Why is this?

Until recently, humans have evolved as part of or in close connection with the natural world.

These days, our connection with the natural world, especially in the workplace, is tenuous at best, and more often, non existent.

What impact does this have on the human psyche, both individually and collectively?

For the most part, our day to day working environmment is devoid of any natural connection. That is why we hang pictures on our walls, tend pot plants in the office, go for a walk in the park or hanker for a holiday by the ocean.

It seems obvious that lack of contact with the natural world can affect us all for the worse.

What can be done to alleviate day-to-day frustrations of life in a sterile office and contribute to a psychologically calmer and more benign environment? What benefits might this bring, both for the mental and physical well-being of individuals and workforces, and for the productivity of organisations?

These are difficult questions to answer scientifically, supported by empirical evidence of any improvement.

Good architects and interior designers appreciate the importance of creating a harmonious built environment. What seems outrageously obvious from a casual observation of any work environment is that good architects and interior designers are few and far between. Mediocrity dominates, to our unending detriment.

However, instinct suggests that attention to the imagery of the internal environment could effect a critical improvement which is easily achievable.

I believe that with careful and imaginative attention, imagery can dramatically enhance the built environment, both internal and external, and make a significant contribution to improving individual health and wellbeing as well as to organisational productivity.

Making such a claim is easy. Testing and supporting it with careful measurement to determine what benefits or improvements are actually realised is quite another.

I'm interested to hear from any organisations willing to test this proposition.

Watch this space!