THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

 

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

The interplay between architectural design and human psychology is significant, yet it remains largely unnoticed or even ignored both in and outside the design industry. Moreover, the relationship between design and psychology is not only consequential, it is bidirectional. On the one hand, successful design has been shown to have clear psychological and physiological impacts; on the other, psychology, human experience, and the function of our neurological systems all play a significant role in what we perceive to be successful design. Successful design patterns are reviewed, including those that evoke the same sense of security sought by our human ancestors, as well as those whose specific patterns have a meaningful psychological basis. Similarly, reasons why some design forms and themes have not been successful are explored, as is the modern-day challenge of human stress that results from those poorly designed buildings and spaces. Finally, the importance of incorporating nature into the human built environment to take advantage of its positive psychological impact and restorative properties is explored.

Architectural and interior design have been societally classified as aesthetic bonuses to the “built environment” i.e., that environment comprised of man-made structures and settings within which human activities take place. This has not only damaged the legitimacy of the field but has also prevented it from receiving the necessary funding and attention of the general public that it deserves. Architecture started out as a means of protection, a shelter from our surrounding environment. It gradually evolved into an art form into which subjectivity, creativity, and beauty were introduced. Today, we are seeing architecture evolve yet again, this time from an art form to a subject of psychological study and purposeful implementation focused on psychological well-being. As this thesis demonstrates, studying the psychological effects of architectural and interior design is important due to their immense influence on the emotional and psychological well-being of humans