INTRO
“HolisticDesign is the sumof all parts.” Richard Mazuch, Director of Research & Innovation, IBI Group
Our health and well-being is hugely important. Mindfulness andmeditation apps have increased drastically and are forecast to triple in the next ten years.
We aspire to a healthy lifestyle. Awareness is growing over the food we eat, the exercise we do and the state of our mental health. Neuroscientists and architects collaborate and are building a greater understanding of how the immediate environment impacts on our health and well- being. Themore we understand, themore we can ensure the buildings we use enhance our well being and are not detrimental to it. being may involve additional costs at the outset or take longer in the planning stages but the end result of good design should reduce energy consumption, create a space that is comfortable, inspiring, flexible and meets the necessary requirements to fulfil a task. A building that supports health and well-being can reduce sick leave and encourage positive thinking. We all want to spend time in a space that canmeet our variable needs and requirements and is welcoming, Our environment matters Designing environments that harmonise our health and well-
inspires learning, enables focus, promotes social interaction and also provides a place to escape to. Certain environments may have prior requirements and safety controls such as a science lab or a factory, however most places benefit from a holistic design process. Daylight, nature, space, stimulation, fresh clean air are all good positive happy hormone inducing factors. On the other hand, overcrowding, heavily urbanised landscapes, monotony, loud noises and lack of light can increase cortisol hormone levels and stress. Thermal control, access to daylight, air ventilation and a reasonable noise level are things we consider basic requirements, but we feel can feel uncomfortable if any one of these is not harmoniously balanced. Stale air canmake us feel sluggish, increase the risk of germs and fester unpleasant odours. Feeling one extreme of temperature either too hot or too cold can be a cause of discomfort.
Colour and coloured light can distort our perception of heat up to 3 or 4 degrees celsius. Colours at the warm end of the spectrummake us feel warmwhereas colours at the cool end of the spectrumcanmake us feel cool. If we are denied access to daylight we become disconnected from time. Shopping centres and casinos are classic examples where we become disconnected from reality. Windows are the gateways to the outdoors, they allow daylight to enter the building and offer a view of the outside world. Studies have shown that we are linked to the natural cycle of daylight. The circadian clock controls our hormone levels and when not in sync due to little or no access to natural light our bodies become out of kilter and aremore susceptible to illness. SAD, Seasonal Affected Disorder is a common occurrence in winter. People have reduced energy levels and can feel symptoms of depression, when they do not have a lot of exposure to sunlight.
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