Bio-Aesthetic Planning and Benefits
The term "bio-aesthetic planning", given by Prof. Lancelot Hogben, refers to the conscious
planning of the flora and the fauna with the objective of beautifying our surroundings or country.
In India, the theme of bio-aesthetic planning was propagated by Dr. M.S. Randhawa who gave a
practical shape to it in planning Chandigarh along with the famous architect Le Corbusier, and
his associates, Pierre Jeanneret, E. Maxwell Fry and Jane B. Drew. The term bio-aesthetic
planning embraces both the science of animal and plants and is recognized as the planned
ecology of living organisms from the artistic and aesthetic point of view. The aim behind this
concept is to plant ornamental flowering trees along with roads, in parks, house compounds,
public places, and also to develop national parks where non-carnivorous animals and beautiful
birds will find sanctuary along with the beautiful flora. This includes all aspects of landscape
gardening in the wider sense.
Bio-aesthetic planning can play important role in environmental amelioration of urban and
industrial areas along with their beautification. With the greater realization of environmental,
ecological and socio-economic benefits of plants, scope of Bio-aesthetic planning has increased
further. It is only with a touch of bio-aesthetic planning that the countryside and other places will
look not only natural but pleasing too to the eye. The bio-aesthetic planner is the key player
whose canvas is the entire country and whose pigments are the beautiful landscape plants. In bio-
aesthetic planning, the ecological adaptation of the plats should be given due importance. Bio-
aesthetic planning should run hand-in-hand with town planning. Bio-aesthetic plans should be
drawn as a part of the master plans to realize its full potential. People's participation through Park
Management Committees, Kitchen Garden Societies, Eco-clubs etc. is very essential at all the
stages, from planning to management, for making the country beautiful as a whole.
Benefits of Bio-aesthetic Planning
Bio-aesthetic planning not only beautifies the environment but also makes it more livable and
ecologically stable. It improves microclimate, mitigates pollution, helps in noise abatement,
creates habitat for many animal species, adds variety of form, colour and texture to the
environment and brings about positive changes in human behaviour.
Areas for Bio-aesthetic Planning
Public places which belong to the community as a whole, rather than to individuals, should be
given priority in bio-aesthetic planning. Thus, a large section of the society, specially those who
are unable to afford private home gardens of their own will be able to enjoy the scenic beauty of
plants and flowers. Different areas for bio-aesthetic planning in towns and countryside are
mentioned below:
� Public parks and gardens.
� Public places such as hospitals, banks, courts, post offices, university campuses, schools,
colleges, dak bungalows, etc.
� National, state, district, block and village roads.
� Airports, railway tracks, bus stands, bus terminals, railway stations, railway junctions,
highways and canal banks.
� Religious places such as temples, mosques, churches, gurdwaras, etc.
� Village panchayat ghars, community lands, chaupals, etc.
� Burning ghats, cemeteries, etc.
� Private hotels, shopping complexes, private residential colonies, etc.
� Individual home gardens.
