Movements and Metaphors: The Biophilia Hypothesis, Feng-Shui, and Restorative Landscape Design

Abstract

This study creates a modern, adapted conceptual definition of the qi theory that is common to both feng-shui and Chinese medicine for comparison with restorative landscape theoretic frameworks. These two systems of knowledge are rooted in ancient qi theory. The roots of this theory are developed in the Chinese classic canon Yi Jing (Book of Changes). This conceptual definition of qi theory is used to understand classical Chinese feng-shui references as design informants for restorative landscapes. A comparison of the two central theoretic frameworks used for research concerning evidence-based design’s study of nature-based restoration is made: the conceptual definition and design informants for Stephen and Rachel Kaplan’s “Attention Restoration Theory (ART)” and the conceptual definition and design informants Roger Ulrich’s “Stress Reduction Theory (SRT)” are the restoration theory frameworks. The “sweet spot” of intersection of these theoretic frameworks informs an overall synthesis of the most universal aspects of theories. The result is a set of design informants for restorative landscape design.