EXPLORATION : THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Over the last several days, I have been thinking about the four topics I discussed in my previous post: Ruin Regeneration / Historic Preservation Biophilia in Hospitality Integration of Health and Wellness in the Urban Landscape Importance of Empathic Design I have listed possible topics and angles for each one. While that task has resulted in solid leads, one has come to mind that I am not only interested in, but I am very excited to research. It beats out the other topics by a long shot.   New topic: the conventional shopping experience. Who doesn't want to talk about shopping! When I lived in Dallas (2004-2012) and found myself in my apartment bored, I would go to Northpark Mall, a high-end indoor shopping center. And I mean HIGH END. They have Tiffanys, Carolina Herrera, and Oscar De La Renta storefronts. It was my usual weekend hangout as a place to stroll about the mall's central circulation with my Sonic drink in hand, doing a lot of window shopping....

Hello Reader, Over the past five months, we have explored individual aspects of health and wellness in the built environment.  Our next series expand on those topics and further explore one of the following topics of interest. 01  Ruin Regeneration / Historic Preservation The importance of architecture, cultural legacy in physical space, and the emotional and mental implications. Balance of old and new architecture and historical relevance. Building / Space preservation dependency on Local Context 02  Biophilia in Hospitality Evolution of Space and Self Connector and communicator of generations Balance of senses Health Resort Living 03 Integration of Health & Wellness In the Urban Landscape Urban Design and its connection to Community Health Impacts of Social Capital 04 Empathic Design Breaking the stereotypes in the examination of the brand and the brain The partnership between psychology and architecture/design As a licensed interior designer with nearly 20 year...

My final case study visual presentation reflecting the exploration of any existing Well Standard conditions at the 21C Museum Hotel in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Our lives keep getting more stressful by the day.  Whether it is stress put on us by our employer, clients, families, or self, we cannot seem to escape.  The demands increase, yet our ability to manage decreases.  How we define stress levels is dependent on the individual.  How one handles a stressful situation can be based on past experiences: physical, mental, and emotional.  What tools do you use to manage or control your stress?  Research by organizations like the World Health Organization and LEED, among others, has shown that reducing stress in the workplace is imperative to a healthy lifestyle.  Reducing stress is a priority for businesses as it affects productivity, absences, among many things.  While a "stress-free" work environment is unattainable, many corporations include outdoor amenities to help employees connect with the natural environment directly, which has proven to boost morale.  This strategy is not just for the workplace...

Mental Health:  two words that address a broad spectrum.  The WELL Standard says mental health "is determined by a range of socioeconomic, biological, and environmental factors, such as work conditions, lifestyle and health behaviors and genetics."  The definition of mental health is as vague as that declaration.  The health of the mind spans from stress and depression to suicidal thoughts.  If you keep up with current outreach trends, the phrase "mental health" is becoming more acceptable; however, individuals tend to hide their conditions from loved ones and refrain from discussing their challenges.  So, how can we care for mental health if individuals shy away from talking about it, let alone receive any treatment?   According to Well AP, 30% of adults will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime.   35-50% of high-income homes and 75-85% of the middle to low-income households do not receive "official" treatment.   We have ...

Urban Planning does not get the credit it deserves.  It is one aspect of the built environment we often forget about because it does not necessarily care about the building details (architecture), design inside the building (interior design), or mechanics regarding infrastructure (engineers).  Urban Planning, in its most elementary terms, is about relationships:  the relationships of buildings to one another, the relationship of existing conditions to new, but most importantly, the interaction of the built environment to the user.  Urban Planning is how we layout or design an area to maximize its usage and build relationships with people.  Urban planners want to design a place in such a way that it will draw people in and leave an impression that brings them back. It's impossible to plan such a development and not consider health and well-being.  According to Jennifer Kent and Sudan Thompson's article The Three Domains of Urban Planning for Health and Well-...

 Light and Sound.  Two elements of the physical environment that are not tangible, yet they impact our daily lives.  Our bodies are on a universal clock, tied to the rotation of the earth.  Excluding nocturnal animals, all animals and humans are wired to recognize light with activity and darkness to rest.  According to the WELL Standard, light is the primary driver of the visual and circadian systems.  It regulates physiological rhythms that radiate throughout the body. Disruption to this rhythm results in obesity, diabetes, depression, and other health risks. The associated study translated to simple terms:  Too much light, mainly blue light, from outdoors and screen exposure can lead to disturbed sleep patterns, which affects your health.  To improve our health and subsequent mood, we can reduce other screens such as phone or TV use in the evenings to give our bodies the cues to rest.  The same is true for lack of light.  Less light wi...