for clients, like Greening the White House; Yellowstone, Grand Canyon & Serengeti national parks; the Sydney 2000 Olympics, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Disney, Google, Bank of America, Marriott, and JP Morgan Chase.
Increasingly my work has focused on how to bring experiences of nature into the built environment using biophilic design. Our team compiles research, undertakes experiments & post occupancy evaluations, writes biophilic design guidelines and publishes papers on biophilic design. This has led to work with neuroscientists exploring how the brain responds to different experiences of nature -- visual, auditory, haptic, spatial, and aesthetic.
Interests
biophilia, biophilic design, neuroaesthetics, fractals, psychoacoustics, visual preferences, spatial response/affordance theory, awe
