What is EMPATHY?
- EMPATHY is an emotional state – ‘being aware’ of surrounding spaces.
- EMPATHY is a desire to help the stakeholders of a project.
- EMPATHY is ability to understand what the client wants.
- EMPATHY IS ability to grasp the requirements of all stakeholders.
- EMPATHY is a frame of reference.
- EMPATHY is capacity to imagine.
- EMPATHY influences decisions that drive a successful project.
Why do you EMPATHIZE?
- You want the outcome of your project to be effective.
- You want to impact people’s lives that you are designing for.
- Your want to conclude your project in a seamless, trouble free way.
- You want your team to give the best output.
When do you EMPATHIZE?
- When you want to excel.
- When you are passionate about your work.
- When you want to make a successful team.
Where do you EMPATHIZE?
- In relationship with client.
- In relationship with your team.
- In relationship with the outcome of your project.
- In relationship with nature.
How do you EMPATHIZE?
- You put yourself in other person’s shoe by observing.
- You take the perspective of other’s.
- You establish credibility with stakeholders.
- You create frameworks of all activities in a project to plug loopholes. As slip ups create friction among stakeholders of a project leading to disharmony and affecting the success of the project.
Examples of EMPATHIZING :
EMPATHY in daily life – Comforting a child.
EMPATHY in law – Laws for dedicated spaces in public buildings for mother and child.
EMPATHY in Engineering – Empathetic attitude of stakeholders in designing the spaces could have averted Bhopal Gas tragedy.
EMPATHY in Architecture – spaces in school needs a child’s viewpoint; spaces in hospitals need patient & doctor’s viewpoint; kitchen design needs a cook’s viewpoint; landscaped outdoor spaces need sun/wind direction for plants to grow.
Challenges of EMPATHIZING :
It is difficult to empathize when there is a difference in status, culture, religion, language, gender and age. These differences can bring a break in communication hurting success of a project.
EMPATHETIC ARCHITECTURE :
Empathy & Architecture go hand in hand and both are a response to human needs and nature.
Empathetic architecture makes lasting spaces that improves and enhances life.
Author: Ar. Anjali Sagar