My understanding of the built environment is the architecture that caters to human needs and their willingness to survive. It is how the concept of an architectural design supports the multiple functions of human beings rather than just a place of shelter. With this understanding, I chose the article titled Human-Centered Architecture: What is It and How It Makes a Difference
written by Adriana Voegeli. In the article, she describes what Human-centered architecture is.
From what she explained I understand now that Human-centered architecture is architecture that helps people. Connecting humans to architectural features that are there to help nourish their emotional and functional needs. It is about survivability. Human-centered architecture relates closely to the built environment idea because it does what the built environment wants. Humans connect emotionally to the buildings in which they live, visit and work. Functionality is essential to human existence, and when a design in a building or space provides this kind of human benefit, humans are most likely to feel positive, included, energetic, and comfortable.They feel like they can survive there.
On the other hand, if humans benefit less from a certain space or building , they naturally distance themselves because they feel depressed, unwelcome
, bored, or all these at once.
I understand human-centered architecture by imagining someone going to a restaurant and ordering a sandwich. Before purchasing the sandwich, that person already has in their mind what they want the sandwich to do for them. They've decided they want the sandwich to make them happy. Maybe they just received terrible news and want to be cheered up, or good news and want to reward themselves.
They want the sandwich to do more than sit on their stomach because they haven't eaten. They want an experience. They want that sandwich to make them happy and excited and light up on their tongue. They want their money's worth.
Imagine the sandwich maker understood how they needed to connect the sandwich to the flavors to connect to the Human. The customer is now getting everything they wanted from this sandwich. Now they are enjoying the sandwich. Maybe they are enjoying it so much that now they are closing their eyes to feel connected with the sandwich even more. It tastes that good. Now it is more than just a sandwich. It's doing something for them as a human.
Now, imagine the sandwich maker needing to understand the importance of the human connection with the flavors before making the sandwich. The customer is now disappointed because what they wanted from the sandwich they still need to get. Instead of closing their eyes to feel connected and enjoy the sandwich and the atmosphere, they get up and leave. Maybe they even complain. The sandwich was now just something to put on their stomach because they hadn't eaten. It was a waste of their hard-earned money. Yes, it offered them one benefit: giving them something to eat, but just like architecture that provides shelter only, humans require more. Human-centered architecture is a service to humans providing what they need from their environments, buildings, and spaces where they survive.