This exhibition explores how Charlottesville and Albemarle County could pioneer the world’s first Biophilic Region—a model for integrating nature into urban and regional governance. Building on the global momentum of biophilic urbanism, the region is uniquely positioned to redefine what it means for cities and landscapes to serve as multispecies habitats.

Featured is a regional asset analysis developed in Fall 2024 by students in Mona El Khafif’s Urban Strategies course, examining biophilic potential through seven lenses: recreation, water management, land conservation, agriculture, sustainable development, cultural heritage, and wildlife. Complementary projects by faculty and students across the School highlight design research at multiple scales and disciplinesfor improving the environment for humans and non-humans alike. Together, these works imagine nature-connected futures where cities and regions are not merely inhabitable for people, but for all life forms.