From Bones To Bricks

Mezhyrich hut

 

Looking after the modern and the Neolithic in all of us

Modern humans have walked the earth for roughly 200,000 years. The first examples of proto-houses were built by the Mezhyrich during the Ice Age some 15,000 years ago. Their large oval shelters were clad in tonnes of mammoth bones! These ancient peoples lived semi-sedentary lives and their culture marked the transition from a hunter gatherer existence to the beginnings of an agricultural way of life.

Fast forward to the 1800s and we see another pivotal point in social development – the industrial revolution, which transforms us from an agrarian society to an industrial one. This is the beginning of urbanisation and the exploitation of labour and resources. This is also the beginning of the workplace building.

Today we spend an astonishing 90% of our lives in buildings, at home, at work and at leisure. And yet, our bodies have undeniably been designed and refined to suit a predominantly active, outdoor existence. Of our 200,000 year history, we have spent only the tiniest 0.1% living and working in buildings, to the extent that we do today.

In the workplace, this creates an enormously interesting challenge. How do we provide the comforts of the modern built environment that we have grown accustomed to, whilst satisfying the evolutionary makeup of our bodies. The answer is a fascinating blend of building performance solutions. Some super high tech (smart building controls, sensors) and some drawing inspiration from more ancient times (natural ventilation, solar shading, minimal noise, green views).

The World Green Building Council reports that people are measurably more productive in office buildings that have good air quality, views of the outside, low noise levels and designs that encourage movement and exercise. So it seems, that if you look after the modern and Neolithic in all of us, you have a happier, more productive place to work.

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