How Our Evolutionary Roots Shape Our Connection to the East African Savannah.
Why are we instinctively drawn to certain landscapes, such as the sweeping savannah plains of East Africa? According to the Savannah Hypothesis, this attraction is deeply rooted in our evolutionary past. As the cradle of humanity, these landscapes once shaped our survival, offering vital resources like food, water, and shelter.
Over time, this ancestral connection has left an imprint on our preferences, making us unconsciously favour environments that mirror the safety and opportunities of our origins. Today, this evolutionary memory continues to influence how we perceive beauty and functionality in the spaces we inhabit, a concept central to the practice of Envirohacking.
Our deep and almost instinctual attraction to the savannah plains of East Africa may be rooted in something far more profound than simple aesthetics, it’s believed to stem from our evolutionary memories. The Savannah Hypothesis suggests that humans have an innate preference for the types of landscapes found in East Africa, where humanity originated as a species.
But why do these landscapes resonate so deeply with us?
The theory posits that open savannahs, with their vast grassy plains, scattered acacia trees, and distant horizons, offered early humans an optimal environment for survival. These spaces provided food, water, and clear visibility to detect predators or other threats, making them ideal for ensuring safety and sustenance. Over time, the visual structure of the savannah, its balance of openness for visibility and natural shelters for protection, became embedded in our psyche as the archetype of an ideal environment.
Even though we now live in cities, suburbs, or other modern landscapes, these primal cues still resonate within us. The sense of calm and readiness instilled by the savannah’s structure can evoke feelings of comfort and security, even if we’re not consciously aware of it. As environmental psychologist Dr. Gordon H. Orians, one of the originators of the Savannah Hypothesis, explains,
“The visual preferences shaped by our evolutionary history continue to influence our aesthetic judgements and feelings of comfort, even in modern environments.”
This reveals how deeply intertwined our evolutionary past is with our perceptions of beauty and functionality today.
This deep connection also informs modern design practices through Envirohacking, a method of intentionally recreating physical environments that resonate with our evolutionary instincts. Designers and architects can embed elements reminiscent of the savannah into urban parks, office spaces, or interiors, creating spaces that subconsciously evoke comfort, balance, and well-being.
Examples include open layouts with strategic greenery, softly curving lines, and naturalistic colour palettes, all of which mirror the survival-oriented cues of our ancestral home.
It’s no coincidence that the visual settings of East Africa, the iconic golden sunsets, silhouetted acacia trees, and expansive horizons, are universally celebrated in art, photography, and storytelling. These images evoke a nostalgia for something most of us have never directly experienced yet instinctively recognise as "home." They tap into a shared evolutionary memory, connecting us to the environments that shaped the earliest chapters of human history.
The enduring draw of the savannah plains reminds us of our shared origins and the subconscious influence these landscapes have on our modern lives. Through thoughtful design and the practice of Envirohacking, we can continue to harness this deep connection to create environments that inspire, comfort, and align with our innate preferences.
This highlights not only the timeless beauty of East Africa’s savannahs but also their profound impact on human perception, even in today’s world.
Information Reference Index:
Envirohacking
The Savannah Hypothesis: Insights into Human Evolutionary Preferences
The Aesthetic Experience of Landscapes: An Evolutionary Perspective
Biophilia and Human Preferences for Natural Environments
East Africa’s Influence on Global Art and Design
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