food, water, shelter, sunlight, family, love, clean air water, food, shelter, sleep, heat, wifi, starbucks food, water, shelter, good health, safe environment, moderate temperature, companionship food, water, air, shelter, love, clothing, exercise food, water, sleep, more sleep, sports, love, more sleep gym, bed, television, water, food, books, beach home, health, money, family, food, fluid, job clean air, clean water, sunshine, shelter, healthy food, animals, family water, food, air, hope, functioning cardiopulmonary system, knowledge, ability to fend for oneself food, water, shelter, fire, family, love, happiness toilet paper, water, food, music, soccer, jerseys, fire, shoes air, water, food, shelter, clothing, health, energy air, space, food, water, sleep, outdoors food, water, sleep, housing, functioning body, heat, coolness food, shelter, fire, family, clothes, beer, football food, water, sleep, clothes, shower, doctor, medicine water, fire, food, shelter, clothing, a knife, a pot air, sunlight, water, food, sleep, shelter, people water, food, money, doctors, shelter, electricity, car shelter, water, food, family, education, love, friends food, water, air, shelter, clothing, sunlight, family food, water, air, shelter, clothing, sunlight, family water, food, shelter, hunting tools, fire, warm clothing, shoes food, water, sex, money, feeling of being loved, people to love, home water, food, fun, belongingness, shelter, clothing, hope sleep, nutrition, companionship, exercise, health, stimulation, choice physical activity, intelligence/knowledge, coffee, my sight, music, temperature change, noise food, water, women, basic shelter, nature shelter, food, water, air, clothing, warmth water, food, air, animals, plants water, food, pistol, clutch, deadlifts, more water, sleep air, water, food, personal connection, design/architecture, thinking air, water, food, shelter, companionship, sunlight, nature water, food, air, shelter, tools, weapon/protection, fire air, water, food, sunlight, shelter, help water, food, oxygen, shelter, energy, warmth, communication water, food, oxygen, phone, laptop, clothing, calculator food, water, fun, love, hobby, money, shelter
architecture for the instincts Kacy Cunningham [thesis] 2013-2014
acknowledgments For inspiring the following work I’d like to thank my advisors Terry Moor and Carol Burns for always pushing, my family for always supporting, my fellow students for always listening, and a special thank you to Charles Darwin for without his work this thesis would have no legs.
architecture for the instincts Kacy Cunningham kacycunningham.wordpress.com
Wentworth Institute of Technology
[thesis]2013-2014
table of contents part one abstract define history survey question claims research hypothesis
6 8 10 12 14 15 16 24
part two mapping image program tectonics impact intention infrastructure
28 30 32 33 34 36 38
part three discoveries conclusion speculation criteria timeline
44 45 46 47 48
part four annotations bibliography appendix A appendix B appendix C appendix D
52 56 58 59 60 61
6
abstract Architecture for the Instincts is a thesis that attempts to bridge the disciplines of biology, sociology, psychology, and architecture together to better the quality of human life. As humanity has evolved into cultural creatures a gap has been created between their natural and constructed habitats. This gap must be examined, evaluated, and understood for humanity to have a better understanding of their needs, instincts, and what it means to be satisfied. Natural instincts have fallen to the wayside as cultural,
superficial, and personal needs have taken first priority. Through the process of evolution and the study of evolutionary psychology, the link between instincts, adaptations, and behavior becomes clear. Evolution has caused every species to become so designed that nothing is superfluous; everything, at one point or another, had a reason. Architecture can begin to take queues from this process to create a built environment that is functional, efficient, and variable, while satisfying human
instincts. Humans and the natural world are inextricably linked, and Architecture for the Instincts will take the voids and gaps in the current built environment and evolve them into a new infrastructure that can reconnect humanity with their natural roots, help them rediscover their instincts, and in turn improve the quality of human life.
8
define evolution: 1// the process through which organisms naturally develop and diversify. 2// gradual change over time to develop a more functional object or organism.
instinct: 1// an innate pattern of behavior occurring in response to specific stimuli. 2// a natural or intuitive way of thinking and acting.
natural environment: 1// the various habitats that humans evolved in before they began constructing built environments.
evolutionary psychology: 1// the study of the behavioral adaptations of humans as they relate to evolutionary development.
need: 1// required because it is essential or very important. 2// a thing that is wanted.
constructed environment: 1// the current built environment that was created and designed with a heavy human hand.
sociobiology
9
the scientific study of the biological, ecological, & evolutionary aspects of social behavior. biology + sociology + anthropology + evolution
physiological needs 1// 2// 3// 4// 5// 6// 7//
air nutrients water sex sleep homeostasis excretion
instinctual needs 1// 2// 3// 4// 5// 6// 7// 8//
procreation survival connection with nature natural cycle of change light natural rhythm high ground food
+ architecture?
societal needs 1// security 2// friendship 3// family 4// sexual intimacy 5// self-esteem 6// confidence 7// achievement 8// respect 9// creativity 10// spontaneity 11// problem solving 12// acceptance of facts
superficial “needs� 1// money 2// status 3// power 4// youth 5// beauty 6// control
evolution, sociobiology, and biophilia: a history 1831-1836
Charles Darwin voyaged on the HMS Beagle’s second survey exhibition.
