To What Extent Can Architecture Affect Mental Health?

20 minute read

Struggles within mental health plague our society more than ever before. I wanted to discover one of the reasons why this may be occurring.

The first thought which came to mind was the spaces we live in. Compared to the grand buildings we all recognise from the Victorian or Georgian eras, more and more dull and unattractive new-builds are popping up, which made me wonder: Are the buildings we live in corrupting our moods? Is there a difference in the mental health state of a person living in a cramped and dimly lit flat than one living in a bright and spacious studio?

The aims of the project are to explore the effects on mental health by the architecture surrounding us, examining the differing factors (including light exposure, colour, size and material of buildings; even smells and sounds) which our brains react to and the cognitive functions behind this. The project compares these separate, but nonetheless broad areas of perceptions made possible by our incredibly complicated brains. Looking at both case studies and hypothetical situations the project presents arguments for and against the huge fragility of mental health in terms of its reliance on surroundings. I will explore examples of both positive and negative architecture and the features with which they possess, progressing on to some of the larger factors of these, such as light exposure and colour psychology.

The project concludes that every aspect explored plays a part in the ways our brains respond to architecture- after all, we cannot escape buildings in this day and age- we sleep in them, work in them, eat in them etc. If one is surrounded by dark, cramped walls made of grey concrete, they are far more likely to suffer from depression or anxiety than if they lived in a large and airy apartment painted cream. This conclusion is evidenced throughout the project with numerous case studies and scientific experiments, such as Vartanian et al 2013 and Coburn et al 2020. They conducted experiments using nearly 800 participants and analysis concluded that responses were characterised by three dimensions- coherence, fascination and hominess.

The topic of how far architecture can affect mental health interests me as I aspire to become an architect myself- I plan to study Architecture or Fine Art at University. At the moment, I study Art and Psychology for A level and therefore decided that this topic would be beneficial for those two courses. Upon hearing about how mental asylums can make people become more insane, my interest was furthered on the topic of how architecture affects mood, inspiring me greatly to research the idea further. I will look into a range of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety and insanity. I would like to analyse the types of spaces labelled as ‘depressing’ (see example above) and the contrast they display against ones labelled ‘beautiful’ (see image left), along with the types of building materials used and whether there is any correlation. I wanted to research the most ‘inspiring’ buildings throughout the world and understand what features they possess to give them the label ‘inspiring’.

To help evaluate the effect buildings have on mental health, I would also like to understand how our senses are used when viewing a house. Immediately we would suspect that sight and touch are the predominant senses used- but what about sound? I will research experiments which indicate the effect that sound can have on our attraction to architecture. In addition, I will research the most famous cases in which rooms have been specifically designed to cause insanity- such as the quietest room in existence, the Microsoft Chamber in Washington.

 Features such as high windows are often preferred as sunlight has been proven to increase happiness- however many people feel unsafe living in a house with large windows as they want to feel separated from the outside world. I will research into the psychology behind this and what part of the brain triggers such anxiety, mentioning the law introduction of needing at least one window per bedroom. I discovered that small or inaccessible doors can often lead to feelings of dread or uneasiness, possibly due to the fact that people feel as if they cannot easily escape. This could be triggered by past life experiences such as kidnapping or brutality.

I will also discuss the way in which people have expressed themselves through architecture over millennia- from finger-painting on the walls during the Stone Age to lining the streets with graffiti today. Colour will be a topic in this chapter which I will explore thoroughly, mentioning the psychology behind how colours make us feel, extreme colour obsessives who dress monochromatically and finally the progression of neon.

I plan to answer my question by concluding that architecture can indeed have a large impact on mental health, whether gradually, over a long period of time- or rapidly, as demonstrated by the experiment of the world’s quietest room.

