Salutogenic Design
Colloquially referred to as "wellness design," salutogenic design is an evidence-based design strategy focused on enhancing and maintaining human health and well-being in the built environment. The way sustainable design examines a building's impact on the environment, salutogenic design focuses on a building's impact on its inhabitants; one strategy looks outward, the other looks inward, but both strive to create healthy spaces. The phrase "salutogenic design" is derived from the medical industry's salutogenesis and bridges the gap between architectural design, neuroscience, and psychology.
Related topics: sustainable design, color psychology, International WELL Building Institute, sensory design in architecture
Salutogenic design & biophilia[edit]
One of the most common approaches to salutogenic design is through biophilia, the innate connection humans have with nature. Biophilic design focuses on incorporating natural elements (to include literal or represented connections to nature) into the built environment and is a leading design mechanism in this context due to the vast amount of - and continuously growing - research on its benefits. Abundant case studies over the last three decades document the direct effects of biophilic and salutogenic design to include:
- Improved stress recovery rate[1]
- Lowered blood pressure[1]
- Rejuvenation and lowered cortisol levels[2]
- Improved cognitive functions[1]
- Enhanced mental stamina and focus[1]
- Decreased violence and criminal activity[1]
- Elevated moods[1]
- Increased productivity[1]
- Decreased anxiety
- Increased learning rates[1]
Contexts[edit]
Salutogenic design strategies are most commonly applied to the architectural and interior design of offices, schools, hospitals, and other institutions. These also tend to be environments that, historically, have been detrimental to the mental and physical health/well-being of occupants, from sick building syndrome (SBS) to rapid disease spread. Applying these strategies where people spend an abundant amount of their waking time yields the greatest return.
Studies[edit]
Among the most famous studies include the increased recovery rates of hospital patients with views of nature[1], the decreased cortisol levels from a Savannah-landscape mural at a detention facility, and the Baker-Miller Pink experiment/study.
Additional, popular resources include The Economics of Biophilia, which explores financial benefits in public and private sector contexts, and The WELL Building Standard, an accessible resource publicly available on wellness in architecture. The WELL Building Standard is published by the International WELL Building Institute and (much like its sister program, LEED) administered as a certification by GBCI.
Additional research excerpts[edit]
- Visual stimulation (not to be confused with visual distraction) positively affects productivity, creativity, and focus. By contrast, large expanses of neutral-colored areas with no visual distinction (identical architecture, textures, colors, etc.) typically do not support worker productivity. Additional studies find a lack of visual stimulation during the day dulls the senses and reduces alertness.[3]
- According to industry leaders HOK: "When the work environment is not stimulating, employees lose focus and creative drive. An environment devoid of sensory stimulation and variability can lead to boredom and passivity." This is countered by introducing sensory design that engages and stimulates the senses through color, pattern, varied texture, acoustics, and even air quality.[3]
- The visual cortex of the brain processes views of nature vs. views of blank walls differently: nature scenes trigger receptors in the large rear portion of the visual cortex (pleasurable) whereas blank walls, treeless streets, and views with less visual richness are processed in the back of the visual cortex (more negative).[1]
- Low-contrast, monochromatic hallways increase people's stress levels with age, as their vision impairment increases.[4]
- Women are more depressed in white, gray, and beige work environments, according to a study at the University of Texas. By contrast, green offices (which relate to a natural palette and biophilic design) elicit positive mental reactions.[5]
- Neurologically, focusing on a task and ignoring other distractions or stimulations requires a great deal of energy and brain power, which leads to fatigue and additional stress in environments where focus is a challenge. Visually bland spaces feed into that stress and mental fatigue but, physiologically, exposure to nature actually renews attention and rejuvenates mental energy.[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 "The Economics of Biophilia". 12 June 2012.
- ↑ http://www.rff.org/files/sharepoint/WorkImages/Download/RFF-DP-09-21.pdf
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 HOK. "Thought Leadership". www.hok.com.
- ↑ "The Psychology of Interior Design". 18 May 2012.
- ↑ "Color Psych 101 - Sherwin-Williams". Sherwin-Williams.
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