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Articles:
The Power of Water at Work
Anyone who’s ever relaxed on the beach can attest to the calming, restorative powers of the natural world – especially the soothing presence of moving water. But a growing body of scientific research confirms that exposure to nature – and stimuli reminiscent of nature – does more than lift the spirits; it can actually help optimize performance on a variety of tasks and activities.
Said plainly, relaxed and contented people act more calmly, think more clearly and collaborate more effectively. Yet stress and anger are among the most common workplace problems. Research suggests that the presence of nature (in the form of water, trees, flowers and the like) may help alleviate anger and stress.1-2 And for those who can’t take the office into the great outdoors, even simply viewing a poster of a waterfall or other natural phenomenon in the workplace has been shown to reduce stress and lower anger.3
A workplace reflective of nature is not only more cheerful, but it may also be more productive. In a 1998 study, researchers found that subjects performed significantly better on timed mathematical tests after viewing nature scenes.4 A more recent study reports that those with a view of nature experienced a more rapid decrease in blood pressure after completing a concentration task than those without the benefit of natural exposure, suggesting a superior capacity to manage and recover from workplace stress.1
These and other related findings indicate that flowing water, living plants, natural light and similar elements in the workplace may bring a host of benefits far beyond their obvious aesthetic appeal. It’s no wonder that businesses of all kinds are realizing the value of a work environment infused with natural, holistically inspiring qualities.
An ideal partner for today’s nature-conscious architects and designers, Harmonic Environments was founded on the belief that the spaces we inhabit affect us in dramatic ways - and that water naturally evokes a sense of peace and well-being. We’ve been pleased to bring the power of water to settings as diverse as corporate offices, hotel lobbies, healthcare facilities and spas. Please view our portfolio, and contact us to learn more about our products and philosophy.
1 Hartig T, Evans G, Jamner L, Davis S, Garling T, Tracking restoration in natural and urban field settings, Journal of Environmental Psychology 2003; 23(2): 109-123.
2 Ulrich RS, Simons RF, Losito BD, Fiorito E, Miles MA, Zelson M. Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology 1991; 11: 201–230.
3 Kweon B, Ulrich R, Walker V, and Tassinary L. Anger and Stress: The Role of Landscape Posters in an Office Setting. Environment and Behavior 2008; 40: 355-381.
4 Parsons, R., Tassinary, L.G., Ulrich, R.S., Hebl, M.R., Grossman-Alexander, M. The view from the road: Implications for stress recovery and immunization. Journal of Environmental Psychology 1998, 18: 113–140.
Water Cooler: Indoor Waterfalls Refresh the Tired Cube Farm
Imagine the hustle and din of a typical, "cube-farm" workplace, where ringing phones compete with the noise of copiers and conversation. While widely accepted as today's corporate standard, this environment is hardly conducive to deep concentration and peak professional performance.
Waterfalls effectively reduce the level of office noise distraction by introducing soothing "white noise" to mask other, more disruptive sounds. The result: acoustic conditions that encourage concentration while alleviating the stress and frustration associated with frequent interruptions and lack of privacy.
In addition to providing acoustic benefits, waterfalls also offer an innovative solution for dividing and defining specialized areas within a communal workspace. With proper placement, a waterfall crafted of opaque or translucent material can enhance workers' sense of personal space, or create an area reserved for meetings and collaboration.
Truly a union of form and function, a waterfall from Harmonic Environments brings both practical advantages and artistic beauty to contemporary office design.
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Success is in the Air - Indoor Waterfalls Foster a Healthy Work Environment
Workplace stress and illness are so common today that most consider them an inevitable fact of modern life. While job performance pressures exist in any environment, the typical corporate office is particularly conducive to unhealthy stress. At the molecular level, the cause is remarkably quantifiable: The contemporary office is awash in electrically charged molecules known as positive ions.
Computers, fluorescent lighting, electronics, static electricity and air conditioners all generate positive ions. These ions enter the body through the lungs and spread to every organ via the circulatory system, where they act on the body's ability to absorb oxygen. Positive ions slow the delivery of oxygen to cells and tissues, whereas negative ions speed it up.
