{"id":58264,"date":"2018-09-04T18:31:49","date_gmt":"2018-09-05T02:31:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=58264"},"modified":"2018-09-07T18:43:16","modified_gmt":"2018-09-08T02:43:16","slug":"could-architecture-be-impacting-how-productive-you-are","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/could-architecture-be-impacting-how-productive-you-are\/","title":{"rendered":"Could Architecture Be Impacting How Productive You Are?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There are so many things we can do to improve our productivity. We can read books, attend talks, create new routines for ourselves – but arguably most importantly, we can work towards improving our wellbeing. Exercising more, adopting a healthy diet, and generally looking after our health is a surefire route to our most productive selves; but could there be another layer to our wellbeing, one that we\u2019re less aware of, that also impacts how productive we are? <\/b><\/p>\n

The short answer is yes. As our knowledge of health and our research into productivity develop further, it\u2019s becoming increasingly apparent that it\u2019s not just the things we do that impact our wellbeing and how productive we are – it\u2019s where we do them. Building design and architecture have been identified as significant factors in the wellness of the people who regularly occupy a building, either as their home or workplace, and if we want to truly embrace our most productive selves, this could be a vital factor. <\/span><\/p>\n

How can a building make you more or less productive? <\/b><\/h2>\n

Unfortunately, our increased awareness of this issue has not come about because we\u2019ve stumbled across the secret to unlocking productivity through building design, but because we\u2019ve realised the damaging effects poor architecture can have on our ability to function. The way in which building design affects our productivity is directly related to how a space impacts our wellbeing – although a psychological element could also be present. <\/span><\/p>\n

Air quality<\/b><\/h3>\n

In the most basic sense, if the air we\u2019re breathing is of poor quality, then we\u2019re not going to be able to perform at our best. There are a few different things that contribute to the quality of air, including CO2 levels, pollutants, and general ventilation, and the <\/span>scientific consensus is<\/span><\/a> that if the air in a building isn\u2019t of high quality, cognitive function can be impaired.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Light levels<\/b><\/h3>\n

Using the term \u2018levels\u2019 might be a little misleading here, because while the level of light is important (relevant to problems such as eye strain, which is particularly relevant for office worked who use a computer), it isn\u2019t necessarily the factor that has the biggest impact on our wellbeing and productivity; when it comes to architecture and building design, the thing that has the most profound effect on our cognitive and practical functions is how much natural light we have access to.<\/span><\/p>\n

Natural light provides our bodies with vitamin D, which in turn promotes healthy bone growth, and has been found to actively contribute to our physical and cognitive productivity. Put simply, if the indoor environments we spend time in are poorly naturally lit, our productivity can suffer – particularly in the winter, when the daylight hours are shorter. <\/span><\/p>\n

Visual Aesthetics <\/b><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s not only biology that has an impact on our productivity: psychology plays a vital role too. Many will have seen or heard advice noting how important it is to our productivity that our working environments inspire us, and while we can sometimes take direct control of this, it also relates directly to building design. <\/span><\/p>\n

Interior and exterior aesthetics are a fundamental part of the architectural process, and it\u2019s becoming increasingly apparent that they also have a tangible effect on our cognitive and even physical functionality, which in turn dictates how productive we are. In the most basic sense: a dull, ugly building with poor views, poor lighting, and a \u2018cold\u2019 visual feel isn\u2019t likely make us feel particularly inspired – and as a result, we likely won\u2019t work as productively as we could (and should).<\/span><\/p>\n

This might seem a little pseudoscientific, but there is a surprising amount of evidence to back this up. For instance, <\/span>a report<\/span><\/a> from the World Green Building Council noted that \u201cLonger distance views, away from computer screens or written documents […] reduce(s) fatigue, headaches and the effects of eye strain in the long term. Views also have a positive impact on wellbeing, in part by providing a psychological connection with other groups of people while in a safe space\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

The same report also acknowledged that \u201chealthy offices have colours, textures, and materials that are welcoming, calming and evoke nature.\u201d, because \u201cVisual appeal is a major factor in workplace satisfaction.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

How is this knowledge informing architecture and building design?<\/b><\/h2>\n

While all of this might be interesting, what truly matters is how we\u2019re implementing this knowledge in the way we design and construct new buildings (as well as renovating existing spaces). As the population grows, and entirely new generations enter the workforce, understanding how our buildings affect productivity is only one piece of the puzzle – we also need to actually do something about it. <\/span><\/p>\n

Admittedly we\u2019re not yet at a stage where this is a central pillar of all architectural design, but crucially, this is something that architects are increasingly becoming aware of and challenging in their practice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings Program at the Harvard Center for Health and the Global Environment, <\/span>noted that<\/span><\/a> \u201cWe have been ignoring the 90{54c12dad2cc2b53ae830e39915b1a3e70288dbcbbeb8bbf8395437c5dc3c512c}. We spend 90{54c12dad2cc2b53ae830e39915b1a3e70288dbcbbeb8bbf8395437c5dc3c512c} of our time indoors and 90{54c12dad2cc2b53ae830e39915b1a3e70288dbcbbeb8bbf8395437c5dc3c512c} of the cost of a building are the occupants, yet indoor environmental quality and its impact on health and productivity are often an afterthought.\u201d Clearly this isn\u2019t an issue that those in the industry are willing to sweep under the rug.<\/span><\/p>\n

In recent decades, an increasing amount of action has been taken by those responsible for building design, indicating that we could be on the way towards a brighter, greener, more productive built environment. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Biophilic\u2019 architecture, (design which incorporates a closer relationship with nature – something that has been shown to improve our productivity), is <\/span>increasingly being embraced<\/span><\/a> within the industry. Areas of focus for innovation have also been realigned, with many specialists using our health and wellbeing as a basis for the design of some of the most groundbreaking and cutting-edge building work – just take a look at this <\/span>home made entirely from glass<\/span><\/a>, which was designed to help us retune our circadian rhythms, improve our wellbeing, and help us become more productive. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The important bit – how YOU can use this knowledge in your own life<\/b><\/p>\n

When it comes down to it, for most people, the questions isn\u2019t going to be \u2018how can architects use this knowledge to change the way they work\u2019, but instead \u2018how can <\/span>I<\/i><\/b> use this knowledge to improve my own productivity. Fear not, dear reader – we\u2019re here to help!<\/span><\/p>\n

Fundamentally, it\u2019s important to get to grips with what it is about building design that has an impact on how productive we are (hence everything you\u2019ve just read, meaning you can tick this box!). With that in mind, we can take note of the effect architecture has on our own lives, by acknowledging the buildings in which we spend the most time, and then make some actively informed decisions on how to increase our productivity. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are many ways we can do this, for instance, you can:<\/span><\/p>\n