Biophilic Attribute Mapping Across Green Rating Systems for Delhi Housing Adaptation

Abstract

Biophilic design is associated with restorative and well-being benefits; however, its integration
into building rating systems remains uneven. This study aims to map biophilic attributes across
27 international and 2 national rating systems and assess their relevance to Delhi housing, using
Kellert’s 72 attributes as a benchmark. It employs a PRISMA-guided systematic review and
credit-attribute mapping of official rating-system documents to code explicit and implicit
biophilic credits. LBC leads with mandatory "Biophilic Environments" (83 credits, 92%
coverage); WELL v2 follows (43 credits, 71% with explicit thresholds), while LEED v4/v5
trails (32% coverage, despite v5's "Connecting Nature" credit). BREEAM-NL HEA 10 offers
residential-specific indicators. IGBC India achieves 22% biophilic credits. Environmental
Features and Place-based Relationships are most consistently represented, evolved Human
Nature Relationships and Natural Patterns and Processes are rare. The findings reveal a gap
between global benchmarks and Delhi’s density-stressed housing context, supporting the need
for a climate-responsive biophilic adaptation framework.