Assessing Biophilic Design Elements for ecosystem service attributes - A sub-tropical Australian case

Urban areas are conceptualised as aggregates of discrete elements designed and operating at building, neighbourhood or city scale. Collectively referring to these aggregates as ‘Biophilic Design Elements (BDE)’, the link between ecosystem services and designable urban elements is investigated. An existing ecosystem service assessment framework is adapted to an urban context, showing ecosystem service provision potential of BDE. By attributing ecosystem service potential to multiple BDE, discrete comparisons, inform choice-making in urban design and development. Specific initiatives which may sustain the availability of basic ecosystem services in urban contexts and their implication on urban design guidelines and policies that support mainstreaming of Biophilic Design are discussed