1859
Darwin’s groundbreaking book, The Origins of Species was published.
1850
1900
1839
Darwin published his findings from the exhibition.
1736
Carl Linnaeus first used the term “biologie” officially recognizing “the study of life” as a science.
1856-1863
Gregor Mendel (the father of modern genetics) was conducting valuable research on pea plants that led to the idea of “inheritance”.
1900
Mendel's work was finally published.
1970-1980
1930
Universities began officially using the term “evolutionary biology”.
The field of “ethology” began through the work of Nikolas Tinbergen, Konrad Lorenz, and Karl Von Frisch.
1984
Wilson published Biophilia and the field officially began.
1940
The term “sociobiology” was first used.
1993
The Biophilia Hypothesis by Wilson and Stephen Kellert is published.
1950
2013
2000
Present Day.
2005
1943
Abraham Maslow published his thoughts on a “hierarchy of needs”.
1930-1940
The field of “evolutionary biology” began emerging.
1975
Kellert’s Building for Life is published.
Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi first published work about the idea of “Flow” and its relation to human happiness. E.O. Wilson published Sociobiology: A New Synthesis, and the term became widely used.
12
13
14
question How can the principles of evolution inform an architecture that reconnects humanity’s natural and constructed environments, thus satisfying biological instincts and improving life quality?
15
claims Main// Emerging knowledge in biology and ecology suggests that construction of a built environment that incorporates biophilic principles and meets instinctual needs can support an overall improvement in life quality. 1// Due to the process of evolution, nature is genetically embedded in human needs and behavior. 2// It was humanity’s genetic drive for control, understanding, and survival that led them to construct a built environment that differed from their natural one. 3// Natural instincts and built forms can work together to better the human experience.
16
nature and humans biological instincts Humans have been adapting and evolving on this planet for the past 200,000 years, spending only the last 1% of this timeframe in an artificially built environment.1 Previously humans existed exclusively within and as a part of the natural world. By looking at various writings, from ecologist and environmentalist Stephen Kellert; biologist Edward Wilson; and psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the existence and impact of this humannature connection can be explored.
Combining this research with thoughts from the architects Norman Crowe and Eugene Tsui, further understanding of the very important role instincts and nature have in all aspects of human design can be better understood. Humans are intricately connected with nature, and losing this, losing humanity’s roots in the natural world, could be damaging to the human race. Instead emerging knowledge in both biology and ecology suggests that construction of a built environment that incorporates biophilic
principles and meets instinctual needs will support an overall improvement in life quality. Due to the process of evolution, nature is genetically embedded in human needs and behavior. Kellert explains that to survive in nature, humans had to understand and learn to use nature’s natural rhythm.2 The cycle of a day, the changing of the seasons, and the cycle of life were all rhythms that needed to be understood. In turn every species, including humans, are deeply
17
attuned to stimuli that originated in the natural world.3 According to Crowe the proof can ironically be found in the built environment. He claims that as humans began to build, architects and craftsmen sought to reproduce spatial experiences found in nature.4 Civilizations built what they loved, creating tall exhilarating spaces to imitate the feeling of being next to a mountain; dim spaces that produced a feeling of mystery like the night; Gothic churches that harkened back to old forests with soaring trees;
and Romanesque churches that felt secure and protected like a warm, safe cave.5 Due to the intricate relationship they once shared with nature, humans have been both consciously and subconsciously inspired by their natural roots since the creation of their species. As a result of humanity’s constructed environment this link is being pushed farther back into the subconscious, but even this fact does little to diminish not only nature’s role, but also its importance. Humanity’s genetic drive for
control, understanding, and survival led to construction of a built environment that differed from their natural one. Crowe argues that it was the drive to constantly search for order and understanding in everything, that inspired a world with the predictability humanity failed to find in nature.6 This idea can be traced back to an instinctual survival technique, urging individualized control over the immediate environment.7 The more control, and in turn the more understanding, an individual has over
18
their own environment, the more likely that individual will be able to use those skills to their own advantage, survive, and reproduce. Csikszentmihalyi on the other hand speculates that because the world itself was not created with human needs in mind, the natural world cannot be considered a definitive friend.8 He argues that humans created their built environment to fulfill the needs that nature itself did not.9 In this sense humanity needs a combination of both the natural and the built to sufficiently
fulfill its needs. In Tsui’s words, “humanity and nature must become design partners to create a world of beauty and noble dignity fit for human beings”.10 Biophilic design was formed from this basic principle that natural instincts and built forms can work together to better the human experience.11 Humans tend to relate to the physical world first with their bodies and, only later with their mental processes.12 For this reason humans might not fully understand why a space feels more comfortable, but
for most, understanding the reasoning behind their comfort is unimportant. Crowe believes humans can let their bodies (their instincts) tell them what satisfies them, even if their minds do not fully comprehend why.13 In Tsui’s mind “architecture gives form to the invisible”14 and in this sense natural instincts should be the guiding force behind humanity’s constructed world. To him the rigid, grid like architecture that humans tend to produce is an expression of human intellect without the benefit of nature’s
19
evolutionary process.15 Nature has been working far longer than humanity to perfect efficient and practical structures for habitation, and humans should take advantage of such research.16 The structure of a turtle’s shell, a beehive, or even a leaf carry within themselves important lessons that humans would do well to emulate. In a sense nature has laid out the grid work of every species’ needs right in their DNA, and biophilic design seeks and urges humanity to follow such obvious guidelines.
