This study investigates the effects of natural exposure in an indoor environment on restorative quality and cognitive ability. Thirty participants were shown nature at three different indoor sites: baseline, indoor (some vegetation), and semi-indoor (a large amount of vegetation and view to sky) for five minutes. After viewing, they completed an assessment of restoration and a cognitive task, and their electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded. Compared to the baseline, the sites with nature resulted in restorative (higher perceived restoration scores) and cognitive (higher working memory performance and lower delta-to-theta ratio (DTR), delta-to-alpha ratio (DAR), theta-to-beta ratio (TBR), and alpha-to-beta ratio (ABR) responses) benefits. These findings further our understanding of the effects of exposure to nature on restorative and cognitive benefits in an indoor environment, and help to build guidance for future research on the effects of nature indoors and designing restorative- and cognitive-enhancing indoor spaces.
The rising proportion of architects who work as in‐house employees of large client organizations represents an important shift in the pattern of architectural employment. Client‐situated practice presents new challenges for architects that they do not otherwise face in more traditional work settings. This research attempts to provide, through a case study of one group of in‐house architects, a fuller understanding of the nature of this form of work. The study uses a community of practice perspective to shed light on how the architects fit within the client's organizational structure and hierarchy, the practical actions and strategies of the architects and others who are involved in building design, and the material and social context in which the architectural work is situated. After comparison with traditional practice, this article offers suggestions for preparing students for this growing form of architectural employment.
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