in Silicon Valley Google engineers have gone out to REI at their lunch time and
gone out to REI at their lunch time and
gone out to REI at their lunch time and they’ve bought colorful ripstop nylon
they’ve bought colorful ripstop nylon
they’ve bought colorful ripstop nylon tarps and they stretch them over the
tarps and they stretch them over the
tarps and they stretch them over the over their desks effectively lowering
over their desks effectively lowering
over their desks effectively lowering the ceiling in this otherwise beautiful
the ceiling in this otherwise beautiful
the ceiling in this otherwise beautiful high ceiling space why did they do that
high ceiling space why did they do that
high ceiling space why did they do that make it more like a garage personalize
make it more like a garage personalize
make it more like a garage personalize their space in South Seattle a police
their space in South Seattle a police
their space in South Seattle a police chief paints her room pink all four
chief paints her room pink all four
chief paints her room pink all four walls the floor and the ceiling and 500
walls the floor and the ceiling and 500
walls the floor and the ceiling and 500 years ago in isfahan iran a Shah designs
years ago in isfahan iran a Shah designs
years ago in isfahan iran a Shah designs a room with the intention of capturing
a room with the intention of capturing
a room with the intention of capturing the essence of music I’m an architect
the essence of music I’m an architect
the essence of music I’m an architect the intrigue of a curve the harmony of
the intrigue of a curve the harmony of
the intrigue of a curve the harmony of form the beauty of color and texture and
form the beauty of color and texture and
form the beauty of color and texture and being able to manifest something
being able to manifest something
being able to manifest something tangible out of thoughts that’s what
tangible out of thoughts that’s what
tangible out of thoughts that’s what attracted me to architecture but what I
attracted me to architecture but what I
attracted me to architecture but what I didn’t know was when I got into this
didn’t know was when I got into this
didn’t know was when I got into this business I’d be given a plumb line
business I’d be given a plumb line
business I’d be given a plumb line to the human soul my first job out of
to the human soul my first job out of
to the human soul my first job out of school was working in Iran in the mid
school was working in Iran in the mid
school was working in Iran in the mid 70s for the mayor of Tehran working on
70s for the mayor of Tehran working on
70s for the mayor of Tehran working on projects for the Shah it was a
projects for the Shah it was a
projects for the Shah it was a fascinating time it was a time of
fascinating time it was a time of
fascinating time it was a time of tremendous contract contrast a twenty
tremendous contract contrast a twenty
tremendous contract contrast a twenty five hundred year old culture coming
five hundred year old culture coming
five hundred year old culture coming headlong into rapid modernization I
headlong into rapid modernization I
headlong into rapid modernization I actually found myself one time drawing
actually found myself one time drawing
actually found myself one time drawing in the sand with a stick to place the
in the sand with a stick to place the
in the sand with a stick to place the beginning of a high-rise in a city of
beginning of a high-rise in a city of
beginning of a high-rise in a city of seven million people that didn’t have a
seven million people that didn’t have a
seven million people that didn’t have a sewer system but I learned some
sewer system but I learned some
sewer system but I learned some life-changing lessons when I was there
life-changing lessons when I was there
life-changing lessons when I was there and most importantly what affected the
and most importantly what affected the
and most importantly what affected the rest of my career was understanding the
rest of my career was understanding the
rest of my career was understanding the power of design and the role that it
power of design and the role that it
power of design and the role that it played so 500 years ago
played so 500 years ago
played so 500 years ago Isfahan the Salafi dynasty these folks
Isfahan the Salafi dynasty these folks
Isfahan the Salafi dynasty these folks knew a little bit
knew a little bit
knew a little bit about how design can deliver powerful
about how design can deliver powerful
about how design can deliver powerful and emotional spirit I will never forget
and emotional spirit I will never forget
and emotional spirit I will never forget I can still feel what I felt in my first
I can still feel what I felt in my first
I can still feel what I felt in my first trip to the shah’s mosque in Isfahan
trip to the shah’s mosque in Isfahan
trip to the shah’s mosque in Isfahan over 40 years ago the Shah at that time
over 40 years ago the Shah at that time
over 40 years ago the Shah at that time built the only Kapoor palace and on the
built the only Kapoor palace and on the
built the only Kapoor palace and on the top floor he designed this room and the
top floor he designed this room and the
top floor he designed this room and the ceiling of this room were a series of
ceiling of this room were a series of