On the other hand, exist those who caution humans to be aware of their instincts, understand their implications, but to avoid thoughtless mimicry.17 Csikszentmihalyi argues that maps, not even those encoded in a species’ DNA, benefit from being followed blindly. Submission, to any kind of genetic programming, can be dangerous and will ultimately leave the individuals involved vulnerable.18 The more predictable humans behave the more likely their patterns will be recognized and used
against them. Like a marionette in the hands of a puppeteer, humanity should avoid “relinquish[ing] the control of consciousness and becom[ing] helpless playthings of impersonal forces”.19 Beyond simplicity there exist no benefits to allowing instincts to completely rule, dictating every move without regard for others, or appropriateness within society. Wilson reiterates this concern, confirming that it is not a question of is behavior genetically manipulated (that is irrefutable), but to what extent
20
this manipulation should be allowed.20 How many instincts still exist that help humanity thrive in their current constructed environment, versus those that remain relics of the past, hindering, not benefiting, humanity’s progress. To speak on purely scientific terms, humans have not genetically evolved since before the creation of a built world, from that point forward only cultural evolution has been occurring.21 In a sense humanity’s instincts are still attempting to solve the same problems that they were created
for, regardless of if those problems still exist. Csikszentmihalyi claims that, “while humankind collectively has increased its material powers a thousand fold, it has not advanced very far in terms of improving the content of experience.”22 Even though modern humans have the same instinctual drives as their distant relatives, they have drastically altered their physical world, causing most of these innate instincts to become superfluous. However, improving the quality of
life presents humanity with a paradox, where success both is, and is not, possible or practical. Csikszentmihalyi is one who ponders this paradox of rising expectations, and whether or not meeting human “need” is even possible.23 With the evolution of human culture to a materialistic and competitive one, comes progress; but with progress comes greed, and the want for a new “need” as soon as a previous one is met.24 With the struggle for dominance between instinctual, cultural, superficial,
21
and personal “needs” waging inside everyone, it becomes increasingly difficult to extract the necessary from the superfluous and to bridge the gap between humanity’s natural and artificial environments. For Crowe the answer to this paradox lies in the gap itself. To regain balance and order in the world this link, or gap (depending on the perspective), needs to be rediscovered and understood.25 It is irrefutable that humans and the natural world are inextricably
linked through thousands of years of cohabitation and parallel evolution. However a debate comes into play over how they are connected, to what extent they remain connected, and what there is to gain from such a connection. Through the discourses of ecology, biology, psychology, and architecture these answers begin to take shape. The overarching questions addressing not if humans and their instincts are connected to nature, but what potential can be gained from such a connection.
Should this link be embraced and expanded upon or should humanity’s past needs simply be understood as a part of its history. Which of these paths, if any, have the potential to result in the improvement of human life. Or, contrary to either belief, are humans caught in a rising paradox of expectations due to the evolution of a culture that holds competition and progress, in such high regard. Such an effort can only result in a struggle for improvement and
22
betterment, a goal that can seldom be achieved. However, this risk of failure is a fact that should do little to diminish the goal. Construction of a built environment, that strives to re-link humanity and their natural past through already existing instincts and innate biophilic needs, can do nothing but enhance human life. Such a goal is something many see as being degenerative, regressive humanity back to a time before modern culture, but the concept is actually a progressive one; combining modern culture with
an instinctual past can add another dimension, another tier, to an already complex and satisfying human life.
Citations 1// See Chapter 1 of Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science, and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life by Stephen Kellert, Judith Heerwagen, and Martin Mador. 2// See Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science, and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life by Stephen Kellert, Judith Heerwagen, and Martin Mador 3// Ibid. 4// See Crowe’s description of positive spatial sensations and their origins on pages 55-56 of Nature and the Idea of a Man-Made World. 5// Ibid. 6// See Crowe’s full explanation in his section “From a Life in Nature to Living in a Setting Shaped by Man” pages 31-34 in Nature and the Idea of a Man-Made World.
