It's about people, not buildings or technology

Aurecon recently met with a multi-million dollar telecommunications company about building some swish headquarters. 'We want the latest technology. We want high tech!' reads the wish list. 'Why?' we countered. The reply was astounding.

The company faces a war for talent and needed to create a place where talented programmers would want to work. Asking 'Why?' and thereby uncovering the real purpose of the building would re-shape how we designed the building.

Very often, we get so caught up in the technology involved in buildings of the future, focusing on everything from building management system apps and information screens to automated elevators and rooms that are air conditioned and lit a few seconds before occupants enter them, that we forget who a building is ultimately designed for: people.

Building design is not (only) about bits and bytes, but flesh and bones – we need to take a step back and remember that humans are at the centre of everything we design. Buildings of the future are about designs that unlock human potential. High tech is only high value if that same technology enhances human experience.

"Building design is not (only) about bits and bytes, but flesh and bones – we need to take a step back and remember that humans are at the centre of everything we design."

At construction company Laing O’Rourke, baby Capybaras can be found running around on the big screens in their staff breakout area. It doesn’t take rocket science to see why. The construction company understands that cute, furry animals and buildings of the future have everything in common – as found in a Hiroshima University study. Both can set off endorphins, help combat stress and profoundly elevate moods. This clever use of technology to unlock human emotion is having impressive bottom line benefits.

This paper explores: why designing for humans is really important, what's driving the change; how buildings were never meant to operate in isolation from users, rather in synchronisation; and, that designing for efficiency and demonstrable ROI is a three-stage process.

As we head into an unknown future, let’s make sure our aim is not to design ‘rocket ships’, but rather buildings that will enable their occupants to reach for the stars.

Is it time to think like Luddites before jumping straight into technology? It does seem like making humans the centre of everything we design will be the only way for building owners, developers and users to get ahead in years to come.

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