Inside The Envelope - Edited.pptx

INSIDE THE ENVELOPE:

The Psychosomatic implications of the interior configuration and spatial organisation of Buildings. Arc. Olusegun Paul Adetokunbo LADEGA, FNIA

Man and Architecture • On the average most urban dwellers in Nigeria spend between 75% and 90% of the day inside a building. • The quality of the interior of buildings, The spatial organisation, the indoor microclimate, the aesthetic qualities of the space, the shape and smell whether the spatial arrangement of the indoor space enhances the activities that go on in there etc. All have an impact on the user/occupant of the building.

Man and Architecture • Architects are said be very powerful because they influence how we live, work, and socialise • influence the way we live our lives simply because most of the activities of our daily lives take place inside building. • The interior Architecture of buildings invariable constrain us to carry out our daily endeavours in certain ways which its configuration permits, this in turn impacts on our emotions and invariably Health for good or the contrary.

(Heerwagen et al., 2011)

Sick Building Syndrome • This appears to be psychosomatic in that no specific illnesses or cause is identified in response to apparent discomfort felt by users. • However, arguments have been made suggesting that this disorder is related to faulty heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems. • Additional potential sources are stated as outgass of specific building materials, organic compounds, molds, use of light industrial chemicals and lack of adequate fresh-air intake. • WHO report (1984) alludes to indoor air quality as a determinant of SBS or 'building related symptoms'

Feng Shui (Pseudo-Science) • One of the five arts of Chinese Metaphysics, Feng Shui has close links with Taosim, an ancient Chinese religion. It is however considered by the larger scientific community as a branch of pseudo science as there is no scientific evidence which supports the practice. • Feng Shui is premised on the desire to harmonise man and his environment through situating the human built environment on spots with good qi - a movable life force which may be positive or negative. Buildings and internal fixtures, features and furnishings are oriented to benefit from positive qi.

Interior Design Psychology • Is a subset of environmental psychology that deals with the effects an environment has on its inhabitants with a view to distilling the elements or factors that yield a positive effect. The major aim of interior design psychology therefore is to enhance the performance and efficiency of a space and wellbeing of its inhabitants.

Proxemics • Is the study of the factors that constitute 'Personal Space' or the relative amount of space between a person and others below which some discomfort is felt. Proxemics analyses the phenomenon of territoriality which in itself may be enforced through unwritten social codes as may be observed when picking seats in nearly empty cinema or hall. Where the boundaries of Personal Space are encroached, Crowding may be said to have occurred.

Salutogenic Design • Salutogenesis is a portmanteau of two words - salus (Latin for health) and genesis (Greek for origin). It was coined by a professor of medical sociology - Aaron Antonovsky and outlines an approach focusing on elements that support human health and well-being as against those which cause disease (pathogenesis). Salutogenesis deals with the interrelationship between health, coping mechanisms, and stress

Overview • This paper will explore the • There is more to Architecture than the Envelope, the facade, the image in the landscape, the interior quality of buildings live lasting impact on its users. • Over the past two decades, as advances in CAD permits, there has become an undue emphasis on the building envelope: on photogenic the building is. Many clients want to see the 3D of the proposal before looking at what's inside the package.

The Building Envelope • Affects the energy efficiency of the Building – Heat Transmission – Air Permeability – Water tightness

• Daylight Penetration • Aesthetics • The Image of the Organisation

High Performance Building Envelope 37.5% Energy Savings

Interior Design We shape our Buildings and then they shape us

Winston Churchill • Elements of architecture, like space, light, geometry and materials, do affect on our mood. • The importance of architecture as a trigger to physical, physiological and psychological wellbeing is nowadays becoming a topic of significant relevance.”

Interior Design • • • • • • • •

Logical Layout Way finding Day light Penetration Circulation Ergonomic Comfort Acoustics Aesthetics Ceiling Height

Priming “The Influence of Ceiling Height: The Effect of ‘Priming’ on the Type of Processing People Use,” Meyers-Levy and Rui (Juliet) Zhu, research brought them to conclude that: • When a person is in a space with a 10-foot ceiling, they will tend to think more freely, more abstractly, • They might process more abstract connections between objects in a room, whereas a person in a room with an 8foot ceiling will be more likely to focus on specifics.”

Priming

Both mental and physical stimuli affect behavioural responses.

Acoustics 'Sound affects us psychologically, cognitively and behaviourally, even though we're not aware of it' - Julian Treasure, CEO The Sound Agency. As I was ruminating on a topic for my presentation I finally got inspiration from discussion I had with a friend while waiting to catch a flight at one of the recently remodelled airports.

• The acoustics at the airport were horrible – It was very noisy – Depending on where you sat you didn’t need to strain your ears to overhear other people having a conversation – You could hardly hear announcements on the Public address system

Terribly Noisy • Why was the Airport Terminal Building so noisy? • Hard interior surface finishes: • Walls’: Glass, Alu panels and rendered Block work • Porcelain Tiled floors • Plaster Board Ceilings • Which Reflect sound, create harsh echoes and compound environmental noises.

‘Behave Yourself’ 3 Behaviour Influencing Features

• Acoustic treatment • A number of visitors to the building reported that they calmed down on entering the atrium due to lack of echo and elimination of reverberation • The water fountain provides a natural sound in the otherwise ‘inert’ space

Noise is a Stressor! • Scientists are in agreement that exposure to excessive noise levels stimulates our nervous system – raising blood pressure and releasing stress hormones. • But even if you try and block it out, as Psychology Professor Airline Bronzaft explains, this means you “have to work harder to complete tasks because you’re actively working to try and ignore the sound”.

• It’s not just laziness that can make us slouch and hunch over our desks – noise has been shown to affect our ergonomics.

Noise is a Stressor! • The same workers were also less likely to concentrate on complex tasks following exposure to the same sounds.

• The workers recorded higher than normal epinephrine levels – a hormone associated with a spike in stress levels. • They also displayed behavioural after effects, including fewer attempts at completing unsolvable puzzles. • prolonged exposure to moderate noise levels can even lead to hearing damage and loss.

Let there be Light! • Research has shown that visible light helps the human body to regulate the production of the hormone melatonin, which in turn helps to regulate our body clock, affecting sleep patterns and digestion. “Visible light also helps to stimulate the body's production of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which can reduce the symptoms of depression.”

Takeaways!! • Philological effect of interior design on the human subconscious. • Documented effect on emotions and perceptions • We need to Configure Building interiors to promote the well being and health of users