Everyone lives in a world that encompasses different shapes and sizes of buildings, homes, apartments, condominiums, villas, offices, parks and various other spaces where people go to experience different emotions. Each of these spaces is carefully curated and put together to consider the emotions people bring to and take away from the space.
The daily routine of an individual is heavily impacted by the architecture of the space they put themselves in. Lights, sounds, and colours are tangible elements; whereas balance, movement, pattern and proportion are intangible elements of architecture. These elements make or break the emotion one experiences in their day.
Passageways of History
Architecture encompasses the way the space not only looks but also makes you feel. The importance of architecture through history implies that society as a whole was impacted by the various styles, looks, and eras that were embodied in different spaces. From Grecian and Roman larger-than-life structures to the smallest work cabins designed today, each space was created to evoke the different emotions and daily work being conducted there.
For example, if the ancient bullfighting competition took place in a small room, the routine set in for the crowd, for the players as well as the animal itself would take a drastic hit. The space allocated to that specific activity brought in the act of cheering for the daring opponent, the emotions of the fighter to pull through jarring scenarios and the rigorous routine created for the people of the society to be a part of something communal.
Another example of architecture and the importance of the right space with apt ventilation, light and colours are the hay huts that the first humans used while living in the wild. The routine they had was to wake up, hunt, keep safe from the wild animals, eat and find shelter from the daily perils they faced. The situation led them to create ecological homes, easy to build with local supplies – hay, twigs, reed, bark, leaves and mud. It gave them a space to call home, where they created the entire backbone of society as we call it today. Even then, without the modern equipment people have today, they made homes which protected them from the cold, heat and dangers they faced.
Evolution, Revolution and Everything in Between
The architecture of a place imbibes values, culture, and traditional symbols and brings together the mental, physical, economic, social, ergonomic and ecological framework of the society. The spaces we surround ourselves in have a direct impact on the way humans conduct themselves throughout the day. They affect the mood and health in the most basic way; which automatically affects the way daily tasks follow. Easy flow, movement, good lighting, balance, proportion, materials used and their interaction with humans help to revolutionize the way we work and function.
Whether at home, office, school, outdoors or in an indoor leisurely building, the experience of being a rounded individual is affected. Differently designed spaces bring forth our ability to do different tasks smoothly.
As a student of interior experience design, the potential of a good architectural space is based on the five senses. If an office is to make an employee productive it should do so through all the five senses. Architecture brings a change to the way we think, which allows the entire community to efficiently and effectively improve their productivity.
Thrive and Come Alive
Good architecture and well-planned designs help to bring communities together through culture, art, business, play, pleasure and engagement. Humans interact through the design of the neighbourhood. Thriving neighbourhoods have good interior and exterior planning. Buildings, roads and the surrounding greenery exude a sense of positivity and this has a direct relationship with the way people grow. The architecture of schools, hospitals, hotels, resorts, playgrounds, churches, temples, shopping complexes, markets, offices, bustling streets, national parks, weekend villas, monuments, museums and historical landmarks form a core of the memories which are ingrained into the way humans live. Each of these impacts the life of a human and opens their mind to a larger frame of the world. Restored and preserved architecture helps to connect people across centuries, whereas artificial intelligence and the technological advancements we heavily rely on, allow us to connect to the generations to follow.
Spider’s Web of Connection
Normally, we see it as the backdrop to our lives—pretty scenery, but nothing more. But a mountain of research makes it clear: Life could be a whole lot better if we saw architecture’s transformative power for what it is, and began designing the world to accommodate that power. (Kurani, 2022)
Reference List:
- Kurani. (2022). How Architecture Affects Your Behavior, Thoughts, and Mood—at Every Moment. [online] Available at: https://kurani.us/how-architecture-works-changes-your-life/.
