The concept of ecobiology
The word ‘ecobiology’ derives from ‘eco’ – home, environment, ‘bio’ – life, ‘logos’ –study, so it stands for the logic of a human’s life within an ecological and clean environment.
The concept of the ecobiological approach dates back to the early 1960s when American architects decided to change the principle of stone boxes for architecture based on the logic of nature.
Megacities saturated with buildings, pollution, endless bustling and stress bring up a natural urge to spend some time outdoors on one’s own in order to replenish one’s energy and get some inspiration from nature itself.
If we analyse the logic behind the cities built over the last 150 years or so, we can conclude that the planning and construction were based not on the needs of people but on the needs of businesses.
And even today the main aspect defining the role of a city is how easily accessible its key enterprises or institutions are, how easy it is to carry out commercial activities between people and organisations, as well as to manage them.
The concept of ecobiology implies a complete reconsideration of the principles of town planning. While it does not reject existing practical tools, it allows to discover new simple opportunities using the logic of nature and human psychology. In other words, originality, functionality, economical and ecological factors should not come at the expense of aesthetic content.
Environmental education and ecobiology
The school of ontopsychology has been involved in restoration of the 12th century Lizory castle in Italy for 20 years and has been running a College-School project in Lizori for 10 years. This experience has helped ascertain that outdoor activities not only help recover from stress and depression but also increase the level of creativity, the feeling of happiness and make intellectual activity more efficient.
If we take into account the possibilities provided by technologies today, it becomes evident that we can live, work and create wealth outside office-like cities.
Ecobiology is a comprehensive study of integral human existence within nature together with preserving and improving the environment. Planting trees, cleaning rivers and generally looking after the area all contribute to improving the health situation and the quality of social life, as well as preserving nature itself.
Economic and cultural development of remote areas
Such projects promote economic and cultural development of remote areas. It would not be entirely accurate to say that this was a conscious idea at the early stages of such projects as Lizori in Italy or Recanto Maestro in Brazil. With time, however, economic and cultural growth was registered by the local authorities, international associations and confirmed by the people living nearby, too.
Ecobiological projects exist all across the world and include, first of all, intellectual tourism and also agritourism, rather popular in Europe, which contributes to natural economic growth and commercial activities in remote areas through the need to create and maintain the necessary infrastructure.
The concept of ecobiology is an enhanced art of town planning which sets a considerably different standard of living.