23
7// Ibid. 8// See Csikszentmihalyi’s section on “The Roots of Discontent” pages 8-10 in Flow. 9// Ibid. 10// From the homepage of Eugene Tsui’s personal website http://www.tdrinc.com/. 11// See Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science, and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life by Stephen Kellert, Judith Heerwagen, and Martin Mador for a full description of the six principles of biophilic design (environmental features; natural shapes and forms; natural patterns and processes; light and space; place based relationships; and evolved human nature relationships) pages 5-14. 12// See Crowe’s section on “Body, Environment, and Perception” pages 49-58 in Nature and the Idea of a Man-Made World. 13// Ibid.
14// Tsui’s quote in full: “Architecture gives form to the invisible pulses and rhythms of life. It gives pattern to structure and structure to pattern. It is an elemental mystic power that is innate to all things. The physical manifestation of this power is a consequence of the desire for the invisible to be made visible. This desire, this great motivating force is essential to the life of a thing. It is a process which organizes and composes various interrelated forces into a unified whole.” 15// See Tsui’s book Evolutionary Architecture page 5. 16// Ibid. 17// See Csikszentmihalyi’s section on “Paths of Liberation” pages 20-22 in Flow 18// Ibid. (Examples: food addicts, sex addicts, alcoholics, and hoarders.) 19// Ibid. 20// See “Chapter 1: Dilemma” from Wilson’s On Human Nature pages 1-13.
21// Ibid. 22// Csikszentmihalyi’s quote in full “Why is it that, despite having achieved previously undreamed-of miracles of progress, we seem more helpless in facing life than our less privileged ancestors were? The answer seems clear: while humankind collectively has increased its material powers a thousand fold, it has not advanced very far in terms of improving the content of experience.” For more explanation see Csikszentmihalyi’s section on “The Shields of Culture” pages 10-16 in Flow. 23// See Csikszentmihalyi’s section on “The Shields of Culture” pages 10-16 in Flow. 24// Ibid. 25// See the preface to Crowe’s book Nature and the Idea of a Man-Made World pages xii-xx.
24
hypothesis It took one hundred years for Darwin’s publications on evolutionary findings to turn into the field of evolutionary biology, and another sixty years until principles from this field were extended to humanity’s constructed world. Personal research has further supported the idea that meeting instinctual needs and sustaining a human-nature connection can help support an overall improvement in life quality. Examining not only the origins of human needs and wants, but also the gap that has slowly been forming
between humanity’s two habitats, can further shed light on the paths that can, and should, be taken. Architecture for the Instincts will further develop along with the theory that humanity’s two worlds should be bridged, and if all of humanity’s needs, even the innate ones, are met, life quality will be positively improved.
“If you’re going to design, design with nature. Nature’s been designing so much longer than man. The idea that we can invent it is a kind of maniacal delusion.” Ian McHarg landscape architect
28
Hue
Technical
Tone
Pigment
Brightness
Saturation Double-Complementary
Complimentary
Triad
Analogous
Split Complimentary
Mondrian Johannes Itten Pollock Fauvism
Mark Rothko
Albers
Architecture
Ronchamp Antoni Gaudi Stained Glass
Applications
nature
Chromatics
Tint
Shade
Monochromatic Pop of Color
Interior Design
Theorists
Chromotherapy
PrismSpectrum Wheel
Science
Dye
Paint
Stain
Centre Pompidou
Wash
Glaze
Science
Photo-biology
Arboretum Agriculture
Gardening
Landscape
Herbs Plants Fruit
Floriculture
Vegetables
Trees
Habitat
Arborculture
Flora
Flowers
Soil
Nutrition Water
fantasy
Hereditary Inherited
Frank Ghery
Zaha Hadid
What is it that draws us to create these fantasy realms in our minds, but we don’t make them a reality? Or do we?
Star Wars
Antoni Gaudi
Wizard of Oz Narnia Lord of the Rings Alice in Wonderland
escape Hunger Games Harry Potter Lord of the Rings Narnia Alice in Wonderland Wizard of Oz Game of Thrones Star Wars
mythical
vision
creativity
Plant life Ground Sky Variation
“Fantastic elements, in a self coherent setting”
Harry Potter
Fantasy
No right angles Curved geometry Natural Forms
Flowers Herbs Trees Fruits Vegetables Harvest
Are there benefits to creating and experiencing an architecture that mimics forms already found in nature?
Why do we constantly use fantasy as a means for escape?
“Of course it is happening inside of your head, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
What benefits does color offer beyond aesthetics?
Natural Environment Home
Sunlight
M.C. Esher
How can color be used to enhance feelings and experiences in architecture?
