When you enter the realm of a design, you see the space as what you had imagined or what you intend to create. The power of visual communication has nurtured the essence of architecture concerning how we communicate with society. The use of art and culture is a means to revitalize the city and the urban fabric in response to one question; what more can architecture do? For many years, architecture has been a transformative engine for change, and the impact has resulted in a change in the perception of people. Architecture takes us on a journey by shifting our perspective and evokes a sense of emotion that is connected to space or the environment.
The roots of architecture have been spreading through history to numerous aspects of life. It represents the society, its values, successes, and downfalls that make up the fabric of the city along with the standard of living. Architecture is not just a physical environment in which we live but also a cultural enthusiasm that represents people, and how we see ourselves as well as how we see the world around us. Architecture has a monumental impact on society, the environment, the culture that ultimately impacts us psychologically.
The idea of shelter is a fairly simple concept that connects the world through exclusive contemporary designs, the evolution of styles as per location, and the values of society. Considering the modern art of construction, the one feature of the built environment that holds significance is honoring the cultural nuances of the people. Architecture is known to affect society on a higher level; nevertheless, it affects the individual on a more personal level as well. The layout of the space and the textures contribute towards the person’s health, mood as well as productivity. A well-designed workspace has been shown to increase the effectiveness and the ability of an individual to do focused and organized work.
In 1966, a British planner, Maurice Broady coined the phrase architectural determinism. He believed that architectural design solutions would change the behavior positively and predictably, only to realize that it would not be true. For many years, architects claimed that their designs would reshape the community through the power of art. Le Corbusier, a Swiss-born French architect claimed that his designs for Villa Savoye had the power to heal the sick, but it did the opposite. Although architecture may not transform the world into a miraculous space, it can influence the environment that can predict the mood with a little more precision in the design. The renewed belief that architecture can change the behavior of an individual has been well documented in the journals of World Health Design, HERD, and Environment Behaviour.
Large grey landscapes and monotonous buildings cause an increased level of stress and anxiety. To counter that, natural elements and connection to nature can stimulate the mind to feel relaxed and content. The majority of the hospitals and healthcare centers have an outdoor landscaped area where patients can go and sit, surrounding natural habitat. Architecture has the means to making a positive impact on people and elevating their mood allows for better and faster recovery.
Being constantly surrounded by built structures has a psychological impact on people such as; a dark or poorly lit space that can make one feel scared, and cold, diminishing the mood. Similarly, the layout of a space can determine the ability to perform a task. Au contraire, to walk through a beautiful space with green spaces, adequate light, and texture, patterns, the ability to breathe properly makes one appreciate the space and can elevate the experience and create an aura of joy and fulfillment. The mindful effect of architecture changes our perspective and allows us to feel an emotion that can alter how we experience the journey of space. Without the existence of variation and stimulation, the human mind fails to fathom the architectural design by remembering how far out the natural habitat might be.
To walk through awe-inspiring structures and a beautiful natural environment has the potential to create a vivacious, serene, and ecstatic aura. While there is no definitive answer to how architecture can affect our lives, the existence of a functional, comprehensive, and simple space can have the required impact on users. Architecture can shape societies, change our perspectives, affect our moods, and even challenge us to do the unknown, and that includes people who are well versed with the language of design, and even a common user who uses the structure for a specific interval of time. As we look towards the future of architecture and its impact on our life, technology has the means to create an impact on a larger scale. Not only will it improve the architectural community but also acknowledge understanding human relationships with the built environment. To strike a balance between architecture and humankind is the ultimate goal.
References:
- HMC Architects [Online]
Available at: www.hmcarchitects.com/news
- Bee Breeders [Online]
Available at: www.architecturecompetitions.com
- TED – TED Talk: Architecture that builds to heal by Micheal Murphy
Available at: https://www.ted.com/playlists/428/the_emotional_impact_of_archit
