Title Featured Photo: Japan Nakama (1)

Naturalness is one of the most compelling aesthetics. However, in its purest form, nature itself is not an aesthetic. Nature is not an artistic creation made by humans to invoke beauty or emotion—it simply exists as it is. However, we humans can interpret nature to be beautiful, and—with this—we can create things that draw off of the free form of nature to inspire a natural aesthetic. This aesthetic emphasizes the harmony and simplicity of the real world, aiming to invoke feelings of tranquility in those who experience it.

Britannica (2)

The natural aesthetic encourages appreciation of the unaltered world around us. By using materials, colors, and forms derived from the environment, it fosters a sense of connection and unity between the observer and the design. Since naturalness comes from the untouched, it cannot be attributed to a specific person as a creator. However, certain figures have played significant roles in its popularization.

Behance (3)

Yuriko Saito is one of the key contributors to naturalism, which has grown more popular in recent decades. Saito takes a unique approach, arguing that “elements within a natural environment gain aesthetic interest when they become the focus of a narrative” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). This concept aligns deeply with the idea that beauty exists organically everywhere; it is simply up to us, as artists, to bring it to light.

Universidad de Navarra (4)

Naturalism has notably influenced architectural design in the 21st century, particularly through biophilic design. Biophilic design connects building occupants more closely to nature, integrating natural elements into the built environment to create spaces that foster unity and well-being. (Sageglass).

One Kind Design (5)

An interesting example of naturalness in urban architecture is Marina One in Singapore. Designed by Ingenhoven Architects, it features a three-story garden called the “Green Heart,” which sits at the core of the development. This diverse garden space, filled with various types of flora, enhances the aesthetic of the space while blending the urban environment with organic elements. It offers a “tranquil escape” from what would otherwise be an overwhelming urban zone (Landscape). Additionally, this design is interesting because it incorporates its own sustainability. The implementation of all the foliage actually assists in evaporative cooling, which significantly decreases the energy required to cool the urban space. The naturalness aesthetic and sustainability go hand in hand, and Marina One is a perfect example of this correspondence. 

Architectual Record (6)

Overall, naturalism is an aesthetic emphasizing the representation of nature in art and design. It seeks to portray the natural world authentically, focusing on the beauty found in what already occurs on its own. Rather than idealizing nature, naturalism celebrates its inherent imperfections, presenting it as it is. This aesthetic values harmony with the environment and highlights the interplay between human-made and natural elements, all while also promoting sustainability.

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Images:

  1. Japan Nakama. “The Significance of Anime and Architecture.” Japan Nakama, 2023. https://www.japannakama.com/significance-anime-architecture.
  2. Britannica. “Japanese Garden – Zen, Nature, Aesthetics.” Britannica, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/art/Japanese-garden.
  3. Behance. “Strands: Natural Form and Aesthetic.” Behance, 2023. https://www.behance.net/gallery/123456789/Strands-Natural-Form-and-Aesthetic.
  4. Universidad de Navarra. “El cuidado de los demás no es solo una cuestión fundamentalmente ética, sino también una práctica estética.” Universidad de Navarra, 2023. https://en.unav.edu/news/-/contents/27/10/2023/el-cuidado-de-los-demas-no-es-solo-una-cuestion-fundamentalmente-etica-sino-tambien-una-practica-estetica/content/lovPblW1fC70/71782041.
  5. Dwell. “Japanese Garden Oasis Surrounds a Home on Shores of Lake Washington.” Dwell, 2023. https://www.dwell.com/article/japanese-garden-oasis-surrounds-a-home-on-shores-of-lake-washington-1be0cfce.
  6. Architectural Record. “Marina One by Ingenhoven Architects.” Architectural Record, July 1, 2018. https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13479-marina-one-by-ingenhoven-architects

Sources:

  1. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. “Environmental Aesthetics.” Stanford University, 2023. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/environmental-aesthetics/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
  2. Sageglass. “Seven Principles of Biophilic Design.” SageGlass, 2023. https://www.sageglass.com/industry-insights/seven-principles-biophilic-design?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
  3. Landscape Coac. “Marina One Singapore.” Landscape Coac, 2023. https://landscape.coac.net/en/node/225?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

4 Comments. Leave new

  • The distinction between nature and naturalness is very interesting to me and I love the philosophy from you and Yuriko Saito that emphasized nature has to be the focus of the aesthetic, but without human contribution nature doesn’t necessarily form its own aesthetic. I wonder why nature has such a powerful ability to calm people, especially when intentionally designed with man made features that combine two such seemingly opposing aesthetics. Could it have something to do with combining what we know and what surrounds us? I’m a big fan of the Marina One example as well, that exemplifies naturalness in a great way.

    • Cooper Kramis
      January 28, 2025 6:47 pm

      Max, thanks for the comment! Your question made me think a lot about what nature does to invoke feelings in us as humans. My response is that not all of nature is calming. In fact, there are many attributes of nature that are quite threatening, such as a lightning storm or fire. I believe when we think of “nature” as a blanket term, we choose inspirations that are calming, such as a lush forest bed. I think that this particular attribution is calming because it reminds us of safety. We have been biologically programmed to appraise threats vs. safety, and the aesthetic that I wrote about with “naturalness” I believe portreys a safe environment.

  • Garrison Nazare
    January 26, 2025 5:00 pm

    Hi Cooper,

    I enjoyed reading about the naturalness aesthetic. It was interesting how you distinguished between aesthetics and nature and how they contribute to each other. I also liked how you referenced Yuriko Saito when defining and explaining naturalism. One thing you could add is the concept of sustainability. A lot of buildings that have natural aesthetics are eco-driven. The building that you showed in Singapore is incredible. One River North is being built in Denver and follows the natural aesthetic you highlighted in this blog post.

    • Cooper Kramis
      January 28, 2025 6:51 pm

      Garrison, thanks for the feedback! I definitely believe sustainability is an integral part of the naturalism aesthetic. I think those of us who appreciate the calming derivations from nature are in favor of protecting the environment from which we get these inspirations. My example with Marina One incorporates sustainability in its design; I will update my post to highlight the details of this sustainable concept embedded within this aesthetic!

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