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A Photographic Essay on the Reification of Bodies in Neufert's Ergonomics

A Photographic Essay on the Reification of Bodies in Neufert's Ergonomics - Image 6 of 4
Human-Reification. Image © Paul Gisbrecht

The relationship between the human body and architecture has always been a key element in architectural design and practice, however, the connection between the two wasn't documented or even accepted until the rise of ergonomics some years ago. Nowadays, the question is how is the body perceived in modern times? How does this perception influence the way we design the buildings and spaces that we inhabit? Too often, ergonomics is seen as a discipline that emphasizes the separation between body and object; however, not only is it the connection between them, it is also the pre-established blueprint that maximizes and synchronizes their productivity. At its most basic level, it's a technical discourse on the increasingly mechanized human dwelling.