Dye Stain Paint Wash Glaze Mix
Instinctive
Cultivation
“Fantastic elements, in a self coherent setting” Antoni Gaudi
Applications
Warm- Adds Cool- Subtracts
Air Water Curves Life Color Plant life
Botany
Vertical Garden Harvest
Green Roof
Hue Shade Tint Tone Pigment Saturation Brightness
Natural
Desert Grassland Tundra Rain Forest Mountainous Tropical Forest Savanna Shrub-land Wetland Subterranean
Horticulture
Color-puncture Mark Rothko Johannes Itten Albers Mondrian Fauvism
Theorists
Technical
Mix
Physical Emotional Spiritual Mental
Color Therapy Chromotherapy Chromatics
Pseudoscience
Interior Design
La Sainte Chapelle
Colliour
Unité d'Habitation
COLOR
color
COLOR
mapping evolution
magical
supernatural invention fanciful
Architects Filmmakers
Zaha Hadid
Artists
Authors
inventors
M.C. Esher
Frank Ghery
creativity vision
reality
“Of course it is happening inside of your head, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
Fantasy
mythical supernatural fanciful magical
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Natural
Habitat
Home Natural Environment
How can nature influence an architecture that utilizes basic human instincts to improve life quality?
Organic
Air Water Form Light Color Plant life
Instincts
Need Craving Urge
Fundamental Integral Inherent Integrated
Chromotherapy
Physical Emotional Spiritual Mental
Biomimicry Nature
Bios Mimesis
Natural Needs
Life Imitation
Instinctive Hereditary Inherited
Instincts
Need Craving Urge
Biophilia Organically Inspired Forms Natural Light Natural Ventilation Natural Patterns of Change Natural Rhythms Natural Sounds Indigenous Species
How can fundamental human instincts inform an architecture that improves life quality?
Organic Air Water Form Light Color Nature
Psychological
Nature
Instinctive Hereditary Inherited
Responsive Variable Efficient Fluid Balanced Functional Movement Flexible Psychological
Responsive Variable Efficient Fluid Balanced Functional Movement Flexible
Fundamental Inherent
Chromotherapy
Physical Emotional Spiritual Mental
30
image evolution
31
program 32
physiological, instinctual, societal
list of client needs
program= basic human needs
airbalance family friendship light humanity
program Program is generally translated as, “a list of client needs”. In the case of Architecture for the Instincts the “client” is considered humanity, thus their “needs” are all of humanity’s physiological, instinctual, and societal needs. Physiological needs cover the base factors that humans must have in order to live, instinctual needs extend to factors that will allow humanity to thrive, and societal needs start to address factors beyond just living that are vital to existing within a society or culture.
survival security
sleep
reproduction intimacy sex
high ground/ change/ connection with nature/ rhythm creativity spontaneity confidence
food water nutrients
self esteem achievement
security - friendship - family creativity - spontaniety - confidence achievement - self esteem - sexual intimacy
survival - connection with nature - change light - rhythm - high ground - food - reproduction
air - water - nutrients - sleep - balance - sex
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tectonics Adaptations that resulted through the process of evolution are so precise and functional, they could never have risen by chance, and so shall the tectonics for Architecture for the Instincts be. The principles behind evolutionary psychology, along with environmental input, shall output an architecture that is, like the species that exist here on earth: functional, efficient, reliable, precise, and influential.
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impact A main goal of Architecture for the Instincts is to positively affect life quality. However as future aspirations for the project began to materialize the question of impact came to the forefront. Thus three main questions emerged: what kind of decision should this be, who should it affect, and how should it work. From this, three impact levels manifested: a living condition, an education model, and a community intervention. It became increasingly obvious that the more people it tried
to affect, the less it would affect each individual person. Architecture for the Instincts has the ability to immerse one individual, impact a generation, or shape a community. These options gradually increase in the amount of people it affects (directly correlating with it’s potential to affect future generations), while simultaneously decreasing in the completeness each person is affected.
35
From studies on program, tectonics, and impact emerged two paths for Architecture for the Instincts. The first evolved from the idea of an educational model. These Instinctual Centers would exist within sites that are already very in tune with nature, and would explain why these sites are important and fill any voids that may exist. Possible sites include: Jamaica Pond, Arnold Arboretum, Boston Commons, and the deCordova Sculpture Park.
“evolves out of the necessity to pass on knowledge”
nature with
intention #1
instinctual centers.
connection
36
air light water sleep rhythm change spontaneity creativity friendship family security balance
1// 2// 3// 4//
goals
rediscover instincts share knowledge of our past improve the quality of human life reconnect humanity with their natural roots
explain how & why
& fill any voids that exist
ed·u·cate [’eje,kāt] 1// give intellectual, moral, and social instruction to someone, esp. a child 2// give (someone) training in or information on a particular field.
connection
with
nature
evolved vignettes.
