Healing People and Places Through Biophilia
Christian is dedicated to the proposition that the road to circularity runs through brands and looks forward to a future that is aspirational and delightful for everyone. He has held leadership positions at Google, JetBlue, McKinsey and a number of technology startups. Christian holds an MBA from Duke University, an MSFS in International Business Diplomacy from Georgetown University and an AB in Philosophy from Colgate University.
Steve Nygren is Founder and CEO of Serenbe, a wellness community that demonstrates 70% of green space interlaced with agriculture, housing and retail is not only economically viable but the future of community wellbeing.
Steve currently serves on multiple national boards dealing with children, agriculture and environmental issues including The Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Children & Nature Network, Chattahoochee NOW, The Biophilic Institute and Wholesome Wave.
Elizabeth Calabrese is an architect, educator and advocate for connecting built environments with nature, who has practiced biophilic design for over 30 years. She has led hundreds of projects integrating principles of ecology and well-being. Co-author of The Practice of Biophilic Design, Elizabeth advances sustainable, holistic approaches through teaching, workshops and consulting, fostering human and environmental health in all of her work.
Dr. Tuwanda Green, licensed architect and founder of human., PLLC, brings 30+ years of expertise with a portfolio spanning national and international project work.
As adjunct professor at Virginia Tech, her self-developed course translates research and nature-based principles into performance-optimizing design solutions - while partnering with interdisciplinary global experts.
In this session, panelists explored how reconnecting people with nature through intentional design can support emotional, physical and even generational well-being. With insights from Jennifer Walsh of Walk with Walsh Media, Steve Nygren of Serenbe, architect Elizabeth Calabrese and Dr. Tuwanda Green of Virginia Tech, the discussion moved beyond biophilia as trend and rooted it in science, history and social equity.
Biophilia as a Human Imperative, Not a Luxury
Biophilic design was reframed not as an aesthetic option but a biological and psychological necessity. Humans evolved in direct relationship with nature, and, as one panelist noted, built environments that ignore this reality can contribute to stress, disorientation, and a loss of vitality. Another speaker emphasized the restorative power of nature-infused spaces, describing how biophilia offers emotional grounding and a counterbalance to the overstimulating, disconnected modern world. The panel agreed that biophilic design is as much about inner healing as it is about sustainability.
One panelist introduced a critical and often overlooked concept: biophobia. For some communities, especially those shaped by generational trauma, the natural world may evoke fear or discomfort rather than peace. Using the example of African Americans traveling through dangerous terrain via the Underground Railroad, the speaker illustrated how forests and rivers can carry painful associations. This trauma is not just emotional—it can be embedded in the body through epigenetic changes. Yet, they added, those markers can be softened or even reversed through environments that are safe, culturally aware and human-centered rather than image-driven.
Cluster Communities and the Power of Intentional Development
A speaker highlighted a community designed around the principles of biophilia. Through cluster development, the project preserved large tracts of forest and farmland while creating compact, walkable neighborhoods. The outcome is a thriving example of how land use aligned with natural systems can improve both ecological and human health. The panelist shared that the community has seen no cases of childhood asthma—a statistic that speaks to the deep connection between the built environment and public health. This success required disregarding conventional development models and proving that alternative approaches can work at scale.
Nature in the City: Where Biophilia Matters Most
Though many biophilic projects are located in rural or suburban areas, panelists emphasized the importance of bringing nature back into cities. One example involved a city that redesigned its stormwater infrastructure as public green space, creating multifunctional areas that doubled as community gathering places and ecological corridors. A speaker noted that urban centers, where stress and density are highest, have the greatest need for biophilic integration.
Cities that weave natural systems into their infrastructure can improve resilience, equity and livability all at once.
Despite the promise of biophilic design, outdated zoning laws and rigid building codes often stand in the way. Panelists described how meaningful change often requires challenging or rewriting these rules, which were created under assumptions that no longer serve today’s social or environmental realities. Biophilic design cannot scale without policy shifts that allow—or better yet, encourage—innovative land use and architecture. The panel agreed that communities must empower local champions who are willing to push boundaries and rethink what’s possible in the places they call home.
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