⚡ The Power of Moments in Healthy Buildings

⚡ The Power of Moments in Healthy Buildings Continuing from my last post about designing healthy buildings from the perspective of the user, let's step into human experience for a moment. I have just started reading a great book by Chip and Dan Heath called ‘The Power of Moments’ which talks about creating memorable experiences for others. While only at the beginning, I can already recommend it and can see a fascinating connection with our experiences in buildings. Let me show you my thoughts with an example … Imagine a visitor that is being asked about their experience a month after spending a day in the building. And let’s say the day that they had looked something like this... 🌞 Morning Entrance: Stepping into a sunlit foyer. Rating: 7 ☕ Coffee time: A cozy corner, yet a touch crowded. Rating: 6.5 💼 Workspace: Ergonomic and quiet, but not the greatest view. Rating: 6.0 🍜 Lunch in the biophilic courtyard: An indoor haven of greenery with comfortable seating areas and the soothing sound of a water feature. Rating: 9 🌐 Collaboration Hub: A great brainstorming space, surrounded by digital walls. But some glitches in the connectivity dampens the mood. Rating: 7 💼 Workspace: more work, but a bit more tired after lunch. Rating: 5.5 🎼 End-of-Day Sundown Lounge: A terraced area on the top floor playing live acoustic music as the sun sets, complemented by a panoramic view of the city skyline. Rating: 9.5 How do you think they would rate the overall visit a month later? You might expect that their memory recalls it as an average of the day, so something around a 7, right? What if I told you that this is not how it works... What if it was more likely to be perceived as a 9? How is that possible? 💡 Psychologists have revealed a fascinating thing about human memory, and 'The Power of Moments' sheds some light on this phenomenon. The Heath brothers highlight that our memory often recalls two key moments: - The peak (best or worst moment) - The ending Based on this peak-end rule, despite the lower average ratings throughout the day, the visitor's memory would most likely be dominated by the mid-day green experience and the end-of-day sundowner experience. This links back to the general problem with building rating systems that I described in an earlier post. They work against a clear focus. So instead of scoring a little better on all fronts to create a better average experience, we should maybe be more conscious about creating real memorable moments in the experience of the people within our buildings. As I read further in the book, I'm curious what insights I will find about creating those standout moments. Could this guide us to create more memorable buildings? What are some unforgettable memories you associate with buildings? Share below! 👇 #HealthyBuildings #HumanCapital #realestate #sustainablearchitecture