Biophilic Urbanism: Integrating Nature-Based Design Strategies to Enhance Psychological Well-Being in Dense Cities

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and increasing population density have intensified concerns regarding mental health, environmental stress, and reduced access to nature in contemporary cities. Biophilic urbanism has emerged as a nature-based design paradigm that seeks to reintegrate natural elements and processes into the built environment to enhance psychological well-being and urban livability. This paper examines biophilic urban design strategies within dense urban contexts, focusing on their capacity to mitigate stress, restore cognitive functioning, and foster emotional resilience among urban populations. Drawing on interdisciplinary research from environmental psychology, urban design, and public health, the study synthesizes evidence linking nature-integrated urban spaces to improved mental health outcomes. It further analyzes spatial, architectural, and infrastructural approaches—ranging from green corridors and vertical landscapes to sensory-rich public spaces—that operationalize biophilic principles at multiple urban scales. The paper argues that biophilic urbanism is not merely an aesthetic or ecological intervention but a critical framework for designing psychologically supportive cities in an era of intensifying urban density and environmental uncertainty.