Studies have found that exposure to the positive ions contributes to anxiety, stress, depression and fatigue.1-2 Other research has linked positive ions to increased risk associated with airborne toxins such as allergens, chemical fumes and viruses.3
The antidote, literally, to positive ions is negative ions - found in large quantities in areas with close proximity to flowing water. According to DJ Clarke Electronics, the average office contains just 50 negative ions per cubic centimeter, versus 50,000 negative ions per cubic centimeter near a natural waterfall.3 This is consistent with the findings of a recent controlled study in which the concentration of negative ions was found to be 100 times higher near a waterfall than at a point only 100 meters away.4 Harmonic Environments' indoor waterfalls effectively combat the high concentration of positive ions in the workplace by raising the number of negative ions present.
The benefits of negative ions are well known in Europe, where "natural" health is far more integrated into the medical system than in the United States. The Chamber of Commerce for Poland, for example, advises: "the best ratios of negative to positive ions are associated with waterfalls and the time before, during, and after storms. The worst are found in windowless rooms and closed, moving vehicles." The report goes on to directly link negative ions to enhanced workplace productivity: "The attendant greater level of alertness [when negative ions are present] can translate into improved learning, improved well-being and enhanced performance of mental tasks."5
Perhaps the largest study on this topic was conducted by the Workplace Environment Science & Technology Association (WESTA) of Surrey, England. The six-year study investigated the effect of negative ions on 1,159 office workers relative to 19 classic symptoms of "sick building syndrome."
Workers with increased exposure to negative ions saw quantifiable improvements in respiratory stress symptoms, headaches, blood pressure, fatigue and many other common workplace ailments. In summary, the study reports: "Six years of research has demonstrated that indoor environments, particularly in city centres and air-conditioned workplaces, need enhanced levels of negative ions if the occupants are to remain healthy and perform effectively."6
For today's wellness-minded companies, Harmonic Environments' waterfalls offer an aesthetically satisfying and scientifically sound solution for combating excess positive ions in the office. The result: a work environment that is both more beautiful, and more naturally conducive to health, well-being and peak professional performance.
References:
- Diamond, M. (1988) Enriching Heredity: The Impact of the Environment on the Anatomy of the Brain. New York: Free Press.
- Wallach C, The Effects of Air Quality on the Serotonin Irritation Syndrome, International Bio-Environmental Foundation (IBEF) Bulletin 6(2), 1986.
- Ions and our modern lifestyle, retrieved August 19, 2009 from D.J. Clarke website: http://www.djclarke.co.uk/file04a.html. Jones DP, O'Connor SA, Collins JV, et al. Effect of long-term ionized air treatment on patients with bronchial asthma. Thorax 31(4):428–32, 1976.
- About ions and your health, retrieved August 20, 2009 from Poland Chamber of Commerce website: http://www.chamberofcommerce.pl/ionization/.
- Laasko L et al. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions 6:9297-9314, 2006.
- Soyka F. (1991). The Ion Effect. Bantam Premium, New York, United States.
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The 'Sealed' Waterfall Myth Exposed: A Guide to Safer Waterfall Installations in Healthcare Facilities
The 2006 Guidelines for Design and Construction of Healthcare Facilities Appendix Section A2.1.2.5 (8) comment "a." states: "If a water feature is provided, the design should limit human contact with the water and/or allow for the application of water disinfection systems." Many architects and designers have combined this and other research to specify "sealed", "encapsulated", or "enclosed" water features, in lieu of more "open" systems.
For starters, water features are usually considered not only for the aesthetic value that they may bring to a space but also for their positive environmental impact to the sound and air quality. Therefore, enclosing a waterfall would remove positive impact in one or more of these areas.
More importantly, while it is true that an encapsulated but untreated water feature will eliminate or minimize human contact, at some point, in a matter of months, weeks, or days, it is very likely that the waterfall and it's capsule will start to look terrible and at that point, someone will likely want to clean in or around the feature to improve the appearance. When they open the waterfall to clean it, they are at that moment letting out the very thing that they were trying to avoid in sealing the waterfall in the first place. You might say that they are opening Pandora's box.
