⚡ 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! 👇

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