Designing Green Spaces for Health

Using Plants to Reduce the Spread of Airborne Viruses

Stevie Famulari

• Publisher: Productivity Press
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9780367683146
• eBook ISBN: 9781000485165
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Sustainability in Architecture
• Index: Business

This book focuses on using plants in spatial design to reduce the infectiousness of viruses in different working and living spaces. It presents strategies for interior and exterior green designs with plants that are likely effective for flu virus tolerance and reduction of infectiousness. The designs are appealing for interaction and healing, as well as focusing on the reduction and removal of virus infectiousness.

The Famulari Theory requires examining plants that are likely effective for virus accumulation based on their leaves with stomata, trichomes, and dense leaf growth, and transpiration rate accumulation of airborne viruses. In addition, this research requires reviewing the quantity and specific types of plants (as well as electronic sources, such as humidifiers and water features) needed to produce effective humidity for plants to decrease the infectiousness or transmission of viruses; the effective distance of people to plants; and light, water, soil, and temperature needs.

The book addresses the various greening practices that can be applied to sites to reduce the infectiousness of the airborne flu virus – especially in areas such as train stations, restaurants, rooftops, courtyards, office buildings and work spaces/conference rooms, and the home office – and the ways that businesses owners and residents can integrate these practices to reduce the air contaminants with a green solution.

Designing green spaces that accumulate, reduce, and remove the infectiousness of viruses involves exploring multiple approaches from different directions to achieve the most effective and ideal design. The six basic approaches include

1. Temperature minimum of 70° Fahrenheit

2. Plants with multiple stomata on the leaf surfaces

3. Plants with multiple clumps of dense leaves with a high transpiration rate

4. Plants with rough leaf surfaces or with trichomes (plant hairs) on the leaf

5. Relative humidity (RH) minimum of 43% or higher

6. Air circulation to direct air with the airborne flu virus to the planted areas

Stevie Famulari brings unique insights and inspires the development of green understanding and design solution plans with both short-term and long-term approaches. Illustrations of greening applied to locations help you understand your own design solutions to create them in your site. This book breaks down the misconceptions of the complexity of sustainability and green practices and provides illustrations and site-appropriate green solutions that you can incorporate into your lifestyle for a healthier site. Greening is a lifestyle change, and this guide lets you know how easy it is to transition to the green side to improve your health.

Section 1
Applying the Green Design and Sciences to Six Different Sites

Chapter 1
Connecting Green Design and Sciences to Illustrate the Famulari Theory and Green Site Design Introduction

DOI: 10.4324/9781003136880-2

Image 1.1 The Famulari Theory is illustrated with the six pieces which reduce the infectiousness of the airborne flu. These include: (1) the temperature of the space as a minimum of 70°F; (2) using plants which have stomata on the leaves to help with transpiration (humidity); (3) using plants which have leaves which grow densely; (4) using plants with trichomes (plant hairs) on the leaves; (5) minimum of 43% humidity in the space; and (6) air circulation to move the air with viruses to the plant leaves and humidity.

Introduction to the Famulari Theory

This chapter discusses a new green theory, titled the Famulari Theory of Using Plants and Green Design for Reducing the Flu Virus or shortened to the Famulari Theory. This theory uses multiple approaches including the use of plants and other elements to reduce the infectiousness of the airborne influenza (flu) viruses. Through the use of plants and other elements, the application of this theory creates healthier air quality and spaces for people as well as for plants.

The Famulari Theory is a theory which combines arts and sciences to create designs with living green plants to help reduce the infectiousness of the airborne flu virus in a space. There are a few layers to this, including more information about the six elements of the Famulari Theory, the sciences behind it, the arts of it, and the applications of the theory to existing sites.

The heart and soul of the theory come through in the first part of the book with the applications of the theory shown on existing sites. These sites have diverse conditions, and a variety of people who use the site. Understanding the theory itself in more detail is the goal of the second section of this book.

Design strategies are used for creating interior and exterior green designs with plants that are likely effective for virus accumulation and reducing infectiousness. The designs are appealing for huwomxn interaction and healing as well as the function of reduction of the virus’s infectiousness. The totality of the combined six pieces of the theory is directed towards a development of the new green theory and design application for healthier environments through improved air quality. The designs are appealing for huwomxn interaction and healing as well as the reduction of the virus’s infectiousness.

Designing spaces which improve the health of those who use the space, specifically for the airborne flu virus, is the specific premise of the Famulari Theory. The implication of this work is that with further research other viruses can be reduced in infectiousness by utilizing living green designs with plants.

The Six Pieces of the Famulari Theory

As a greening designer (someone who uses plants and other healthy materials and processes in designing), creating spaces which are inspiring to experience is part of what I am continually excited about in my works. This theory focuses on the combination of arts and sciences to use plants in spatial design to reduce the infectiousness of the airborne flu viruses through planted designs. This knowledge can be applied to engaging interior and exterior green sites which are beneficial for health in practical and desirable applications.

The Famulari Theory addresses the various greening practices that can be applied to sites in order to reduce the infectiousness of the airborne flu virus. This book inspires healthy designs for the public park to the green roofs of office buildings, airports, business offices, conference rooms, and the home office. This book addresses ways in which business owners and residents can integrate green design to improve the air contaminants with a living green solution.

The Famulari Theory requires looking at plants which are likely effective for flu virus accumulation and the reduction of infectiousness. These plants have multiple stomata (small pores on the leaf that open and close) on the leaves for transpiration (releasing water vapors into the air), as well as tolerance and accumulation of airborne contaminants and viruses. Additionally, this research requires looking at the quantity and specific type of plants (as well as electronic sources such as humidifiers and water features) needed to produce effective relative humidity for plants to decrease the survival or transmission of viruses. Further elements include creating effective distances of people to plants, light, water, soil, and temperature needs.

Designing green spaces which reduce the infectiousness of viruses involves exploring multiple approaches from different directions to achieve the most effective and ideal design. The six approaches include:

1. Temperature minimum of 70°F
2. Plants with multiple stomata on the leaf surfaces
3. Plants with multiple clumps of dense leaves with a high transpiration rate
4. Plants with rough leaf surfaces or with trichomes (plant hairs) on the leaf
5. Relative humidity minimum of 43% or higher
6. Air circulation to direct air with the airborne flu virus to the planted areas

Image 1.2
Restaurant with the Famulari Theory applied.

The pieces of the Famulari Theory are put together to explain how, when working in combination, they can lead to reduce the infectiousness of the airborne flu with plants and other elements.. The Famulari Theory also involves circulating the air towards the plants in order for the airborne viruses to get to the plan...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Endorsements
• Half-Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author
• Introduction
• SECTION 1 Applying the Green Design and Sciences to Six Different Sites
• SECTION 2 The Famulari Theory, Breaking Down the Theory
• Bibliography
• Image Credits
• Index