ceiling of this room were a series of domes upon domes with intricately carved
domes upon domes with intricately carved
domes upon domes with intricately carved recesses it was like a hundred violins
recesses it was like a hundred violins
recesses it was like a hundred violins on the ceiling and his belief was that
on the ceiling and his belief was that
on the ceiling and his belief was that it could capture the essence of music
it could capture the essence of music
it could capture the essence of music and it would affect the the behavior and
and it would affect the the behavior and
and it would affect the the behavior and the thought processes of people in that
the thought processes of people in that
the thought processes of people in that room to follow and he did just that
room to follow and he did just that
room to follow and he did just that before he was to use the room to
before he was to use the room to
before he was to use the room to meditate or to meet with special guests
meditate or to meet with special guests
meditate or to meet with special guests he would have musicians play music in
he would have musicians play music in
he would have musicians play music in that room for hours they would leave and
that room for hours they would leave and
that room for hours they would leave and he’d come in well that’s a that’s kind
he’d come in well that’s a that’s kind
he’d come in well that’s a that’s kind of a quaint tourist story right but for
of a quaint tourist story right but for
of a quaint tourist story right but for me it was a lot more than that it had an
me it was a lot more than that it had an
me it was a lot more than that it had an impact on my understanding of the role
impact on my understanding of the role
impact on my understanding of the role that architecture can play and I believe
that architecture can play and I believe
that architecture can play and I believe that some day quantum physics may
that some day quantum physics may
that some day quantum physics may actually prove that room works so I’m
actually prove that room works so I’m
actually prove that room works so I’m back home from Iran and I have my first
back home from Iran and I have my first
back home from Iran and I have my first project in the United States and it was
project in the United States and it was
project in the United States and it was a police station well I had never done
a police station well I had never done
a police station well I had never done two police stations Architects dream to
two police stations Architects dream to
two police stations Architects dream to do a police station right well I did my
do a police station right well I did my
do a police station right well I did my homework and I tried to learn everything
homework and I tried to learn everything
homework and I tried to learn everything I could about police stations but in my
I could about police stations but in my
I could about police stations but in my first meeting with the police street
first meeting with the police street
first meeting with the police street with the police chief at one point he
with the police chief at one point he
with the police chief at one point he said well Scott where you gonna put the
said well Scott where you gonna put the
said well Scott where you gonna put the pink room and I thought pink room what’s
pink room and I thought pink room what’s
pink room and I thought pink room what’s that well he explained when we bring a
that well he explained when we bring a
that well he explained when we bring a prisoner in in the back of a car drive
prisoner in in the back of a car drive
prisoner in in the back of a car drive into the Sallyport the prisoners
into the Sallyport the prisoners
into the Sallyport the prisoners handcuffed we have to get them in and
handcuffed we have to get them in and
handcuffed we have to get them in and book him and
book him and
book him and behind bars and sometimes those folks
behind bars and sometimes those folks
behind bars and sometimes those folks are ornery and we were looking for a way
are ornery and we were looking for a way
are ornery and we were looking for a way to calm them down when we get him out of
to calm them down when we get him out of
to calm them down when we get him out of the car
the car
the car so police forces everywhere had been
so police forces everywhere had been
so police forces everywhere had been imagining this and they went through an
imagining this and they went through an
imagining this and they went through an arduous trial and error process and they
arduous trial and error process and they
arduous trial and error process and they found a very certain color pink for a
found a very certain color pink for a
found a very certain color pink for a very specific amount of time 17 minutes
very specific amount of time 17 minutes
very specific amount of time 17 minutes if you put them in this room that’s pink
if you put them in this room that’s pink
if you put them in this room that’s pink everywhere for 17 minutes they calm down
everywhere for 17 minutes they calm down
everywhere for 17 minutes they calm down and that was told to me just starting my
and that was told to me just starting my
and that was told to me just starting my career in this country in a very
career in this country in a very
career in this country in a very matter-of-fact way from a police chief
