Soft Fascination Planter Table

Soft Fascination Planting 

KDI cohort students got the opportunity to be guest curators of the Biophilic Net-Positive Design Project's Biophilia Table in the HGA gallery at Rapson Hall. The table, which features a 2' x 3' planter in its center, was initially constructed and used for an exhibition on Biophilic design and has remained a popular feature of the gallery. 

As guest curators of the table planting, the KDI cohort wanted their planting to reflect recent conversations about horticultural therapy, forest bathing, healing landscapes and mental health. The design concept of the planting is centered around the idea of soft fascination, or the effortless attention of nature and natural elements. 

This planting uses a variety of materials, textures and spatial planes to capture the mind of the observer. Collected wood, rocks and other natural materials are arranged with several species of plants creating a dense, heavily textured, topographically diverse scene blending physical materials from our region with green plant life. 

This scene invites observers to carefully look at the planting with all its glorious nooks and crannies, textures and colors. It encourages slowing down and engages the mind in a gentle, green way.

What is Soft Fascination? 

Soft fascination can be thought of as effortless attention. It draws on our attraction to fascinating stimuli without requiring sustained effort or conscious control. We can find soft fascination most often in the natural world through sensory experiences like the movements of plants in the wind, the sound of water moving, or the textures and colors of plants, soil, stone, wood and natural elements. 

How does it relate to human health? 

Soft Fascination is an element of Attention Restoration Theory (ART) put forward by Stephen and Rachel Kaplan—first in their 1989 book, The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective, and in subsequent research related to human health, environmental design and psychology and nature-based therapeutics. 

In ART, there are two types of attention systems, directed and involuntary. Direct attention involves activities where we expend effort to focus our attention—studying, working on a project, following a storyline in a show, or reading—really anything that requires prolonged focus. Humans don’t have an endless supply of direct attention, after a while we experience mental fatigue and our capacity to focus and regulate our emotions diminishes.  The second type of attention, called involuntary or effortless, operates largely in the background of our minds and can be stimulated by natural elements and the outdoors. 

According to ART, Soft Fascination and the mental space it creates permits reflection and the resolution of internal noise. This, in turn, reduces future attentional demands and enhances recovery from mental fatigue.

How does it relate to biophilic design? 

Biophilic design seeks to connect the built environment with humans' affinity to nature. Biophilic design uses our attraction and allegiance to nature and natural processes to create built environments that reflects our connection. Fascination can factor into biophilic design in many ways—from the inclusion of plants to the prioritization of natural sounds, lighting and materials into our spaces. Natural textures, colors, lighting, water elements, views, air flow and ventilation, and vegetation are some ways of bringing fascination into design. 

Are there ways to practice Soft Fascination?

The best ways to experience soft fascination is through any activity that involves natural elements and results in the opening of space in your mind for reflection and restoration. 

Some ideas: 

• A walk outside 

• Sitting outside 

• Looking out of a window or door that looks out upon trees, plants, water, animals or natural light 

• Practicing observational, nature or sound meditation 

• Practicing mindfulness and body awareness