by Habina Seo
Buildings and structures are created by society and humans.
Essentially the built environment is massively a social and cultural product.
Resulting from social needs, buildings may serve a variety of functions:
social, political, economic, religious and cultural. As well as physical
factors, the appearance and location depend on the society’s ideas, the
economic and social organisations, the distribution of resources and authority,
and its beliefs and activities. Although they do not in itself create our society,
architecture produces and maintains many social forms. The physical environment
in which a community lives, works, heals and learns in can be highly
influential to the way in which people do these things. Good architecture
should therefore meet the personal and emotional needs of a person or
community, by considering how they relate to the world, rather than just
practicality and function. In other words, architecture being used as an
instrument of social control.
Not only does architecture affect society on a high level -
for instance housing a great company, or being the essential living element of
shelter - it can influence small personal activities and decisions. Everything
from the essential layout and organisation of spaces to seemingly subtle
choices such as the material finishes can contribute towards occupant health,
mood and productivity. Over time, studies have shown that workers in
well-designed spaces are off sick less often, more focused and generally
contribute more to their company. For instance, sterile, concrete landscapes
and unimaginative buildings were shown to cause higher levels of stress;
without variety and stimulation, the human mind gets confused and is reminded
just how far out of its natural habitat it is. Buildings and cities that are
designed to provoke a more mindful connection to nature combat this, helping
people to feel more relaxed, happy and engaged.
Some examples of physical features which are particularly
influential are: ceiling height, colour, light, space, and facades. Dramatic high ceilings are often used to foster free,
abstract thought processes, such as in art studios, some offices and living
spaces. Recent research connects our sense of freedom with tendencies towards
spatial freedom and connectivity with the natural world. On the other hand,
lower ceilings may be used to allow a more specific, focused view of things.
This would be useful for operating rooms where intensive attention and focus is
needed. Something as simple as the colour of the surfaces can
subconsciously affect the mood and perceptions. For instance, accents of green
are found to reduce stress, orange is stimulating and encourages enthusiasm,
and blues and white often bring a sense of calm and serenity.
Similarly, the way a building is lit affects the feel too.
Natural light is found to have a more positive effect on workers and their
wellbeing compared to those with less windows- this may be due to it being
linked with our natural sleep cycle of being alert and awake when the sun is
up, and vice versa.
The space of a building should be used to its advantage.
Instead of trying to dictate the way in which people should move around in it,
it should follow what people naturally tend towards and also allow flexibility
for exploration and freedom.
Sources: https://hmcarchitects.com/news/how-does-architecture-impact-society-a-high-level-look-2019-10-18/
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