THE MINDFUL ARCHITECT

Below: importance of plants, light and views Opposite page: example design of a ‘healthy home’

Ben Channon was an architect for over eight years, specialising in residential design; became a WELL Building Standard Accredited Professional; and now works as a wellbeing consultant. Self-branding himself as the ‘mindful architect’, Ben founded the Architect’s Mental Wellbeing Forum and has recently published his book ‘Happy By Design’, after being crowned a ‘rising star’ by RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architecture) in 2018. Illustrations by Ben, himself.

The WELL Building Standards encourages wellbeing through 10 design concepts: air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, community

IN CONVERSATION

What does wellbeing mean to you?

demand, through the market. Obviously, the general public are becoming way more clued up on these issues anyway – you only have to read a Sunday newspaper now and in one of the magazines there will be a section on health and wellbeing or mental health. At the other end, a lot of funders are really petrified of being seen to be unethical or getting sued for providing buildings that are ‘unhealthy’. So, I think consumers and The ideal scenario is that we don’t want to have funders are going to meet in the middle. to think about our health. Our health shouldn’t be something we are worrying about; it Are there challenges across different shouldn’t be something that bothers us on a daily basis. sectors which make encouraging healthy “There is this The ideal scenario is that we are free from any kind of health worries, and that to buildings more difficult? Generally, it is often seen as a luxury, rather than an essential. feedback loop - if we look after our me is wellbeing. Do you think there Whatever the project type, one of the first things to be cut will be the plants. This is physical health, we also look after our is a disconnect between how we think part of ‘value engineering’, eventhough we know that mental health, and about health and the influences of our vice versa” nature has so many benefits, such as student happiness, surroundings? attendance, performance, memory, and all kinds Yes, the built environment plays a massive of stuff in schools. role and people don’t often realise. RIBA did a survey last year and they found, something like, So you have to convince developers of the just below a quarter of people thought that their added financial value in order for healthy home had an impact on their happiness. And I design aspects to be funded? was just like, are you joking me? Generally, we say extra build cost is anywhere between 2% and 7%, which can put people off. Exactly! Do you think people are aware But, yes, there are arguments to be made; the of the science behind ‘wellbeing’? evidence is so important, but it can be even more There’s so much information now coming from difficult without quantitative data. There is also neuroscience and environmental psychology a brand and marketing value, though. that demonstrates the way that the world around us affects us. I find that when I talk to What is your hope for the future of clients about it, I won’t just talk about designing wellbeing through design? for wellbeing, I will call it designing for healthy One thing I hope is that it does become more buildings. engrained into policy, to go beyond the bare minimum. Also, the negative health impacts of Do you think that wellbeing has been safety measures are forgotten. Like, after Grenfell, promoted well in your industry? they are talking about banning wood from many We have got a long way to go. Developers have types of buildings, but we know that wood has got on board with sustainability, in part, because loads of health benefits for us, both physically and it’s come in through laws, like zero-carbon mentally. targets set by the government. There haven’t been many planning policies or government Do you think health will meet the same requirements to meet ‘health’ in buildings. priority level of sustainability (with BREEAM standards)?

So, is it just an effect that starts with policy?

They are really complimentary, with lots of overlaps! One shouldn’t come at the expense of the other – they can and should exist side by side.

HAPPY BY DESIGN

‘Happy people’ show more activity in the front left side of their brain. Bio-psychosocial approaches show how external sources, such as the built environment around us, can give rise to biological markers of happiness in the brain. Our complex nervous systems consist of neurons which transmit the ‘happy chemicals’: serotonin, dopamine and, also, oxytocin. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, so designs of control, aesthetics and comfort could be vital to tackling the current mental health crisis.

With a range of settings and users within buildings, and the prospect of future changes in society, design must be adaptable and responsive to user needs, behaviours and requirements. In particular, buildings should aim to offer a freedom of choice, personalisation and control over surroundings, as ‘one size doesn’t fit all’. For instance, localised temperature controls, light dimmers, or even windows that can be opened can avoid the release of cortisol. Studies have shown that people who rate themselves highly on various happiness criteria also had a lower heart rate and lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels. Lower levels of cortisol are also shown to reduce long-term risks of obesity, type II diabetes, high blood pressure and problems with the immune system. This, once again, highlights the close link between mental and physical wellbeing.

Work-related stress, depression, anxiety accounted for 40% of workrelated ill-health and 49% of working days lost in the UK 2016/17

A simple pop of colour can improve a boring staircase to spark feelings of joy and stimulate its use

Image by office haratori

One in four in the UK suffer from a diagnosable mental health issue

Image by Noshe

Open plan offices and communal gardens are good examples of how design can create spaces for socialising (key to happiness). Although, design must also consider the different personality types of building users. For instance, introverted personalities may prefer the use of quiet and private breakout areas, or even nap pods (a study by NASA found that a 40-minute nap improved overall emotional regulation, performance by 34% and alertness by 100%). Each of these spaces can be useful for a sense of mindfulness, as an engagement with the surrounding environment and the present is encouraged. MRI scans have shown that mindfulness can lead to a smaller amygdala size.

Left: a collective space as a destination in a building - forming connections is key to happiness

Below: designs for Google offices include nap pods, even for some quiet time alone

A part of the brain that is related to stress and anxiety is called the amygdala. It receives inputs from sight, sound and touch, thus, aesthetic designs that appeal to the senses are important - see the Sensing Spaces exhibition by the Royal Academy of Arts for inspiration!

An aesthetic building can not only spark positive emotions of joy and curiosity, but also help users to focus, for example, through the use of colour. Research has suggested that red can enhance performance on some detail-oriented tasks, whereas blue can enhance performance on a creative task. Although, aesthetics must not be prioritised over the comfort of the user. Widely understood to be a condition of mind which expresses satisfaction with the environment, comfort can be achieved by a supply of clean, fresh air. This can not only avoid pollutants that are harmful to the lungs, but also provide a direct connection to the outside world and appeal to the senses (imagine the feeling of a light breeze or the scent of cut grass).

Image from officesnapshots.com

We’ve all had noisy neighbours at some point. Noise can cause anxiety and even disrupt sleep, concentration and productivity; nevertheless, acoustic comfort can easily be achieved with soft furnishings, carpets and curtains. Overall, comfort can reduce stress and stimulate happiness. Further examples include how high ceilings can give a sense of freedom and elevation has been proven to provide feelings of safety.