Architecture does have the power to change the world, but not in the way we might think.

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What typically comes to mind is our explicit, conscious interaction with built space. When newly assigned to an isolation cell, we would expect a prisoner to contemplate their new environment like any good philosopher. Just so when our attention is drawn to space designed for flourishing. We marvel at the interplay of glass and sunlight; we study our smallness under a massive ceiling towering above; we savor the warm embrace of a low-ceilinged cabin.

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But the importance of architecture far surpasses such aesthetic encounters. We naturally take for granted how easily built space bypasses conscious awareness altogether, forever doing things to us, inescapably, relentlessly. We linger at a certain spot without any particular notice of surroundings, to allow an uninvited feeling crescendo, of elation or even grief. Bright colors imperceptibly changes our biological poise for action. Sunlight and a tree seen through a window speeds the healing of the patient otherwise caged within a hospital room.

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Alternatively, we have little knowledge of what is torturing us – in a jail, a school, a courthouse, a hospital. In the case of the isolation cell, every additional square inch the architect allowed – every additional drop of sunlight, or nuance in texture and color – could be the final deciding factor as to whether we will forever be broken after our residence is over.  

 

Architectural innovation is therefore still a quite unwieldy subject. But I think it might help to break it down with some rough classification. Here is at least an attempt to categorize the different areas I address as an architectural innovator:

 

(1) Final Built Space:

• Aesthetic and emotional/cognitive implications, both conscious and unconscious. For example, hiding clinical tools from the patient’s line of site, or placing windows in the nurse break room.

• Ergonomic: Clinical tools at hand: For example, caregivers should not need to bend over patients or hurt their back with lifting.

• Functional: Supporting overall cognitive and physical workflows – clinical, infection control, security/safety, social interaction, diagnosis, education, rounding, etc.

 

(2) Process of Design and Construction:

• Reducing costs and increasing efficiencies in both design and build.

• Fostering greater design creativity.

• Ease and speed of build.

 

(3) Future-readiness and adaptability

• Ease of future changes to built space. For example, changing wall panels and artwork on the fly (e.g. DIRTT), or adding/moving gases at point of care.

 

(4) Customer success and change management:

• Ideal use of final built space, the habits underling experience.