How do you create an innovative environment?

Summary

In this video, Dami, an architect from Vancouver, delves into the concept of innovative environments, inspired by her architectural thesis. She explores the history of open office spaces and their impact on creativity, using the example of MIT's Building 20, a WWII-era structure known for fostering groundbreaking innovations. Dami discusses the building's unique characteristics, such as its temporary nature, multidisciplinarity, and layout, which facilitated chance encounters and knowledge exchange. She also touches on the importance of serendipity in innovation and suggests ways to incorporate these principles into modern workspaces, especially in the post-COVID era, where remote work has become prevalent.

Takeaways

• 🏢 The trend of open and flexible office spaces has been popular, but not necessarily the best solution for every office, as some firms found it distracting and counter-effective.
• 🤔 Dami's interest in innovative environments began with her architectural thesis, where she sought to understand the principles behind such spaces and if there is a specific environment for innovation.
• 🏛️ Building 20 at MIT, a temporary WWII structure, was an example of an environment that fostered innovation, despite its lack of design and poor conditions.
• 🛠️ The temporary nature of Building 20 allowed for easy modifications, enabling occupants to adapt the space to their needs without bureaucratic hurdles.
• 🔬 It housed a multidisciplinary mix of professionals, who, despite knowing little about each other's work, had deep knowledge in their own fields, leading to unexpected collaborations.
• 🎶 The story of Amar Bose illustrates how serendipity in such an environment can lead to significant inventions, like the Bose Corporation's unique speaker technology.
• 🔄 The layout of Building 20 was maze-like, forcing occupants into chance encounters that could spark innovative ideas.
• 🤝 Serendipity in innovation often occurs when people break out of their routines and interact in unusual or unfamiliar settings.
• 🌐 The horizontal layout of Building 20 facilitated more chance encounters and technical discussions compared to traditional vertical office structures.
• 🌟 Jane Jacobs' concept of 'knowledge spillovers' from chance encounters in urban settings is applicable to the innovative environment of Building 20.
• 🔄 The adaptability and multidisciplinary nature of spaces like Building 20 can inform the design of future work environments, even in a post-COVID world where remote work is more common.
• 🌐 Dami suggests that incorporating elements like multidisciplinary networking sessions could bring the principles of innovative environments into educational and professional settings.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video and what is their profession?

The speaker in the video is Dami, who is an architect based in Vancouver.

What sparked Dami's interest in the topic of innovative environments?

Dami's interest in the topic of innovative environments was sparked about four years ago when they were writing their architectural thesis.

What is the significance of open and flexible office spaces in recent years?

Open and flexible office spaces have been significant in recent years due to their trendiness, which dissolves physical boundaries and focuses more on communal spaces, although it may not be a solution for every office.

What is the name of the building that Dami discusses as a case study for an innovative environment?

The building Dami discusses is known as Building 20, a temporary building at MIT.

Why was Building 20 initially constructed at MIT?

Building 20 was initially constructed at MIT to help with war efforts during World War II as a temporary extension to the radiation lab.

What were some of the physical shortcomings of Building 20?

Building 20 had several shortcomings including being run down, leaking, having bad acoustics, poor lighting, bad ventilation, and violating the fire code.

Why did Building 20 become a hub for innovation despite its physical shortcomings?

Building 20 became a hub for innovation due to its temporary nature, multi-disciplinary occupants, maze-like layout forcing chance encounters, and horizontal layout facilitating knowledge spillovers.

What is the story of Amar Bose related to Building 20?

Amar Bose, an electrical engineer, procrastinated from writing his thesis and spent time in the acoustics lab, where he invented a unique wet-shaped speaker that later founded the Bose Corporation.

What is the definition of serendipity according to the video?

Serendipity is defined as a happy accident or a pleasant surprise, but it is more complex, involving discoveries that fill a piece of the puzzle one has been working on.

How does the video relate the automobile industry's rise to the concept of serendipity?

The video relates the rise of the automobile industry to serendipity by explaining how shipyards, which were centers of expertise in internal combustion engines, became the foundation for powering cars, showing how expertise in one area can lead to innovation in another.

What are some of the challenges in replicating the conditions of Building 20 in today's world?

Challenges in replicating Building 20's conditions include the culture of efficiency, specialization dividing disciplines, and the difficulty of obtaining permits for modifications in buildings.

How does the video suggest adapting the principles of Building 20 to the post-COVID era?

The video suggests adapting the principles of Building 20 by considering multi-disciplinary pollination, serendipity, chance encounters, and the adaptability of spaces in the design of online and remote work environments.

What is Dami's current role in the context of the video?

