In 1858, Florence Nightingale's polar diagrams revealed that unsanitary conditions killed more soldiers than combat, proving data can save lives and reshape environments. A century later in Chicago, selective statistics about density and cost justified public housing that segregated communities, showing data can also entrench inequity.
Today, architects face important questions: What counts as data? Beyond carbon and cost, how do we use environmental psychology, biophilia, and social equity metrics to guide design? This session will explore how translating diverse forms of evidence into compelling narratives can elevate well-being, equity, and dignity in the built environment.
Learning Objectives
- Explore how Nightingale's use of data visualization reshaped healthcare environments and architecture.
- Analyze the misuse of data in 20th-century Chicago public housing as a cautionary tale of employing selective evidence.
- Learn how to apply principles from environmental psychology and biophilic design to improve human well-being in diverse project types, including secure facilities.
- Discover how to translate technical, human, and social data into compelling design narratives that influence clients, communities, and policymakers.