matter-of-fact way from a police chief
matter-of-fact way from a police chief and I thought this is this is powerful
and I thought this is this is powerful
and I thought this is this is powerful stuff
stuff
stuff this this intuition and this trial and
this this intuition and this trial and
this this intuition and this trial and error to have space do these things well
error to have space do these things well
error to have space do these things well science is now playing a big role in
science is now playing a big role in
science is now playing a big role in what architects do we used to stamp
what architects do we used to stamp
what architects do we used to stamp plans and now we hang around with
plans and now we hang around with
plans and now we hang around with neuroscientists some of the things we’ve
neuroscientists some of the things we’ve
neuroscientists some of the things we’ve learned have really shaped what we’re
learned have really shaped what we’re
learned have really shaped what we’re doing for example high ceilings if
doing for example high ceilings if
doing for example high ceilings if you’re in a space where the highest
you’re in a space where the highest
you’re in a space where the highest ceiling your ability to think spatially
ceiling your ability to think spatially
ceiling your ability to think spatially and conceptually is improved your
and conceptually is improved your
and conceptually is improved your cognitive performance in that area goes
cognitive performance in that area goes
cognitive performance in that area goes up if you’d have a low ceiling your
up if you’d have a low ceiling your
up if you’d have a low ceiling your cognitive performance for mathematics
cognitive performance for mathematics
cognitive performance for mathematics will improve so what were those Google
will improve so what were those Google
will improve so what were those Google engineers doing I think they were trying
engineers doing I think they were trying
engineers doing I think they were trying to write better software we used to
to write better software we used to
to write better software we used to think cubicles were horrible now we know
think cubicles were horrible now we know
think cubicles were horrible now we know they are
they create stress and make you
they create stress and make you unhealthy and your performance goes down
unhealthy and your performance goes down
unhealthy and your performance goes down so a connection to that is what we’ve
so a connection to that is what we’ve
so a connection to that is what we’ve learned about how we early humans lived
learned about how we early humans lived
learned about how we early humans lived we very carefully picked where we chose
we very carefully picked where we chose
we very carefully picked where we chose to live with this idea of prospect and
to live with this idea of prospect and
to live with this idea of prospect and refuge and what we mean by that is you’d
refuge and what we mean by that is you’d
refuge and what we mean by that is you’d pick a spot where you can see what’s out
pick a spot where you can see what’s out
pick a spot where you can see what’s out there and you can see what’s coming
there and you can see what’s coming
there and you can see what’s coming that’s prospect and refuge well a place
that’s prospect and refuge well a place
that’s prospect and refuge well a place to hide and guess what cubicles have
to hide and guess what cubicles have
to hide and guess what cubicles have neither of either of those and they do
neither of either of those and they do
neither of either of those and they do create stress they do create low
create stress they do create low
create stress they do create low performance and poor health they do suck
and speaking of early humans for over
and speaking of early humans for over 99% of our time on this planet we’ve
99% of our time on this planet we’ve
99% of our time on this planet we’ve lived outside and when we’re in nature
lived outside and when we’re in nature
lived outside and when we’re in nature we’re home and so yo Wilson coined the
we’re home and so yo Wilson coined the
we’re home and so yo Wilson coined the term Biophilia and that’s about this
term Biophilia and that’s about this
term Biophilia and that’s about this bond that humans have with nature plants
bond that humans have with nature plants
bond that humans have with nature plants and animals and so what we’ve learned is
and animals and so what we’ve learned is
and animals and so what we’ve learned is that if you’re sitting at your desk and
that if you’re sitting at your desk and
that if you’re sitting at your desk and you can see a tree within a hundred feet
you can see a tree within a hundred feet
you can see a tree within a hundred feet your cognitive performance goes up and
your cognitive performance goes up and
your cognitive performance goes up and your stress goes down
here’s Biophilia made real with
here’s Biophilia made real with architecture this is Massachusetts
architecture this is Massachusetts
architecture this is Massachusetts General Hospital this is their new
General Hospital this is their new
General Hospital this is their new hospital in Boston this is the brain
hospital in Boston this is the brain
hospital in Boston this is the brain surgery recovery suite one of many
surgery recovery suite one of many
