Natural landscaping and bringing schools and workplaces to a more holistic and natural element is a fast moving trend, "something deep within us responds to the three-dimensional geometry of nature" (Hutchinson, A., 2015). The traditional aspects of the workplace are becoming more so a thing of the past, being replaced by boarder-less work-spaces, that are filled with unique and inventive tools to foster creativity and production. The ability to de-stress and foster more quality and productive work from employees is something that is necessary for businesses to remain competitive. The regular 9 to 5 workday is slowly becoming outdated, and employees have more pull to have a non-fixed workday, even through the use of technology working remotely.
A new study found that an additional ten
trees on a given block corresponded to a one-per-cent increase in how
healthy nearby residents felt (Hutchinson, A., 2015)
At this school in Tokyo, five-year-olds cause traffic jams and windows
are for Santa to climb into. Meet: the world's cutest kindergarten,
designed by architect Takaharu Tezuka. In this charming talk, he walks
us through a design process that really lets kids be kids.
My daughter's daycare is one of the only centre's in Alberta with a fully functioning mud-pie kitchen. Moving back to nature even at the early childhood education level is something that will change the scope of learning today. I often find myself learning so much from my own children, as they are so full of live and imagination. It seems so tragic that they often lose the clarity and expression of childhood once they enter a very outdated and obsolete formalized learning environment. We force a learning environment on children that is unnatural and we continue this in the work environment as well. References: Hutchinson, A., 2015. How Trees Calm Us Down, New Yorker, Retrieved from: http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/what-is-a-tree-worth?mbid=social_facebook Tesuka, T., 2014. The Best Kindergarten You've Ever Seen Retrieved from: http://www.ted.com/talks/takaharu_tezuka_the_best_kindergarten_you_ve_ever_seen
Thanks for your thoughts on how a green environment foster better outcomes in learning. I would add that it fosters better outcomes in recovery from illness and injury as well. I love the mud pie kitchen for kids. There is so much that we can learn from children. That is why free play should be encouraged always!!
A delightful Ted talk! I'm a big believer in the attributes of space affecting so many aspects of our being... and especially design that reduces the boundary between the natural and man-made environment. The research about adding the trees was interesting.
Hi Petrina,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts on how a green environment foster better outcomes in learning. I would add that it fosters better outcomes in recovery from illness and injury as well. I love the mud pie kitchen for kids. There is so much that we can learn from children. That is why free play should be encouraged always!!
A delightful Ted talk! I'm a big believer in the attributes of space affecting so many aspects of our being... and especially design that reduces the boundary between the natural and man-made environment. The research about adding the trees was interesting.
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