The Importance of ‘slowness’: Reconnecting with time

‘Slowness’ is a sentiment that is often forgotten in today’s 24/7 society; we have become so obsessed with doing as much as possible in the smallest amount of time that a sense of understanding and appreciation has been lost. We are often misled into considering ‘slowness’ alongside its negative connotations of being dreary, sluggish and foolish, but ‘slowness’ isn’t about doing everything slowly, it is about understanding a characteristic and responsibility.

The speed associated with spaces can be observed through physical interactions. The average walking pace of the older pedestrian is 0.9 meters per second but a speed of 1.2 meters per second is required to cross a pedestrian crossing (i). Often, places are not physically designed to the required user characteristic, particularly of the ‘third age’. In order to increase age-friendliness, the speed of a space needs to be designed to consider both physical interactions and incidental exposure to alternative measures of time.

Modern day society presents many complications to the natural rhythms our bodies yearn for. Increased use of and reliance on technology; combined with artificial lights; and pressures to be active worldwide constantly; have caused the human day-life cycle to fall out of sync with natural time.

The circadian cycle is directly linked to the master clock in the function of a living being; the nerve system reacts to light, triggering signals that control physiology and behaviour. (ii) The body relies upon external time cues to reset the body clock daily in order to control the wake-sleep cycle. Primarily the control trigger is the day-night cycle, but this can be altered by other, unnatural cues. This can disturb the body clock and subsequently internal bodily functions.

The circadian rhythm is modulated through cues such as sunlight and temperature and could be controlled through an environment created within a space. This rhythm can influence the sleep-wake cycle, hormone release, body temperature and other bodily functions. Scientific studies show that abnormal patterns can increase risks of obesity, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder and SAD – these are health issues that are also associated with ageing. (iii)

In order to reconnect with natural rhythms, there needs to be a disconnect from the commercial world; a notion associated with the ‘third age’. The transitional point between vita activa and vita contemplativa, describes a moment in which one takes a step away from the active community and the human condition to take a more theoretical outlook. (iv) In the ‘third age’ society, it is noticeable that the pressures of the world of work are released. This absence of a need for activity creates an elasticated moment to reflect on and reconnect with a natural time that is enjoyed instead of becoming a burden.

With this in mind, it is unsurprising that there is a noticeable trend of retirement locations in areas of climatic advantage, such as the south coast. Coastal locations combine a number of natural rhythms that encourage the realignment of the circadian cycle: changing tides, seasonal variation and the day-night cycle.(v) These natural clocks are formed as a result of the monthly movement of the moon around the earth; the earth around the sun; and the earth spinning on its axis, respectively. Exposure to these rhythms can influence the body’s clock. When the habits of human behaviour, such as eating, drinking and sleeping oscillate with a frequency similar to the natural rhythms, a sense of equilibrium is reached.

The human experience of a space depends upon the perception, memory and cognition of the user. By designing natural rhythms into spaces, longer home-life, better health and wellbeing are created, which for an ageing community can create a notion of control of destiny. As set out in a Housing LIN case study, Hawkes House in Cambridge is an example of a residential project designed around the application of circadian principles for ageing, aiming to live in balance with nature.(vi) To encourage reconnection with natural time for active ageing, there are a number of essential considerations in design:

• The 24 hour cycle of the user; influencing the layout and transition between spaces
• Orientation of the building; relating to the path of the sun and optimising natural light
• Connection to nature; creating visual and physical connections to the natural environment
• Exposure to natural clocks: inviting the path of the sun; the changing of the seasons; and
• The ebb and flow of the tide into the building to present an awareness of natural time to the user.

‘Slowness’ is a key consideration in promoting health and well being in the built environment. The first step is to understand a sense of place, creating visual connections to the natural environment, with an aim to stimulate the natural circadian cycle of the user through providing an environment that is in tune with the surroundings; inviting natural rhythms into the building. A consideration of how space is used allows for the daily journey of the user to be aligned with natural time. For example, the angle of the sun can be incorporated into design such that different spaces are orientated to receive light at different times of day dependent on their association with the daily journey of the user, optimising one moment at a time.

Regained time can also be tailored to stimulate meaningful connections between people, as well as the environment, by creating opportunities to socialise in shared spaces, replacing the camaraderie from the workplace lost during retirement. Leisure activities in a community setting can encourage retirees to remain physically and mentally active, countering the negative effects inactivity and isolation have on health. For example, gardening provides a physical interaction with the environment, which can provoke a philosophical journey of understanding oneself through understanding the environment. A space designed to reconnect with natural time can create a sense of social inclusion, purpose and place for the third age.

‘Slowness’ is the ability to reawaken our senses through architectural language, spoken through the spaces we occupy in order to slow down our experiences. As designers, we have a responsibility to ‘slowness’; a well-considered design will directly influence the experiences of the user. Tempo Giusto; the right speed, describes the idea of ‘slowness’ as the process of seeking a balance. Slowing down society, or synchronising human beings to natural time, is not about slowing the world down to snails’ pace, but finding the right speed for everything.

To view a selection of other guest blogs published by the Housing LIN, visit: http://www.housinglin.org.uk/blogs/

Published on Monday, 11 September 2017 by the Housi

"‘Slowness’ is the ability to reawaken our senses through architectural language"

 

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(i) Handler, Sophie. An Alternative Age-Friendly Handbook. Manchester: The University of Manchester Library, 2014.

(ii) Boubekri, Mohamed. Daylighting, architecture and health: building design strategies. Oxford: Architectural Press, 2008

(iii) Foster, Russel. “Body Clocks, Light, Sleep and Health”. In Daylight and Architecture 10 (2011): 7-12.

(iv) These terms are used by Hannah Arendt to describe the Human Condition and derive from the philosophies of Aristotle.

(v) Circadian derives from the latin words circa (about) and dias (a day).

(vi) Hawkes, Dean. “The Circadian House: Hawkes House-Designing for Ageing.” In Housing LIN Case Study 112 (2015).