While it is possible to design an effective "sealed" or "encapsulated" water feature at the facility's request, a more effective solution should be implemented. That philosophy begins with proper interpretation of the language from the AIA guideline: "limit human contact with the water and/or allow for the application of water disinfection systems." Regrettably, it's the second part of that phrase that is often ignored.
In designing a system, components should be considered that work together to meet three primary requirements:
1. To purify and/or remove scale from the water in the system.
2. To sanitize the water feature and help to eliminate all microbiological growth.
3. To minimize maintenance.
Harmonic Environments' ZonePure ® water purification systems are customized based upon these guidelines and a comprehensive maintenance program; utilizing the latest technology in ionization, UV treatment, de-scaling devices, reverse osmosis, and in some cases, DI water.
Having an open system that is properly treated and well maintained allows the facility to realize every environmental and aesthetic benefit of water features in a space while still meeting all of the requirements for infection control.
For more information on water features in healthcare facilities, please contact our main office and/or register to receive our upcoming white paper on this topic, available in spring of 2009.
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The Healing River: Water's Restorative Power
A stroll on the beach or a streamside picnic is enough to convince most people of nature's ability to make us feel better. In fact, when health researchers asked study participants to describe an environment that would have healing properties, nearly every respondent included outdoor settings, citing specific natural phenomena such as bodies of water, streams and flowers as significant healing agents.1
This is hardly surprising, given the almost universal feelings of peace and tranquility evoked by a naturally scenic environment. According to a growing body of research, however, proximity to nature doesn't just soothe the soul – it can actually nurture the body, delivering concrete, measurable health benefits. Better still, you don't have to take a vacation to feel your best. Similar effects can be achieved anytime, anywhere through exposure to indoor stimuli reflective of the natural world.
Water is one of the most widely recognized - and perhaps most powerful - of nature's healing agents. For instance, in an extraordinary 2003 study, patients undergoing a painful bronchial procedure received "distractional therapy" through exposure to images of a mountain stream and the sound of flowing water. Many of these patients reported better pain control and a better ability to breathe comfortably than those receiving only conventional sedation.2
In addition to mitigating pain, proximity to flowing water may help relieve stress and encourage healthy sleep habits, both of which are essential for optimum health. The roaring of the ocean, rain showers and waterfalls are all natural forms of white noise. A recent study confirms that listening to this type of noise, either in nature or through an indoor simulation can help reduce stress and promote restful sleep.3
A 2006 study further supports the fact that simulated natural stimuli can offer health benefits similar to those experienced in an outdoor natural setting. Subjects watching a nature film demonstrated significant signs of stress reduction including decreased heart rate and decreased skin temperature. They also reported a rise in positive feelings such as relaxation and cheerfulness, and a drop in tension and irritation.4
Harmonic Environments' unique indoor waterfalls offer an ideal way to incorporate the healing power of water into an interior environment. Safe, sanitary and beautiful, they infuse any space with the soothing yet dynamic energy that only flowing water can provide. Our waterfalls are suitable not only for medical and spa facilities, but also for corporate spaces, hospitality properties and private homes - all of which stand to benefit from the healthful influence of water.
1. Olds AR. Nature as healer. In Weisner and Yoeman (Eds.). Readings in psychoanalysis: theory, process and practice. Ontario Institute for studies in education, 1985.
2. Diette G, Lechtzin N, Haponik E, Devrotes A, and Rubin H. Distraction therapy with nature sights and sounds reduces pain during flexible bronchoscopy. Chest 2003; 123(3): 941-948.
3. Mills HD, Reisse N, Dombeck M, The Vitality of Natural Environments for Stress Reduction, http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=15675&cn=117
4. Kort Y, Meijnders A, Sponselee A, Ijsselsteijn W. What's wrong with virtual trees? Restoring from stress in a mediated environment. Journal of Environmental Psychology 2006; 26(4): 309-320.
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