surgery recovery suite one of many sweets like this and when you get out of
sweets like this and when you get out of
sweets like this and when you get out of brain surgery you lie on this bed and
brain surgery you lie on this bed and
brain surgery you lie on this bed and you face the nurse’s station for the
you face the nurse’s station for the
you face the nurse’s station for the first 24 hours so the nurse can look you
first 24 hours so the nurse can look you
first 24 hours so the nurse can look you right in the eye but at 24 hours this
right in the eye but at 24 hours this
right in the eye but at 24 hours this bed swivels 180 degrees and you’re
bed swivels 180 degrees and you’re
bed swivels 180 degrees and you’re looking out on that garden that garden
looking out on that garden that garden
looking out on that garden that garden a good idea that garden was an
a good idea that garden was an
a good idea that garden was an investment in health it’s on the eighth
investment in health it’s on the eighth
investment in health it’s on the eighth floor of the building in an atrium a
floor of the building in an atrium a
floor of the building in an atrium a significant investment in health and
significant investment in health and
significant investment in health and they’re seeing the returns because if
they’re seeing the returns because if
they’re seeing the returns because if for the rest of your recovery you’re
for the rest of your recovery you’re
for the rest of your recovery you’re looking at that garden you will go home
looking at that garden you will go home
looking at that garden you will go home sooner you will go home healthier and
sooner you will go home healthier and
sooner you will go home healthier and the recovery rates and performance of
the recovery rates and performance of
the recovery rates and performance of this hospital goes up Biophilia is real
this hospital goes up Biophilia is real
this hospital goes up Biophilia is real and it’s having an impact on behavior
and it’s having an impact on behavior
and it’s having an impact on behavior and it’s having an impact on healing so
and it’s having an impact on healing so
and it’s having an impact on healing so I had the opportunity work with the CEO
I had the opportunity work with the CEO
I had the opportunity work with the CEO of Samsung the world’s largest
of Samsung the world’s largest
of Samsung the world’s largest electronics company at an interesting
electronics company at an interesting
electronics company at an interesting time a few years ago where they were
time a few years ago where they were
time a few years ago where they were making a change a significant change
making a change a significant change
making a change a significant change from becoming what they call the fast
from becoming what they call the fast
from becoming what they call the fast follower they were the best at taking
follower they were the best at taking
follower they were the best at taking somebody else’s idea and making it
somebody else’s idea and making it
somebody else’s idea and making it better and getting it to market and they
better and getting it to market and they
better and getting it to market and they needed to become an innovative leader
needed to become an innovative leader
needed to become an innovative leader because that model a fast follower work
because that model a fast follower work
because that model a fast follower work was going to run out for them and what
was going to run out for them and what
was going to run out for them and what the CEO knew was that they needed a
the CEO knew was that they needed a
the CEO knew was that they needed a culture change a huge culture change and
culture change a huge culture change and
culture change a huge culture change and in my conversations with that CEO he
in my conversations with that CEO he
in my conversations with that CEO he became convinced that the design of
became convinced that the design of
became convinced that the design of their North American headquarters could
their North American headquarters could
their North American headquarters could help begin that change that people would
help begin that change that people would
help begin that change that people would respond to this space and so we went
respond to this space and so we went
respond to this space and so we went ahead with this idea of designing a a
ahead with this idea of designing a a
ahead with this idea of designing a a generative building so what do we mean
generative building so what do we mean
generative building so what do we mean by that well we invented we invented
by that well we invented we invented
by that well we invented we invented office buildings at the beginning of the
office buildings at the beginning of the
office buildings at the beginning of the of the 20th century and those buildings
of the 20th century and those buildings
of the 20th century and those buildings were what we call conservative they can
were what we call conservative they can
were what we call conservative they can serve existing relationships those
serve existing relationships those
serve existing relationships those people that you need to see every day
people that you need to see every day
people that you need to see every day that you work with very closely and we
that you work with very closely and we
