2. Execute — Applying Biophilic Design in Practice and Prototyping with AR

AR Prototyping: Visualizing Nature-Inspired Urban Futures

After developing a redesign concept through the design thinking process, learners move on to prototyping their ideas using Augmented Reality. AR offers an exciting opportunity to bring biophilic visions to life, enabling learners to place natural features within a digital replica of the selected urban space. This stage reinforces spatial reasoning and allows deeper engagement with previously conceptualized design elements.

Using platforms such as CoSpaces Edu or Assemblr EDU, learners create interactive 3D visualizations that include key biophilic components. These might consist of tree-lined promenades, rooftop gardens, reflective water basins, naturally ventilated corridors, or leaf-patterned canopies inspired by fractal geometry. The goal is to model the redesigned space with precise attention to environmental performance and user experience.

Recent studies show that AR can significantly support environmental education and creativity, especially when learners design with sustainability goals (Wu et al., 2020). In this exercise, learners are encouraged to annotate their designs, describing the function of each biophilic feature, the STEM principle it reflects, and the expected benefit for human and ecological health.

Beyond digital modeling, the AR prototypes can be used for presentation and peer review, where learners explain and defend their design decisions. This reflective phase adds a layer of critical thinking and communication skills, reinforcing design literacy and environmental awareness.