37
“too precisely functional to have risen by chance”
goals
air light water sleep rhythm change spontaneity creativity friendship family security balance
1// rediscover instincts 2// improve the quality of human life 3// reconnect humanity with their natural roots
evolve when the need arises
where the instinctual void is greatest
e·volve [i ’välv] 1// develop gradually, esp. from a simple to a more complex form. 2// develop over successive generations, esp. as a result of natural selection.
vi·gnette [vin’yet] 1// brief evocative description, account, or episode 2// a small ornamental design filling a space in a book or carving, typically based on foliage.
intention #2 The second path evolved out of the idea that Architecture for the Instincts has the capability to shape entire communities. Thus Evolved Vignettes would arise out of the city wherever the instinctual void was greatest. One vignette would be created for every need, and as a result would be located in sections of the city that are the most out of touch with nature. Possible site include: the MBTA system, the Theatre District, China Town, and the Financial District.
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a new infrastructure From studies of tectonics, program, impact, and intentions Architecture for the Instincts evolved into an architecture that requires environmental input, just like evolution, to create something functional, efficient, economic, variable, reliable, and precise, (all words that are used to describe the process of evolution), with impact as a key driver. Architecture for the Instincts strives to affect as many people as possible, while still influencing them in a meaningful, not diluted, way. These thoughts sparked
the idea of infrastructure as a means to reach as many people as possible in the most efficient way possible. Infrastructure can be defined as “the physical components of interrelated systems providing commodities and services essential to enable, sustain, or enhance societal living conditions�. Infrastructures themselves can begin to be seen as adaptations that evolved as problems arose with the construction of a built environment. Water treatment, waste management, electricity, and
school systems are all adaptations that were created to meet a societal need that became difficult to fulfill as humanity began living in closer and closer quarters. As a whole, humanity seems to have forgotten about their base needs and the adaptations that were created to meet them, since most of these systems function either literally or metaphorically below the sight lines of society. Since the goals of Architecture for the Instincts consist of not only relinking humanity’s natural and constructed
[
[
infrastructure infra [below] structure
1// the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society. 2// the physical components of interrelated systems providing commodities and services essential to enable, sustain, or enhance societal living conditions. 3// a set of interconnected structural elements.
evolved when a societal need arose
[
[
emerald necklace
high line
[suprastructure supra [above] structure
[
environments, but also making humanity more aware of their needs and how they are met, the following proposal dubbed “suprastructure”, is a new infrastructure that will function above and within the sight lines of society. Relinking the constructed and natural environments of humanity, in a way that not only fulfills their “needs”, but simultaneously educates them on the why behind the what.
as problems arose with the construction of a built environment, infrastructures evolved with the adaptations necessary for humans to continue thriving as a species, usually functioning below the surface of society.
as the gap between humanity’s natural and constructed environment grows a new infrastructure will evolve. One that functions in the sight lines of society to fill the instinctual void that has been created; re-linking humanity with their natural past.
[
[
suprastructure supra [above] structure
[mbta subway system]
[re-link]ing the natural constructed
&
terraced pros
utilizes space that might go unused potential for expansive views, providing a sense of escape provides attractive outlook for adjacent buildings creates a partial privacy barrier between buildings its linear form creates potential for exercise extremely visible
terraced cons
may lack shade since large trees can not be planted may be too exposed, too hot, too cold, or too windy
since it opened in 1897 the subway has carried over 25 billion passengers averaging 628,400 weekday boardings
terraced t
41
“Architecture is either organic or it is arranged. Architecture that is arranged is only a building.� Gunnar Birkerts architect
44
discoveries Architecture for the Instincts and all the ideas it encompasses stemmed from the simple question I asked myself in mid-September, “When did we become more comfortable in a box?” Inspiring a look into humanity’s natural habitats led me down a path I never would have expected for my own thesis. Through a chain reaction of authors I discovered the new-to-me concepts of biomimicry and biophilia, along with the fields of sociobiology, ethology, evolutionary biology, and evolutionary psychology.
Immersion into these diverse and scientific based fields was enlightening, and at times overwhelming, having to adapt to new fields and terminologies in a very short time frame. Along this path I have discovered many flaws in our current built environment, and at times my thoughts verged towards the anti-architectural. Although I did not always know how my research was going to inspire something architectural, I had faith that since evolution and the natural environment is what shaped humanity,
it must be integral and applicable to their current manufactured habitat. In the end I discovered that everything that humanity is, and humanity does, is designed. Nothing is superfluous. Everything links back to evolution, and humanity’s constructed environment is no exception.
