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- Wellknowlogy: 2/3/23
Wellknowlogy is a curious, honest, and caring source of weekly news & thoughts on innovations in the wellness industry; an efficient way for providers, technologists, investors, and enthusiasts to stay in sync and informed about endeavors to increase wellbeing. For more context surrounding Wellknowlogy, the motives behind it, and its purpose, check out Why Wellknowlogy. For filtered information concerning your particular venture, reach out to [email protected]
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Hi all,
This week I'm going on a bit of a tangent about a field that I'm learning about: biophilic architecture and using fractal geometry in architectural design.
I'll do my best not to lecture too much on these subjects and provide links to enable any deep-dives you desire. Instead, I'll be practicing my pitch on the synchronicity of these two subjects and why the relationship deserves WAY MORE ATTENTION than it receives.
The important facts:
Fractals structures are the most efficient way to program the production of complex structures. Iterative functions, the underlying structure of fractal patterns, are sequential functions that build off of the previous item in the sequence rather than start each calculation from scratch.
An example of this is the fibonacci sequence. Using this iterative structure, the fibanocci sequence can be used to program cool, infinite spiral shapes even though each individual calculation is the simple addition of two numbers.
These simple, self-referential functions are capable of producing complex structures because they are theoretically unbounded. Yet, every single calculation is equally simple, meaning a simple computer or engineer can produce a big, cool, complex structure with a little perseverance.
Since the ability to produce complex outcomes with simple calculations is the ideal balance for the creation of anything, you see the use of these iterative structures in a number of disciplines.
In software engineering, recursive and iterative functions are used frequently as the base of complex operations because self-referential formulas can get a lot done with a little code — the most bang for your buck.
The same can be seen in nature. Evolution breeds the most efficient biological structures, meaning the programming underlying these structures (genetics) need to be top notch as well if they're going to endure generations. This is why you see spirals and fractal patterns throughout nature.
So how does this relate to wellness?
Well, it turns out the human eye has evolved to seek these patterns in environments, responding with reduced stress levels when they're present and heightened stress when they aren't. Presumably, this is the quickest way to see if an environment is deviating from its natural growth patterns, indicating the presence of predator, prey, or other phenomena that disturbed the environment and deserve investigation.
What's really cool is that this theory is supported by lots of science. Ocular scans show our eyes scanning the environment for these fractal patterns instantaneously upon exposure to a new image or environment. Another study shows biometric proof of our stress levels rising when we identify fractal inconsistency and falling when we find the patterns we seek.
This appeal has also been displayed subjectively throughout time in famous art pieces and timeless architecture. Fractals can be found, for example, in Roman, Egyptian, Aztec, Incan and Mayan works. My favorite examples of fractal art from more recent times include da Vinci’s Turbulence (1500), Hokusai’s Great Wave (1830), M.C. Escher’s Circle Series (1950s) and, of course, Pollock’s poured paintings
Unfortunately, cities are not designed in fractal patterns and our awareness of the patterns' significance is swiftly decreasing. Certain architectural practices relied on these sacred geometries and golden ratios throughout time, but those have gone out of style in favor of a modern architecture that favors efficiency, cleanliness, and the bottom-line.
In sum, consider fractals and sacred geometry next time you build something and seek the patterns out in your day-to-day life. And if you feel good or bad when entering a space, there is likely a biological reason for that reaction.
With that out of the way, here's what happened last week:
Neat Articles
Some News
Closing Kernel of Wisdom
A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between her work and her play; his labor and his leisure; her mind and her body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.
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Wishing you a great week to come.
Warmly,
Dayton