CHAPTER 1: POSITIVE ARCHITECTURE

This chapter will focus on the different types of buildings people have reported feeling most happy in and the possible psychological reasons for this. One example of a highly regarded ‘positive’ building would be the ‘Happy Rizzi’, which can be found in the historical centre of Brunswick, Germany. The house’s exteriors are painted graffiti style and it also has a unique urban configuration. Even though the building does not conform to the usual architectural standards (such as square, evenly spaced windows or block colour walls), it is ecologic. This means that surrounding it, trees have been planted wherever possible and the parking lot is filled with bicycles. The area where the building is placed is a quiet one. Younger generations were most responsive to the new urban landscape, often gathering to take pictures etc and as years passed the building became a tourist attraction. I would argue that the reason this building is regarded as being one of the happiest in the world is due to the bright colours, childish graffiti and atypical structure (it contains many unexpected curves and indents). People are often inspired more by abnormality than conformity, which would be an interesting theory to experiment.

Examples of the most ‘beautiful’ architecture in the world include St Basil’s Cathedral in Russia, the Taj Mahal in India, Bourges Cathedral in France, Paro Taktsang in Bhutan, Versailles in France and Milan Cathedral Duomo in Italy. Each building is completely different to the next as they vary in colour, style and size dramatically. However, one shared feature between each is the level of detail and the obvious time spent creating them.Intricate features, which would have taken years to sculpt or even imagine, decorate the walls of each palace or cathedral, making them a wonder to behold. For example, the Milan Cathedral Duomo in Italy took almost 6 centuries to build, made from brick with Candoglia Marble.

Materials can play a huge part in what we behold as ‘beautiful’, with examples such as concrete rarely being suitable while marble or glass are usually celebrated as being the most aesthetically pleasing. Perhaps one of the most unique buildings on the list in terms of colour and style would be St Basil’s Cathedral in Russia. Ivan the Terrible ordered the cathedral’s construction in 1555. It is the only structure in Russia with that design and closely predated the peak of Russian architecture. This peak was known to be the period of time in which the Russians built many breath-taking decorative churches. The golden domes have been described as “a bonfire rising to the sky.”

Though describing one’s design as ‘beautiful’ would surely be flattery, many architects set out with the intent to inspire rather than stun. Arguably the most famous examples of this are Singapore Airport and the Eden Project. With targeting deforestation in mind, these indoor havens of nature have been created as a sort of oasis full of trees and plants. They aim to not only look stunning but inspire others to protect the planet. Reduction of plastic usage, recycling, less electricity, reduced emissions and minimised deforestation are just some of the ways to combat climate change that these projects teach. Sustainable architecture is architecture that seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, development space and the ecosystem at large. These buildings have been known to be as mentally uplifting possible due to the fact that they mimic the way Earth once looked all over while remaining safe and warm. The 7 components of green building are energy efficiency and renewable energy, water efficiency, environmentally preferable building materials and specifications, waste reduction, toxics reduction, indoor air quality, smart growth and sustainable development. The most eco-friendly building components are recycled steel, bamboo, sheep’s wool, straw bales, precast concrete, earth and plant-based polyurethane rigid foam. Being environmentally conscious about the planet can lead to feelings of satisfaction in most people, as they feel they are doing their bit to save the planet for future generations. Therefore, if architects incorporated more environmental building materials in their projects, I believe that not only the designers but also the inhabitants would feel happier.

Architecture can greatly impact life decisions. People choose to live or be schooled in certain areas primarily due to its beautiful historical buildings. I interviewed a woman called Sarah who told me of the huge effect of architecture on her years growing up. As a teenager she hadn’t given much thought to college and had always expected to stay at her secondary school, The Sacred Heart in Tunbridge Wells. However, when her family visited Canterbury on holiday, Sarah was struck by how beautiful the grounds of the college were. She recounted the feeling of inspiration felt as she walked through the cloisters of the cathedral, the stark contrast between this and her previous school with its brutalist utilitarian 70s architecture. Before, she had been surrounded by repetitive concrete blocks which made her feel as if she was part of a system. Now, she felt full of purpose as she treaded in the footsteps of generations of children. Sarah related her story to universities such as Oxford or Cambridge - she said that people don’t just attend those universities for the impressive teaching, but the history and stunning architecture. When buildings are created with such attention to detail and intricate workings, it makes the inhabitants feel more of a personal connection towards it. One can tell that each room has taken such lengths of time to create and therefore they feel grateful to experience it.

