From the era of Catal Huyuk, the very dawn of civilization, architecture has been the governing element of how man revolves around spaces. The art of architecture has been there since the times known. As Winston Churchill said, “We shape our building, therefore they shape us.”, man, himself curates/alters environs that resonate well with its cultural, psychological, and fraternity requisites. The drama of architecture is essential to social animals which in turn shapes communities and formulates everyday routines. One cannot just summarise the intangible impact of the constructed environment with its ancillary facets on its users. The configuration of spaces is tied firmly with the sensorial inputs affecting us with varying term wellness/ unwellness. One might just cross the street without consciously processing the passer-by but they are filtered at some scale in their heads. How a man perceives dimensions of his/her surroundings are dictated by the dominant aspects of the built environment and how it blends seamlessly with the unbuilt, creating a dialogue.
Architecture guides eyes, forming the line of sight and how the framework is meant to be perceived. It profiles the community spaces and judges the collaboration of society within them. The level of privacy, security, warmth, and communal essence is marked by them. Man needs more than just shelter from the building. The attraction of the patch is undoubtedly swayed by how the walls and roofs let the end-user interact with the outdoor segment and feed its needs for social interaction.
“Spaces determine our behavior- for the most part without our conscious perception.” (By Dr. Deinsburger Deinswager)
Extrinsic High Rise
The high-rise has been extrinsic to the human scale making them skeptical about the interior functioning and supports in nature. Several studies have shown that living in a city doubles the risk of diseases like mental disorders, depression, and anxiety. The present-day architecture picture which serves the generation’s growing needs and demands isn’t very relatable to all, being built as a commodity to be sold rather than a habitat.
Geddesian Triad Theory
The theory Geddesian Triad, given by Sir Patrick Geddes set forth the relationship between people and places and the inevitable impact on each other. The proposition states that the planning/layout should create organic relations among the people, place, and work. Triad between the environment, functions, and organism should be the approach to design. He says that the role of the designer is two ways, the first being how the material is made to reflect its people and culture. The second is to make an effect on cultural change via education. The theory works closely with geography, economics, and anthropology which in psychological terms respond to sense, experience and feeling.
Pruitt Igoe Housing Failure
Architectural horrors like the Pruitt Igoe Public Housing which began as a housing marvel, ended in rubble and left a devastating impact on people. The foremost image it gave to the public was racial discrimination between the whites and blacks in Saint Louis, Missouri. Though it failed due to government and administration lacking. But initially, it was quickly torn apart by residents who were not able to adapt themselves to high-rise city life. There are many narratives to the story but the massive downfall of public housing transmitted its people from hope to disillusionment. The housing architecture fuelled violence, crime, and drugs forming a really bad impression of the then urban high-rise. Critics argue that the wide-open spaces between the featureless building blocks discouraged the feeling of communal harmony, ultimately leading to its demolition in 1972.
Piazza Del Campo, Siena
Public spaces well blending with the context can all together alleviate the wholesome effect that it has on the senses. Piazza del Campo, the main public square situated between the Siena town hall and Plazzo Sansedoni. The square is a hub for social interaction and activities. People tend to stop here and sit on the red brick flooring wherever they feel comfortable, to relax and admire Siena’s Architecture. The place fosters community gathering with a sense of flexibility adding symbolic meaning to the area. Gatherings socialize here and relate themselves to the context of the space. The framework of the built design is intended to intensify the Centre and provide a vantage point for the public.
Stirring Architecture
The psychological needs of humans are more or less similar. Like the building facades and large green landscapes causes a high level of stress. A paper entitled, ‘Have you ever felt a wonder?’ by Murray Krelstein, MD in Psychiatric Times, suggests that beautiful and inspiring architecture can create a calmer and happier atmosphere. The vision of an architect/designer differs from that of a common man to keep the ability to understand the route. The monotonous frame can prove well for streetscape but at some level suppresses creativity and mold mindsets.
Architecture of, be it anything, room, landscape, urban design, building, should give a sense of direction. The desire to design or to frame something unusual and unique sometimes overrides the psychological consequences it might inflict upon the public. The position of designer/architect here is quite eminent and more than just some aesthetic/elegance creator. Imagine what our surroundings would look like if we took our social, emotional, psychological needs as the center for design? So, keeping in mind that space that is well flowing and related spatially can cut down the effects on users. Architecture has many faces, the right face which is right for the user put in the right direction, and order is capable of doing wonders. We do need new trends and cultures of design practices that would embrace human needs.