45
conclusions
“Is this
?
relevant
”
Architecture for the Instincts became a multidisciplinary critique on the current status of humanities constructed environment, delving into the underlying reasoning behind human behavior, and thus their urge to build. Personally I can find many biophilic principles in my own undergraduate work, even though I was unaware of their specific titles or even the field itself. Through these observations, and those I found through my own surveys and personal research, I can conclude that nature is still alive
and within us, playing a crucial role below the surface of our consciousness. Even though a gap between humanity’s natural and constructed environments does exist, the urge to reconnect them will always be there, even though the evidence may not be obvious. I was faced many times with the question, “Is this relevant?” to which I now counter, “How can it not be?” How can the process through which humanity developed, not be relevant in developing their built world as well?
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speculation Through the coming months, Architecture for the Instincts will develop into a suprastructure that bridges humanity’s two main habitats: the natural and the constructed. Through the exploration of infrastructures and the study of the MBTA as a foil to the natural, the exact location of said structure will be revealed. By utilizing environmental input, and a strict methodology based on the principles of evolution, this new adaptation will naturally evolve and emerge, with a tectonic language that is
on par with evolutionary outputs. What exactly Architecture for the Instincts will be is still unknown, but as William James once said “[Instincts are] the faculty of acting in such a way as to produce certain ends, without foresight of ends, and without previous education in the performance” and so, likewise, Architecture of the Instincts will evolve.
“...the faculty of
acting
in such a way
as to produce certain ends,
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future criteria
without
foresight of ends,
& without
previous education in the performance...�
As Architecture for the Instincts evolves throughout the coming months it should be judged on the following criteria: 1// Has the project examined and evaluated not only the gap between humanities natural and constructed environments, but also the reasoning behind the gap? 2// Are these two environments then bridged together in a way that is meaningful, not superfluous? 3// Does the project embody the process and procedures behind evolution as a basis for its design methodology? 4// Does Architecture for the Instincts have the ability to improve humanity’s life quality?
winter break
finish reading Flow finish reading Building for Life update portfolio
finalize site
february
read Third Chimpanzee
january
december
find a job
finalize program
site analysis
program analysis
develop methodology
mid review write
graduation
april
march
spring break
finalize book final review
create final book
“I know of no other scientific mechanism other than natural selection with the proven power to build structures for such eminently workable design.� Stephen Jay Gould evolutionary biologist
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annotated bibliography 1// Crowe, Norman. Nature and the Idea of a Man-made World: An Investigation into the Evolutionary Roots of Form and Order in the Built Environment. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1995. Norman Crowe’s book, Nature and the Idea of a Man-Made World (1995), argues that even though nature was once the root for all creations, humanity has since strayed too far from this path, and have instead created a second nature for themselves. Crowe clarifies how humanity constructed their world by first explaining how dwellings
originally began; the importance of place, unity, and time; and concluding with a look at nature and its relation to the city. He explains how nature is still embedded in everything that humanity makes, but in order to regain a proper balance between the two worlds, this link needs to be rediscovered and further explored. Given the ease of Crowe’s language and the straightforwardness of the book, it allows the common person to understand his concepts, with an underlying meaning for architects and teachers like himself.
2// Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York: Harper & Row, 1990. Print. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (1990), explains the psychology behind human happiness by exploring the human consciousness and current quality of life. Csikszentmihalyi begins with an overview of consciousness and life quality, before delving into the specifics of “flow” as it relates to the body, mind, work, and social aspects of human life. He explains how life
53
can be greatly improved by adding more positive and satisfying experiences to it, in order to achieve total life involvement and the optimal human experience. Given the simplicity of Csikszentmihalyi’s language and the straightforwardness of his writing style, the book is meant to appeal to all audiences, with a very extensive notes section located at the conclusion of his book specifically for the academic reader.
3// Kellert, Stephen R. Building for Life: Designing and Understanding the Human-nature Connection. Washington,
DC: Island, 2005. Print. Stephen Kellert’s book, Building for Life: Designing and Understanding the HumanNature Connection (2005), explores the relationship between humans and nature; the void that has been created between them; and the need for restorative environmental design in humanity’s current built world. Kellert begins with his theories behind the human-nature connection, before delving into the specifics of nature and childhood development; nature and the built environment; and the field of biophilic
design (more of which is discussed in his following book Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science, and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life). Kellert describes how missing this connection diminishes humanity’s quality of life, separating them from their natural begins, in order to impress upon his readers that a new process of design is necessary. Building for Life’s simple, concise format and relatable style of writing allows its message to be understood and conveyed to any intent reader.
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4// Kellert, Stephen R., Judith Heerwagen, and Martin Mador. Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science, and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2008. Print. Stephen Kellert, Judith Heerwagen, and Martin Mador’s book, Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science, and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life (2008), argues in favor of fixing the current rift between the built environment and the natural world. The authors cover not only the theory of “biophilic design”, but also
the science, benefits, and practice of this relatively new field. They explain humans complex dependence on nature through a list of instinctual needs (connection to environmental features; natural shapes; natural patterns and processes; light; and place based relationships) in order to prove that the current built environment is not meeting said needs. Kellert, Heerwagen, and Mador’s book is written in the style of a textbook, in order to educate a wide range of audiences on a new field of study, in a simple, relatable, and recognizable way.
