On The Importance of Integrating the Natural & Built World in our Buildings
On a recent trail run, I happened to come across another runner who was wearing an iPod. Not thinking much of it, I kept running but my mind gradually wandered back to this individual. What had their experience been, and how had it been different than mine? And what parallels were there with where I had just come from — my office.
Personally, I had been struck by the beauty of the wooded trail that day. I noticed the sound of a wood-pecker, the crunching leaves, the wind rushing past my ears. As I pounded out more miles and inhaled the spring air, I thought. “that’s a bummer, why would anyone choose to tune-out such a beautiful, natural setting.” I felt that it was such a relief from the office, and that I should try to breath it all in — to bring this kind of natural beauty into all parts of my life. (Apologies for my lack of poetic voice, Emerson.) And with this thought, I began to wonder why more of our buildings are not designed to do just that — to bring the outdoors, the nature world, inside.
As an urban designer, city planner and LEED professional I know such building technology is available. I am also aware that even though many of us spend much of our time each day in buildings, designing them to bring in the natural environment, rather than keeping it out, has proven to have restorative properties. Many studies have shown that people exposed to a natural settings, whether in a hospital, office space, a military camp, or even people after a horror film, recover, perform and have better health, on the whole, than those who are not exposed to a natural environment. [Academics sometimes refer to this as biophelia or the biophelia hypothesis.]
Research indicates increased performance, more focus and less stress when a natural scene is available, yet most of the buildings we live our daily lives in have no interaction with green space. Many of us spend more and more time inside and in front of things like computers screens and TVs, or find ourselves punching away on a PDA’s (Do those still exist?), smartphone or tablet. We have no views of green space, poor indoor air quality and poor ambient lighting. And, yes, while all of our technology can provide somewhat of a distraction from this inadequacy, we are still left in an unhealthy situation that can lead to both reduced productivity and depression.
The fact is, we have a deep need to interact with the environment and other living organisms around us. And while we can get some of that through our exercise or leisure activity (assuming we do it outside), the majority of our time is still spent in buildings; the Royal Institute of British Architects estimates an average of 20 hours per day. Given this, our buildings need to encourage the interplay between humans and the natural world, and between humans and each other. They should have integrated green space, places that virtually force social interaction, have clean air and proper lighting. They should fill some of the void we have for the natural environment.
And even if we are not designing a new super-duper-LEED or green building we can take small steps to improve our building. We can take steps that might include: riding a bike or walking to work; installing a simple green wall or framing some succulents to hang; scheduling walking meetings outside, especially for 1:1 discussions; opening the office windows or doors for natural rather than mechanical ventilation; putting the water-cooler next to windows to allow for natural light exposure during social interactions. The bottom line is, buildings need to be better built, and we need to take gradual steps to integrate the natural world into them; whether that be through opening windows or bringing a plant in to work.
And so, that spring day while running, I decided that in addition to working for better buildings, I will also be pushing a whole lot harder for a corner office with the view (and so should you) — because it really could be a matter of life death. It could be that extra boost of nature that will keep me healthy and running those beautiful trails for years to come; without my iPod of course.
