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Category Archives: Health
Empathy in Design: Measuring the Impact of Biophilia
Is home your happy place? Does it make you feel warm and welcome? Now that a pandemic has turned our homes into multipurpose spaces that double as offices, gyms, schools, playgrounds and safe havens from a virus, feelings matter more than … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Biology, Design, Eye Tracking, Health, People-centric Design
Tagged Biophilia
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How Boston’s Glassy Seaport Fails + Why It Always Will!
A recent article in the Boston Globe Magazine, 15 Things to Love and 11 Things to Loathe about Boston, labels the newest glassy section of the city “soulless” something people “loathe,” calling Boston’s Seaport District a “bland cityscape, a tract of … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, City Planning, Design, Health, Uncategorized
Tagged Design, Facade
13 Comments
Imagine No Cars !
“Imagine there’s no autos It’s easy if you try Only healthy walking And cycling ‘neath the sky” —A riff on John Lennon’s, Imagine Visitors to Kyoto, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Porto and Paris don’t have to imagine – they already have miles … Continue reading
Posted in City Planning, Cycling, Exercise, Health, People-centric Design, Walkability
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A Trip to Tahoe: Walking the California/Nevada Divide
When I asked the concierge for directions to cafes and shops, he told me to walk three blocks to the traffic lights, then turn right to California or left to Nevada. “You’ll see the difference,” he said. Indeed. Little did … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, City Planning, Health, People-centric Design, Walkability
Tagged safety, Walkability
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Wellness Walls: A Look at Leaves and their Long-lasting Allure
Last week’s GreenBuild/ ABX2017Expo in Boston boasted a mind-boggling 550+ exhibitors and 75+ product categories focused on sustainable building—from insulation to solar panels. As the escalator descended to the 12-acre exhibit space, I felt that Robin Williams’ Moscow on Hudson … Continue reading
Posted in Biology, Health, Primal Vista, STEM
Tagged Garden Design, gardens, Green Spaces, Wellness
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Park Benches Where No One Sits
If the goal of the bench is socialization, safety, scenery and shelter, why do these benches face busy streets, blank walls and parking lots? Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, City Planning, Design, Health, People-centric Design
Tagged Architecture, City Planning, Design, Green Spaces, Health, Indoor-Outdoor, Wellness
2 Comments
The Genetics of Garden Design
Architecture is not just about houses and buildings—it’s also about gardens and landscapes. In the Genetics of Design, we write about how design affects biology and how biology affects design. Well-designed spaces make people feel comfortable and safe. They mesh … Continue reading
Posted in Biology, Design, Exercise, Health, People-centric Design, Walkability
Tagged Garden Design, gardens, Green Spaces, Health, Wellness
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The Joy of Modern Houses
The first time I toured a modern house, it was love at first sight. Heart racing. Pulse pounding. Face flushing. Love. Or maybe lust. Either way, once I met a house with cathedral ceilings, I never went back. Humongous windows. … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Design, Health
Tagged Architecture, Design, Health, Indoor-Outdoor, Modern, Traditional
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Drives Me Crazy
Donna called at 5pm with a last-minute request, “Can you give me a lift to Bedford? I promised to have dinner with my parents and my car’s in the shop.” “Sure” I said, not realizing that a 10-mile drive during rush … Continue reading
Posted in City Planning, Exercise, Health, Walkability
Tagged Health, Traffic, Walking
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The Primal Vista: Why We Crave Water Views
Every summer, Mark and I reserve one vacation week for a trip to the quaint Cape Cod town of Wellfleet, Massachusetts. No chateau in Chinon, palazzo in Paris or castle in Cardiff, just a few rooms with a view—an ocean view. Like many … Continue reading