5// Tsui, Eugene. Evolutionary Architecture. N.p.: John Wiley & Sons, 1999. Print. Eugene Tsui’s book, Evolutionary Architecture (1999), argues for a new design process that draws from the benefits of nature’s evolutionary development. Tsui supports this claim by describing his own design theories and principles behind evolutionary architecture, before delving into lessons humanity can learn from nature and how to apply such teachings to architecture. Tsui explains how nature has been building and
55
testing “architecture” longer than humanity, in order to impress upon his readers the need to follow nature’s model and take advantage of such research. He has done extensive research on not only ant mounds, but dragonfly wings and conch shells and how these structures can be integrated into architecture. Tsui establishes a relaxed relationship with his readers, in an attempt to create a book that is approachable not only for the architect, but for all those connected to the design field.
6// Wilson, Edward O. On Human hope. He shows his readers that biology Nature. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1978. and the social sciences can no longer be separated, in order to move Darwin’s theory Print. Edward Wilson’s book, On Human Nature (1978), explores how human behavior is inextricably linked to biological heritage and how this link can begin to draw together the disciplines of biology, evolutionary theory, and social organization. Wilson begins by tackling the intricacies of the human mind, and then draws connections between evolution and the human traits of aggression, sex, altruism, religion, and
of evolution into the realm of sociology. On Human Nature’s style and claim is mainly written for scholars in the disciplines of the humanities and sciences, to begin to help them understand each other, sociobiology, and the role evolution has in it all.
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extended bibliography 1// Buss, David M. Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind. Boston, Mass.: Pearson Education, 2009. Print. 2// Crowe, Norman. Nature and the Idea of a Man-Made World. Cambridge: MIT, 1995. Print. 3// Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York: Harper & Row, 1990. Print. 4// Harrison, Ariane Lourie. Architectural Theories of the Environment: Posthuman Territory. New York: Routledge, 2013. Print. 5// Kellert, Stephen R., Judith Heerwagen, and Martin Mador. Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science, and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2008. Print. 6// Kellert, Stephen R. Building for Life: Designing and Understanding the Human-nature Connection. Washington, DC: Island, 2005. Print.
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7// Marcus, Clare Cooper, and Naomi Sachs. Therapeutic Landscapes: An Evidence-based Approach to Designing Healing Gardens and Restorative Outdoor Spaces. N.p.: John Wiley & Sons, 2013. Print. 8// Pearson, David. New Organic Architecture: The Breaking Wave. Berkeley: University of California, 2001. 9// Stitt, Fred A. Ecological Design Handbook: Sustainable Strategies for Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, and Planning. London: McGraw-Hill, 1999. Print. 10// Tsui, Eugene. Evolutionary Architecture. N.p.: John Wiley & Sons, 1999. Print. 11// Weinstock, Michael. The Architecture of Emergence: The Evolution of Form in Nature and Civilization. Chichester, U.K.: Wiley, 2010. Print.
12// Wilson, Edward O. On Human Nature. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1978. Print.
58 If we really needed to be connected to nature, how did we become so disconnected?
appendix A
We are intricately connected to nature.
Is it even possible to improve the quality of human life? Or are we stuck in a cycle of rising expectations?
Initial author organization.
We should follow our instincts and feed them.
Norman Crowe
Stephen Kellert
We should understand our instincts, but not follow them
Eugene Tsui
Edward Wilson
Mihaly Csiksentmihalyi
[
[
59
Emerging knowledge in biology and ecology suggests that construction of a built environment that incorporates biophilic principles and meets instinctual needs can support an overall improvement in life quality.
Due to the process of evolution, nature is genetically embedded in human needs and behavior.
Kellert Crowe
Natural instincts It was humanity’s and built forms genetic drive for can work control, together to understanding, and survival that better the human experience. led them to construct a built environment that differed from their natural one.
Crowe
Csikszentmihalyi
Kellert Crowe Tsui
Humans should be aware of their instincts, understand their implications, but avoid thoughtless mimicry.
Improving the quality of life presents humanity with a paradox, where success both is, and is not, possible or practical.
Csikszentmihalyi
Csikszentmihalyi
Wilson
Crowe
appendix B Final claims diagram.
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appendix C Model depicting the layering of human instincts and needs.
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appendix D Model depicting the impact levels of three architectural conditions: the living condition, the educational model, and the community scale.
“We have never quite outgrown the idea that, somewhere, there are people living in perfect harmony with nature and one another, and that we might do the same were it not for the corrupting influences of western culture.� Melvin Konner Doctor of Biological Anthropology
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