that you work with very closely and we architects started to build all these
architects started to build all these
architects started to build all these office buildings through the 20th
office buildings through the 20th
office buildings through the 20th century that aided and abetted the
century that aided and abetted the
century that aided and abetted the siloing of the corporate world and silos
siloing of the corporate world and silos
siloing of the corporate world and silos don’t work so the idea of a generative
don’t work so the idea of a generative
don’t work so the idea of a generative building is
building is
building is foster new relationships generate new
foster new relationships generate new
foster new relationships generate new relationships every day every work every
relationships every day every work every
relationships every day every work every week all year long so what we know is
week all year long so what we know is
week all year long so what we know is that 50 percent of our brains more than
that 50 percent of our brains more than
that 50 percent of our brains more than 50% of our brains is visual and what we
50% of our brains is visual and what we
50% of our brains is visual and what we see and who we see in the course of a
see and who we see in the course of a
see and who we see in the course of a day matters a lot so we designed the
day matters a lot so we designed the
day matters a lot so we designed the building around the idea that looking at
building around the idea that looking at
building around the idea that looking at the patterns and running avatars through
the patterns and running avatars through
the patterns and running avatars through hundreds of different floor plates we
hundreds of different floor plates we
hundreds of different floor plates we could find a way that you would see more
could find a way that you would see more
could find a way that you would see more different people in the course of a day
different people in the course of a day
different people in the course of a day and we did another thing we also
and we did another thing we also
and we did another thing we also calculated a way to figure out how you
calculated a way to figure out how you
calculated a way to figure out how you could burn more calories during that
could burn more calories during that
could burn more calories during that same day because if you’re moving more
same day because if you’re moving more
same day because if you’re moving more you’re healthier you’re smarter you’re
you’re healthier you’re smarter you’re
you’re healthier you’re smarter you’re happier and your performance will go up
happier and your performance will go up
happier and your performance will go up so we’re designing buildings around
so we’re designing buildings around
so we’re designing buildings around creating relationships and creating
creating relationships and creating
creating relationships and creating movement another thing that we did was
movement another thing that we did was
movement another thing that we did was we made an outdoor space every third
we made an outdoor space every third
we made an outdoor space every third floor of this 10 story building you
floor of this 10 story building you
floor of this 10 story building you never more than a floor away from being
never more than a floor away from being
never more than a floor away from being outside because if you want to have a
outside because if you want to have a
outside because if you want to have a great meeting go outside and take a walk
great meeting go outside and take a walk
great meeting go outside and take a walk that’s where your brain will be this
that’s where your brain will be this
that’s where your brain will be this highest possible performance and you’ll
highest possible performance and you’ll
highest possible performance and you’ll come back from that meeting healthier
come back from that meeting healthier
come back from that meeting healthier happier and smarter so we’ve done a lot
happier and smarter so we’ve done a lot
happier and smarter so we’ve done a lot of these ice tea ideas together at
of these ice tea ideas together at
of these ice tea ideas together at Amazon here in Seattle 3 1 million
Amazon here in Seattle 3 1 million
Amazon here in Seattle 3 1 million square foot towers around these three
square foot towers around these three
square foot towers around these three spheres and all of that space is is
spheres and all of that space is is
spheres and all of that space is is leveraging biophilia leveraging the
leveraging biophilia leveraging the
leveraging biophilia leveraging the outdoors leveraging connections to
outdoors leveraging connections to
outdoors leveraging connections to cities these spheres are a workplace
cities these spheres are a workplace
cities these spheres are a workplace there an alternative workplace 700
there an alternative workplace 700
there an alternative workplace 700 people can bring their laptops and sit
people can bring their laptops and sit
people can bring their laptops and sit in this space amidst thousands of plants
in this space amidst thousands of plants
in this space amidst thousands of plants and they will be healthier they will be
and they will be healthier they will be
and they will be healthier they will be happier and their stress will be lower
happier and their stress will be lower
