As per WHO, “Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” It is characterised by fatigue, depression, and reduced professional efficacy. Also, burnout has been specifically restricted to the workplace context. Hence, it becomes more about employee well-being, which costs the employees and the company. According to Maslach, a chirpy, cheerful canary bird will no longer be singing happily after leaving a cave full of soot and disease because the coal mine is making the bird sick.
Neuroarchitecture- solution for burn-out at the workplace
But mere cosmetic solutions cannot combat this rapidly evolving workplace phenomenon. According to Harvard Business Review, “the responsibility for managing it has shifted away from the individual towards the organisation.” And one of the motivators to maintain job satisfaction is work conditions. Built environment conditions, in this context, the workplace conditions, impacts human comfort and well-being, known as Neuroarchitecture. This can best be explained by how the Salk Institute by Louis Kahn, came into being for this very same reason. However, the scientific evidence was provided by Fred Gage, a neuroscientist, much later in 1998.
Neuroarchitecture can be one of the foremost solutions for workplace burnout as it bridges the gap between neuroscience and the built environment by alleviating well-being and thus increasing productivity, concentration, and learning capacity. Given that we, humans, spend more than 80% of our time indoors, learning and concentration can be optimised through lighting, colour psychology, spatial layout, and acoustic design.
Motor Movements
Motor movements are one of the most crucial elements of Neuroarchitecture. It has scientifically been proven that degeneration of vital functions of the body is caused by deprivation of the ability to move. Thus, building design should facilitate movement through transitions between spaces. Action can be provoked through changes in levels and usage of ramps and stairs.
Volumetrics
Stimulating volumes like high ceilings are preferred for creative, immersive, and artistic endeavours over low-ceiling spaces which facilitate collaboration and concentration. The latter also are accommodative of tasks requiring executive decisions and mechanical actions.
Indoor-outdoor exchange
Various studies have confirmed that proximity to nature evokes positive effects on everything. It ensures psychological well-being, provides visible relief, and helps recovery from stress. Being closer to nature does not mean having indoor plants and shrubs. Neuroarchitecture should encourage the altering of interior perspective and exterior views. The sensory relief provided by a water feature like a fountain or having open collaborative spaces can break the monotony.
Light
Adequate exposure to natural light not only helps set the circadian rhythm, but it also reduces stress and enhances productivity. However, the design should aim to provide optimum light as overheating and glare can pose serious challenges. BIM can be used to design façade and fenestrations to optimise daylight strategies. Instead of continuous windows which can lead to flooding of light, architectural elements can be used to promote changes in the position of darkness and clarity.
Flexibility of spaces
Spaces are extensions of our consciousness and identity and affect us psychologically and socially. It becomes imperative that workspaces be flexible or be reconfigured to alter any space that is perceived as threatening or aggressive. The availability of different zones, like quiet reading areas and conference spaces, supports diverse learning styles and activities while catering to individual needs. The need to have flexibility has become more after the COVID-19 pandemic, wherein allowance for social distancing and adaptable use of space are becoming norms.
Biophilic Design
Biophilic design incorporates elements like natural shapes, forms, patterns and processes, and environmental features. Using natural materials, organic shapes and silhouettes, not only help improve the relationship between nature and humans, but also reduce stress, boost creativity and increase focus.
Mattery
While selecting materials for finishes, furniture, walls, etc., their qualities of texture, amplification, and colour should be kept in mind. Materials should not produce very loud noise so as not to cause disturbances and anxiety. Sensory vibrations of some materials might change and respond differently to different types of touch. For example, going barefoot to calm the nerves is advisable only on certain materials. Wood, brick, and natural stones have greater natural character and aid in cognitive development.
Colour Theory
Colour acts as a stimulus for the human eye, in the form of light and evokes feelings and emotions. Cold hues like blues and greens are better suited for relaxation spaces, while warm tones – reds and yellows, help transmit energy and vitality.
As per the UN, by 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will be living in urban environments. Neuroarchitecture can aid urban planning in improving health and social relationships between the inhabitants and the built environment. It can be the stepping stone for creating projects in line with the needs of users, who are facing an epidemic-like spread of burn-out.
