Humans are part of a much larger and complex ecosystem comprised of microorganisms. While it is well-known that nature makes people healthier, happier, and more productive, people excel at building highly controlled indoor environments that shut nature out. Our cleaning products, maintenance protocols, air-tight facades, and mechanical systems create a highly controlled indoor environment that strips away the beneficial microbes essential to overall health. As an integrated practice of architects, landscape architects, and engineers, HGA is in the perfect position to redefine indoor environments and create an opportunity to challenge nearly every discipline in our practice.
This Micro-Grant will research the intersection of ecology and the built environment and what designers can do to shape the microbiome. This newly emerging field of study brings together biology, engineering, building sciences, architecture, and evolution. Research will be conducted on space configuration, occupant density, interior materials selection, façades, lighting disinfection systems, landscape architecture, and mechanical systems and what each of these can do to cultivate a more natural indoor microbiome, aiding in improved overall health. The goal of this research is to develop a tool kit of knowledge that can be used on future projects.
This research will be applicable to HGA’s project work across all market sectors and all disciplines. The toolkit for design will be a primer on the intersection of ecology and the built environment, as well as the benefits of designing to improve the indoor microbiome. Teams will be able to use the toolkit to facilitate conversations with clients and provide design-thought leadership and possible design solutions.