Travelling Right: Airport Design and Passenger Terminals
Most of us spend rather more time than we might choose to in passenger terminals: train stations, airports, coach and ferry terminals. It’s often a stressful experience; whether travelling for work or pleasure the fear of missing a flight or train, the incessant queuing and the hustle and bustle around us is enough to stop travel being the laid-back experience presented to us on the BA and British Rail ads. Read more...
The Secret Life of Buildings: Theatre Architect Frank Matcham
In the latter part of the nineteenth century, theatre design evolved in light of an increase in safety and sanitary legislation. At the same time there was a need for improved provision for theatrical performance and audience capacity. A theatre architect who was involved with more safety conscious modern theatre design was Frank Matcham of Devonshire, who is considered to be one of the most prolific theatre architects of all time*. Read more...
The Secret Life of Buildings: New York Public Library and Guggenheim Museum
New York City, full of amazing architecture and interiors; from the Flat Iron building to the Chrysler, there is no shortage of inspiration for creative types. The New York Public Library and Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum are no exception. Read more...
Computer Face: Ergonomics and the Ageing Process
Most of us spend a large percentage of our working day looking at a computer screen; and for many leisure time too can be dominated by computer use and watching television. While there is growing awareness of the implications of this sedentary routine for our posture, eyes and back, what most of us don’t consider is the effect on our looks. What might be the physical consequences of long periods spent with our heads in our chins and holding tension in our faces? Read more...
The Secret life of buildings: The old operating theatre SE1
Each month we’ll be discovering curious facts about different buildings around London. In keeping with the theme of our architectural walk we have kept things local to SE1 and here’s what we discovered about the old operating theatre...
Ergonomic Trading Floor Desks
The way that commodities, stocks and shares are traded has changed beyond all recognition from the 1960’s to today’s practices. Roles are, of course, much more compartmentalised and specialised so it is hard to compare like with like. The word “trader” still brings to mind images of men shouting at each other across the trading “pit”, although now we are much more likely to see traders sitting at a desk, viewing multiple screens, quietly evaluating facts, trying to understand the mathematical algorithms that drive falls and rises in prices.
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Healthy Computer Use In Hospitals
Computers can now be seen being used in pretty much every area of a hospital: in back offices as well as wards, reception areas, treatment rooms and operating theatres. Even corridors are frequently used as make-shift touch down points. In some situations there is a clear choice between stationary and mobile computing devices, however there is a third way which enables computer monitors to be adjusted to the needs of each user and so used in an ergonomically correct way. Hospital computer monitors can be mounted on a monitor arm; this enables equipment to be adjusted for different users and for different types of computer use.