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. It’s not just the things we do that impact our wellbeing and how productive we are – it’s where we do them.
How can a building make you more or less productive?
The way in which building design affects our productivity is directly related to how a space impacts our wellbeing.
Choose the right workspace
If you have any autonomy over the actual space in which you work (for instance if you’re self employed or responsible for choosing your team’s workspace), make sure the space is conducive to productivity
- Plenty of natural light, good air circulation, and a design that is likely to inspire you
Redesign your interiors
If the problem lies at home rather than at work, then it might be necessary to take some more dramatic action.
Bring in an architect
Talk to an architect who understands how the design of a space impacts our wellbeing
- With the knowledge we have now, if you’re going to invest the money and time required for a redevelopment project, it’s important to make sure it’s done in a way that will help you live in the healthiest way possible.
How is this knowledge informing architecture and building design?
As the population grows, and 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
- 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
Air quality
If the air we’re breathing is of poor quality, then we’re not going to be able to perform at our best
- There are a few different things that contribute to the quality of air
- CO2 levels
- Pollution
- General ventilation
Improve indoor lighting
Switch out lightbulbs for less harsh, more natural hues, invest in a Lightbox to simulate daylight, and consider investing in something like a LightBox to simulate the effects of daylight during renovation or new windows or natural lighting features such as solar tubes.
Take breaks outdoors
If you don’t have the access to light and air you need in the indoor spaces you frequent, take steps to combat this
Light levels
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
- 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
Visual Aesthetics
Interior and exterior aesthetics are a fundamental part of the architectural process, and it’s becoming increasingly apparent that they also have a tangible effect on our cognitive and physical functionality.
- A dull, ugly building with poor views, poor lighting, and a “cold” visual feel will not inspire us to work productively.
