Full Title:         
Biophilic Smart Cities – Urban, Nature, People Relations in Arid Regions

Author:             
Halimeh AbuAyyash

Semester:         
3^rd

Supervisors:     
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Breuste - University of Salzburg, Austria
Prof. Roland Dieterle – HFT Stuttgart, Germany

Date: ??        
Winter semester 2020-21

Awards:            
"Best of 2021" by HFT Stuttgart

The United Nations estimates that by 2025 over two-thirds of the world’s population will reside in regions considered water stressed. A critical dimension of the search for resilient cities is the constant need to accommodate the rapid population growth, whilst at the same time conserving natural systems. Many cities are employing smart solutions and latest technologies to enhance the quality of life and achieve the sustainable urbanization that incorporates good urban planning, provide efficient services and networks while conserving natural systems and resources.
The growing recognition of the need for daily contact with nature raised interests in the Biophilic model as it argues the innate relation that people have and are born with towards nature; the concept was promoted as a response to the rapid urbanization that was leading to disconnection from natural systems.
The research focused on two main points. The first, examined the opportunities for including nature in arid regions to achieve the biophilic model under arid conditions, arguing reasons why nature was less included, and illustrating urban nature, people relations that affected the quality of life and the human cognition of nature. The second purpose was to develop principles and rules to achieve biophilia in arid regions with the use of technology and smart solutions. The research provided a comprehensive analysis of current evidence on how our human communities need nature in and around them to thrive; that lead to highlight the actions and recommendations to consider when planning smart biophilic cities in arid regions.