Dami is a studio mentor for an architecture studio at Ryerson, participating in online discussions and exploring the impact of remote work on architectural education.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ The Quest for the Innovative Environment

Dami, an architect based in Vancouver, introduces the topic of environments conducive to innovation, sparked by her architectural thesis four years prior. She discusses the trend of open and flexible office spaces, which dissolve physical boundaries and promote communal areas over hierarchical ones. However, not all firms find this layout effective, leading Dami to explore the concept of an 'innovative environment' through a case study of Building 20 at MIT. This temporary WWII structure became a 'magical incubator' for significant scientific achievements, despite its lack of design and numerous practical flaws.

05:01

🌐 The Serendipitous Maze of Building 20

The second paragraph delves into the characteristics that made Building 20 a hub for innovation. Its temporary nature allowed for easy modifications, and its multi-disciplinary occupancy fostered an environment where professionals unknowingly contributed to each other's work. The building's layout, described as a maze, inadvertently encouraged chance encounters between different departments, leading to 'knowledge spillovers' and serendipitous discoveries. Dami uses the story of Amar Bose to illustrate how such encounters can lead to groundbreaking inventions, like Bose's unique speaker design that laid the foundation for the Bose Corporation.

10:01

🤝 The Importance of Horizontal Interaction

The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of horizontal layout in fostering innovation. Dami contrasts traditional vertical office structures with Building 20's horizontal design, which facilitated chance encounters and technical discussions in its long corridors. She references Jane Jacobs' concept of 'knowledge spillovers' and the rise of the automobile industry in Detroit as examples of how interdisciplinary interaction can lead to innovation. Dami then reflects on the challenges and opportunities of adapting these principles in the post-COVID era, where much has moved online, and suggests the potential for multi-disciplinary networking sessions in educational settings.

Keywords

💡Innovation

Innovation refers to the process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay. In the context of the video, it is the central theme where the speaker explores environments that foster innovative thinking. The video discusses how certain conditions, like those in Building 20 at MIT, can lead to innovative outcomes, such as the invention of high-speed photography and microwave technology.

💡Open and Flexible Office Spaces

This concept refers to a modern trend in office design that emphasizes open areas and flexible use of space, often with fewer physical barriers like walls. In the video, it's mentioned as a trend that has been widely adopted but not always effective, as it can sometimes lead to distractions and counter-productive work environments.

💡Hierarchy

Hierarchy in an organizational context refers to the levels of authority and the relationships between individuals within an organization. The script discusses the breakdown of traditional hierarchy in office spaces, focusing more on communal areas rather than the prestige of corner offices, which is indicative of a shift towards more egalitarian workspaces.

💡Building 20

Building 20 is a specific term referring to a temporary building at MIT, which became a hub for innovation during WWII. The video uses Building 20 as a case study to illustrate the conditions that can lead to an innovative environment, despite its lack of formal design or adherence to building codes.

💡Multi-disciplinary

This term describes an approach that involves multiple disciplines working together. In the video, the speaker explains how Building 20 housed various departments with diverse expertise, which contributed to the cross-pollination of ideas and the potential for innovation.

💡Serendipity

Serendipity is often defined as a 'happy accident' or an unexpected discovery that leads to a significant outcome. The video emphasizes the role of serendipity in innovation, using the story of Amar Bose and the invention of the Bose speaker as an example of how unexpected encounters can lead to groundbreaking innovations.

💡Adaptability

Adaptability in the context of the video refers to the ability of a space to be easily modified to suit changing needs. Building 20's temporary nature allowed for such adaptability, which is highlighted as a key factor in creating an environment conducive to innovation.

💡Horizontal Layout

A horizontal layout is a design where spaces are arranged on the same level, as opposed to a vertical layout with different floors. The video explains how Building 20's horizontal layout facilitated more chance encounters and discussions, which are referred to as 'knowledge spillovers' by urban theorist Jane Jacobs.

💡Knowledge Spillovers

Knowledge spillovers are the unintentional sharing of knowledge or ideas that can lead to innovation. The video uses this term to describe the interactions in Building 20's long corridors, which led to technical discussions and the exchange of ideas between different disciplines.

💡Post-COVID Era

The term 'post-COVID era' refers to the period after the COVID-19 pandemic, during which many aspects of life, including work and education, have shifted online. The video discusses the implications of this shift for innovation, suggesting that while it presents challenges, it also offers opportunities for new forms of collaboration and discussion.

Highlights

Dami, an architect based in Vancouver, discusses environments conducive to innovation.

Interest in the topic sparked four years ago while writing an architectural thesis.

