ENHANCE – Mastering Tools and Concepts

While the earlier sections introduced the foundations of biophilic design and gave learners the opportunity to explore and create nature-integrated spaces, this final section focuses on how Augmented Reality (AR) can enhance learning, deepen spatial understanding, and communicate biophilic ideas more effectively.

In secondary education, particularly in STEM-based learning, AR has emerged as a powerful tool to bridge abstract environmental concepts with concrete spatial experience. As research by Wu et al. (2020) and Tang et al. (2022) shows, AR increases engagement, supports complex spatial reasoning, and enhances students' ability to design and analyze 3D environments. These qualities make it particularly well-suited for visualizing biophilic elements in urban contexts, where layout, environmental flow, and materiality play key roles.

Through AR, digital devices allow learners to place nature-inspired features such as trees, shade structures, or water elements into real-world surroundings. This helps them imagine greener cities and simulate and evaluate their own ideas, reinforcing the connection between environmental thinking and digital creativity.

Below is a curated list of AR tools that support the exploration and communication of biophilic principles by students aged 14–18. Each tool offers different affordances—from simple drag-and-drop interfaces to more complex, simulation-based design platforms.

Recommended AR Tools for Biophilic Design and STEM Learning