Fractals: The health-giving qualities of Natural Geometry
The design of the universe is said to be fractal from internal biological structures to plants, animals, landscapes and galaxies. So, a fractal is essentially a pattern or a structure that repeats itself in increasingly fine scales, and so it creates shapes of rich visual complexity.
The fern plant is a good example of fractal geometry in nature you’ll see that the whole shape of the fern repeats itself the closer we look so you will see that the blade is the same as the leaflet, which is the same as the sub-leaflet, so this repeating structure makes up the larger shape.
Fractals occur over a wide range of sizes from microscopic to galactic. “Dark matter in our universe, even on these scales you can find the same fractal branching patterns as in the neurons in your brain, in rivers or in lightening”. Fractals are omnipresent in nature, the distinguishing characteristic being the self-similarity of repeating patterns in which every small part resembles that of the whole.“And all of the repetition of patterns builds a very complex and rich and fractured pattern, all that it is a repetition of patterns at different size scales, nature builds patterns by just repeating them at different magnifications”
We see fractals in individual objects such as plants, leaves, trees and animals, but also larger fractal composites are formed when neighbouring objects combine visually, such as mountain ranges, treetops, clouds, coastlines and rivers. “So, when you stare out at a typical scene you're absolutely crammed with these repeating fractal patterns”. Within less then 100 milliseconds the process in the brain that determines an environments health giving qualities and attraction or avoidance has subconsciously occurred meaning that we have already reacted to the visual stimuli of an environment, before we have consciously done so.
Beyond the aesthetic attraction to our environment fractal patterns of the right dimension have been shown to exert measurable healing effects on humans, for more reading on this i’d recommend the papers shown here: Article(s); “Using Eye Tracking to Reveal Responses to the Built Environment and its Constituents” Hernen J. Rosas, Ann Sussman, Abigail C. Sekely and Alexandros A. Lavdas. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/21/12071
The paper’s summarise how the eyes have evolved over millions of years in environments full of fractals and as such we have developed a visual system based on fractal structure. Eye tracing software shows how the visual system registers and responds to fractal and non-fractal environments and the implications this has on our physical and mental health, it also covers how the fractal structures in our eyes matches that of the fractal structures found in nature, and why we resonate with theses. As well as the idea of fractal fluency being that the eyes can and process large areas and are drawn to certain fractal structures which are supportive of life and survival.
Fractal dimension is the measure of the complexity of a fractal we refer to this measure as the D-value so for reference a straight line has a D-value of one, a basic filled shape has a D-value of two, well fractal patterns lie between these values of one and two, in nature the fractal dimension values of coastlines, plants, trees, clouds, waves, hills, rock formations, ext.. have fractal dimensional values ranging from 1.2 to 1.7 the closer the values are to two the more complex the fractals become.In contrast to the natural fractal environments many urban environments and cityscapes are non-fractal rather they’re comprised of Euclidean architecture being straight lines right angles and monotonously repetitive basic filled shapes. Interestingly eye tracking experiments show that the unconscious visual system dose not register these non-fractal surfaces, but when in fractal environments the unconscious visual system is constantly being drawn to and processing fractal structures, only in recent years have we found ourselves in the metropolis of sleek squared off buildings with low visual complexity and this in in part why urban environments are suggested to be a causal factor in psychological stress, anxiety and despair.
So experiments show that when the eyes scan mid ranged fractal patterns which are found in nature, it causes a potent wave of the neurotransmitters epinephrine, dopamine, phenylethylamine and endorphins, which induces an autonomous state of relaxation and significantly reduces stress in fact studies by Richard Taylor show stress reduction of 60 and 44 percent respectively using EEG and skin conduction measures. The findings of the study go on to describe viewing fractals as a potent non-medical intervention for those recovering from surgery. Article: “Reduction of Physiological Stress Using Fractal Art and Architecture” R.P Taylor, Leonardo (2006) 39 (3): 245-251. https://doi.org/10.1162/leon.2006.39.3.245
Upon viewing fractals, we actually experience a neuro-aesthetic biological response to them rather than a subjective aesthetic interpretation of them, put simply we experience physiological changes in a fractal environment out of our conscious control, and is why we may be drawn to them innately rather than a chosen preference for them. EEG analysis of the brain also indicates that when in fractal environments both alpha and beta brainwaves are greatly heightened which induces a state of relaxation and arousal, this causes a state of being wakefully restful in which the brain is able to relax and restore from the constant mode of directed attention in chaotic environments, here stress is freed up form the mind allowing the mind to work in other areas i.e. reflection, introspection, creativity or just blissful awareness, out of the cerebral mind of constant thinking and ruminating over thoughts, past conversations and future worries.
So finally, the consideration of fractals is prevalent in the field of architecture in which strong recommendations are being proposed to move building design away from the sleek and shiny designs of modern cities and instead consider biophilic and biomimicry design, this being the incorporation of nature into architecture and building design which emulates the fractal design of nature. Just looking at these photos, I have a strong sense of calm and tranquillity, as I have discussed multi-fractal environments bolster wellbeing and lessen stress. We see examples of fractal design being used throughout different cultures from the hanging gardens of Babylon, Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries, Christian churches, Islamic mosques and African settlements, all of which have inspired awe and wonder in so many people throughout history.
Singapore is an example of a modern city which has embraced this approach their motto is to “be a city within a garden” rather than having a garden within a city. “How do we then design in such a way that we embrace nature, we try to bring nature into the city” By incorporating these nourishing natural fractal environments into urban architecture in this way it would be transformative in a societal way in terms of peoples personal headspace and their interactions with one another in their environments, I do believe that this is our evolutionary path to strike this balance, to live more naturally in a modern world, but for now in most cases, the urban environment is one which is not conducive to calm but one to stress, anxiety, depression and melancholy.
I believe that seeking out natural environments full of fractals is essential to your health and well-being as a homo-sapien I believe it’s a fundamental need, a non-negotiable, I’d like to thank you for listening. Thankyou.
If nothing else just get you self out, nature will give you abundance, trust me, serious energies.