Trend of open and flexible office spaces dissolves physical boundaries and hierarchy.

Some firms found open spaces distracting and counter-effective.

The importance of understanding principles behind innovative environments.

Case study of Building 20 at MIT, a temporary WWII structure known for innovation.

Building 20's characteristics included adaptability and multi-disciplinarity.

The building's temporary nature allowed for easy modifications.

Multi-disciplinary occupants with deep knowledge in their fields.

Serendipity in innovation, exemplified by Amar Bose's invention.

Serendipity requires breaking out of routines and encountering unfamiliar environments.

Horizontal layout of Building 20 facilitated chance encounters and discussions.

Jane Jacobs' concept of 'knowledge spillovers' from chance conversations.

The difficulty of replicating the unique conditions of Building 20.

Adapting principles of Building 20 to the post-COVID era with online interactions.

The potential of online platforms to democratize discussions and idea sharing.

Suggestion of incorporating multi-disciplinary networking sessions in educational settings.

Invitation for viewers to share thoughts on the future of innovation post-COVID.

Transcripts

hi everyone how's it going welcome back

to the channel

if you're new here my name is dami and

i'm an architect based in vancouver

so today we're going to be talking about

environments

that has historically led to innovation

[Music]

so i became really interested in this

topic about four years ago when i was

writing my architectural thesis

in the past decade or so there's been a

huge trend in

open and flexible office spaces they

dissolve

the physical boundaries like walls

and they allocate more space to the

casual

and non-programmed spaces and there's

also

a breakdown of hierarchy less focus on

the

corner office and more focus on the

communal gathering space

this wasn't the solution for every

office

some firms who've tested it found that

it was very distracting and

counter-effective

i think any time something becomes

trendy there's a tendency to replicate

the look

without actually understanding the

principle i really wanted to

try to understand this idea of the

innovative environment

and just trying to answer this question

of is there really

such a thing as a environment for

innovation

so i just want to talk about some of

these ideas through a case study

a building known as building 20.

it was a temporary building at mit

built to help the war efforts during

world war

ii it was known as a magical incubator

and it was the birthplace of some of the

greatest intellectual achievements

throughout the century

from high-speed photography to

the physics that created microwaves and

it's particularly interesting because

the building

it wasn't really designed

[Music]