happier and their stress will be lower good things will happen but it doesn’t
good things will happen but it doesn’t
good things will happen but it doesn’t just end at the spheres here’s a dog
just end at the spheres here’s a dog
just end at the spheres here’s a dog park up on about the 17th floor of the
park up on about the 17th floor of the
park up on about the 17th floor of the building
building
building and it doesn’t end there
and it doesn’t end there
and it doesn’t end there which is the idea of a corporate
which is the idea of a corporate
which is the idea of a corporate headquarters and its relationship with
headquarters and its relationship with
headquarters and its relationship with the city that the office does not end at
the city that the office does not end at
the city that the office does not end at the front door and the city does not end
the front door and the city does not end
the front door and the city does not end at the front door and they’re going out
at the front door and they’re going out
at the front door and they’re going out and taking a walk going out for lunch is
and taking a walk going out for lunch is
and taking a walk going out for lunch is part of that experience it’s part of how
part of that experience it’s part of how
part of that experience it’s part of how you’re going to be a more productive
you’re going to be a more productive
you’re going to be a more productive worker so beliefs intuition now science
worker so beliefs intuition now science
worker so beliefs intuition now science they all count this is the case for the
they all count this is the case for the
they all count this is the case for the power of design and it’s stronger than
power of design and it’s stronger than
power of design and it’s stronger than ever and it’s just in time today we face
ever and it’s just in time today we face
ever and it’s just in time today we face unprecedented challenges population
unprecedented challenges population
unprecedented challenges population growth we’re going to hit 10 billion
growth we’re going to hit 10 billion
growth we’re going to hit 10 billion people this century the largest
people this century the largest
people this century the largest migration in human history into cities
migration in human history into cities
migration in human history into cities the cities are growing we’re all going
the cities are growing we’re all going
the cities are growing we’re all going to live there and that’s a good thing
to live there and that’s a good thing
to live there and that’s a good thing we’re not going to make it on this
we’re not going to make it on this
we’re not going to make it on this planet with 10 million people life we’ll
planet with 10 million people life we’ll
planet with 10 million people life we’ll make it on this planet without living in
make it on this planet without living in
make it on this planet without living in cities what are they gonna be like well
cities what are they gonna be like well
cities what are they gonna be like well we know they’re gonna get denser let’s
we know they’re gonna get denser let’s
we know they’re gonna get denser let’s take Seattle 8,000 people per square
take Seattle 8,000 people per square
take Seattle 8,000 people per square mile that’s the 10th densest in the
mile that’s the 10th densest in the
mile that’s the 10th densest in the United States so there’s 8 dots on a
United States so there’s 8 dots on a
United States so there’s 8 dots on a square New York the densest city in this
square New York the densest city in this
square New York the densest city in this country 28,000 people per square mile
country 28,000 people per square mile
country 28,000 people per square mile and the densest city in the world Manila
and the densest city in the world Manila
and the densest city in the world Manila one hundred and eleven thousand people
one hundred and eleven thousand people
one hundred and eleven thousand people per square mile this is a trend we’re
per square mile this is a trend we’re
per square mile this is a trend we’re not only getting bigger cities we’re
not only getting bigger cities we’re
not only getting bigger cities we’re going to have denser cities and what’s
going to have denser cities and what’s
going to have denser cities and what’s that going to be like we have the tools
that going to be like we have the tools
that going to be like we have the tools and now we have a choice will we choose
and now we have a choice will we choose
and now we have a choice will we choose to build classrooms that are boring or
to build classrooms that are boring or
to build classrooms that are boring or classrooms that delight will we choose
classrooms that delight will we choose
classrooms that delight will we choose to build workplaces
to build workplaces
to build workplaces that distract or workplaces that
that distract or workplaces that
that distract or workplaces that motivate will we choose to build cities
motivate will we choose to build cities
motivate will we choose to build cities that stress or we choose to still build
that stress or we choose to still build
that stress or we choose to still build cities that inspire
cities that inspire
cities that inspire design gives us that choice thank you
design gives us that choice thank you
design gives us that choice thank you [Applause]
”
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