it was designed by a local architect

in like one afternoon and it was put up

extremely fast building 20 was initially

built

as a temporary extension to the

radiation lab at mit it was run down

it leaked it had bad acoustics poorly

lit

badly ventilated and it violated the

the fire code which is a huge deal

it's almost impossible these days and

the exception was made

only with the understanding that it was

going to be demolished

just after the war after the war they

decided to keep the building there was

an

overflow of students and professors

right after the war

and they just they had nowhere else to

go so

they decided to keep the building and

put in

machine shops or research labs and

different types of offices so here's

some of the characteristics of the

building

number one it was temporary so the

temporary nature of the building

meant that they could build new walls or

tear them down

based on their needs without going

through the permitting process

if the science students if they needed

access to

sinks they just put in the plumbing

themselves

gerald zacharias and his team developing

the first

atomic clock they just decided to remove

two floors in the lab

to make room for their three-story metal

cylinder if you've built anything in the

city you would know

how hard it is to modify anything in a

building let alone

tear down two floors sometimes it can

take months and months to get a single

permit

and it can get really expensive so the

second characteristic

is that it was multi-disciplinary

it was occupied by a lot of different

groups

who knew very little about others work

but they had very deep knowledge about

their own work

they found a campus phone book that

showed all the different departments

that were in there

and it was the nuclear science

department

particle accelerator

department and here's the story of amber

bose

so bose was a electrical engineer

and he would procrastinate from writing

his thesis

and he would spend a lot of time in the

acoustics lab

which was basically just down the hall

by spending a lot of time there with the

help of the acoustic engineers

he invented this unique wet-shaped

speaker

that would later found the

bose corporation so all these

professionals

on their own might not have led to a

particularly

innovative environment but there was one

thing that

basically forced them to get together

and it was that the building was

practically

a maze so the rooms were very poorly

laid out

for example the rooms on the second

floor they started with numbers starting

with ones

and the rooms on the third floor they

started with twos

the different wings they were given very

a very confusing sequence like

b was given to a and where c

should be was given to b people were

constantly getting lost

and stumbling into different departments

so on their own

they might not have made these

serendipitous encounters but when they

were put into this

maze-like environment they were

constantly

forced into situations where they could

have these serendipitous

encounters and the fourth aspect of

innovation

is serendipity so history has proven

over and over again that serendipity

is an essential ingredient in innovation

so what is serendipity serendipity

has been defined as a happy accident

or a pleasant surprise but it's actually

more complex than that discoveries are

not truly serendipitous

unless it helps you fill a piece of the

puzzle that you've been pouring over

there's a little detail that i left out

in boze's story

it's been left out for some reason in a

couple articles that i've read

and it's that bose actually loved music

and

before he stumbled into the acoustics

apartment

he'd purchased a hi-fi and

he bought one with the best specs but he

was very frustrated with the sound

quality

apparently it was not very good so when

he stumbled into the acoustics lab

he had already thought of these

solutions

and he was able to connect the dots of

some of the thoughts

that he had already been forming in his

mind so

to quote stephen johnson serendipity is

built out of happy accidents

that's for sure but what makes them

happy

is the fact that the discovery that you

made

is very meaningful to you so it

completes a thought

or what he calls a hunch it links to

a possible connection that you had

overlooked

serendipity happens when we break out of

our routines

or our task-based environments and when

we put ourselves in environments that

are

unusual or unfamiliar and that can be a

bit of a problem because we live in a

culture of efficiency

where we just want the fastest route

from a to b and

this can actually limit these

opportunities we

also live in a time of specializations

we break up the different disciplines

and we divide them into different

categories where they can

rarely mingle with each other the

scientists and professors

who already had deep knowledge in their

own fields

they were forced into situations where

they could share ideas with people

with people who were studying something

completely different

and the fifth characteristic is that it

had a horizontal layout

so this might not seem very important

but if you look at a conventional office

building

or a university building you have the

different departments

on different floors and you have the

lobby

and then you have the elevator which

will lead you

to your office and so in this case the

elevator

becomes your place for serendipitous

encounters

but the problem with this is that once

you're

out of the elevator you go into the

lobby

or you go into your separate offices and

so it doesn't give you that much time

for

discussions probably just enough time

for small talk

so in building 20 because it was all

horizontally laid out

the chance encounters in these long

corridors they would lead to

technical discussions so jane jacobs who

was an urban theorist

she called these conversations knowledge

spillovers

and her favorite example was the

rise of the automobile industry in

detroit

basically in the 1920s the city was

full of shipyards built for the flower

trade

and over time these shipyards became

centers of expertise in the

internal combustion engine and

almost a century later these engines

became the

foundation for powering cars and a lot

of the pioneers from the automobile

industry they actually got started

building ships it's tricky because these

situations are not

predictable and so you can't really

prescribe them in advance

but we can keep them in mind as we

design our spaces for working

so this building was an anomaly

and it would be very difficult to

replicate some of the conditions that

created this building

but i wanted to share this case study

not as an example of something that

we should replicate but to understand

the principles behind it

like the importance of

multi-disciplinary

pollination of serendipity and

chance encounters or knowledge

spillovers

or the adaptability of these spaces

and how can we try to apply these

principles in the post

covert era where a lot of things have

moved online

for example architecture school it was

always centered around

the studio environment students worked

there with other students

all day all night so that you could

share ideas

and if someone was stuck with a problem

you could

help them try to solve it and

in turn it could give you some ideas

about your own work i'm

a studio mentor for architecture studio

at ryerson right now

and it's just very different everything

is online

we meet regularly to review their work

but we we're missing that element

of the students interacting with each

other

and i can't instantaneously sketch over

the student's work

and they can't talk to a friend or a

colleague

immediately if they have a problem but

at the same time

i think it's been a really interesting

opportunity i

was able to participate in the studio

from

across the country we had studio profs

from

france that were in the discussions

and so i feel like it's gonna

democratize the discussions

and make it open for a lot more people

so i attended the young architect summer

series

last month and we had these networking

sessions

and obviously i was extremely skeptical

in the beginning

but it actually turned out to be pretty

fun

and a very positive experience we had a

facilitator

who gave us a discussion topic and we

would be

randomly put into groups and we were

given a limited amount of time

to discuss these topics people with

different commitments or financial

barriers

can join in on the discussion even for

people who are shy

who would otherwise not openly interact

with others

they can even have a platform for

sharing so

maybe if we can move this possibly into

a classroom setting

or university setting where we could

have these like multi-disciplinary

networking sessions i think that could

also be

an interesting idea so i would love to

hear your thoughts on this topic

do you think that innovation is going to

stagnate

you think it's going to explode what do

you think is going to happen

in the postcovid world i think this is

an ongoing discussion that i want to

have on this channel

so please drop down your thoughts in the

comments below

i will respond to you if you like this

video give me a thumbs up

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