Some do not feel the need for aesthetically pleasing architecture, arguing that many buildings are simply made to fulfil a function. However, I would argue that many functions are carried out more proficiently if the surroundings are inspirational rather than dark and depressing.  Unfortunately, even if they wanted to create unique and inspiring buildings, most architects lack the funds. Despite a cultural reputation that would suggest otherwise, architecture is notoriously low-paying. In comparison to doctors who earn $200K on average and lawyers who earn $130K, licensed architects in the U.S. have a median wage of about $76K. It could be argued that while doctors are the ones saving lives, faulty architecture could lead to many more lives lost. This is observable in the Grenfell Towers incident - while it was the builders who used sub-standard materials, it is the job of the architect to oversee the plans and make choices about the building materials. Therefore, I believe that architects should receive higher salaries to avoid incidents like this reoccurring and to put the minds of homeowners at rest, benefitting their mental health.

CHAPTER 2: NEGATIVE ARCHITECTURE

Buildings which lack repetition can appear infinitely more creative than those which are unvaried. A simple office building or block of flats can be almost inspirational with the addition of outdoor plants or unique design features, as seen in the example on the right. Compared to the picture below, it appears colourful and thought-provoking. The design features which the architect has chosen, including the plant wall and the corrugated balconies, elevate the building to not only inspire others to keep plants and therefore create cleaner air but also look more attractive. In comparison, the picture on the right is repetitive and dull- the architect has used grey tones, most likely with concrete, which can be regarded as one of the most unattractive building materials. Unfortunately, it is one of the most common which is perhaps why much of England is seen as having ugly architecture. This problem largely stemmed from the post-war housing boom. Housing provision by the end of the war, particularly in urban centres, was considered inadequate, not only in quantity, but in quality as well. War damage had impacted on the quantity of housing stock, but additionally, much ‘obsolete’ housing had been earmarked for demolition before the war. Therefore, the government had a quota to produce thousands of houses around the UK in record time. Millions had been spent on the war effort and so the budget was tight - unsurprisingly, the houses produced were unimaginative and ugly. Doubtless anyone who has visited the UK would recognise this type of repetitive council housing, as it appears throughout the country irrespective of where one visits. Though they were lifesaving to millions and inarguably a good idea, in terms of architecture they would be regarded as a nuisance to most.

A room’s design features and furniture can dramatically impact the reaction people have to the space. For example, the room can appear clustered and stress-inducing while another may be seen as calming due to the minimalistic amount of furniture within it. Therefore, we can construct the hypothesis that furniture alone plays a huge role in how content we feel. However, design features can also have an effect. It has been proven that small or inaccessible doorways can lead to feelings of dread or fear. Agoraphobia is the fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult, for example travelling on public transport. This could be due to past trauma in which these people were unable to escape a dangerous situation or suffered a panic attack in an enclosed space. Such people often furnish their homes sparsely and avoid entering unfamiliar buildings.

One of the most obvious examples of negative architecture is, of course, prisons and mental institutes. We’ve all seen horrific depictions of both in film and TV- however, are they truly as damaging to mental health as they appear? One case study I researched was by an Irish man called Enda. He described one of the psychiatric wards he stayed in as such: “The conditions in the hospital were awful; it was a filthy, dirty and dark place, the toilets stank and there were no holy pictures on the walls. It was not fit to be inhabited. At times I have been treated badly by hospital staff. I have been stripped naked in front of nurses and locked up in a dark lockup room for days on end on a few occasions.” His descriptions prove that a lack of light and cleanliness within a living space can be damaging to mental health. Furthermore, as I have previously discussed, feeling trapped in a room as he did can cause feelings of panic or distress.

Prisons, on the other hand, are even worse… The World Health Organisation wrote a report discussing the many factors which can affect prisoners’ state of mind negatively. “Overcrowding, various forms of violence, enforced solitude or conversely, lack of privacy, lack of meaningful activity, isolation from social networks, insecurity about future prospects (work, relationships, etc), and inadequate health services, especially mental health services.” In fact, data has shown that over half of prisoners have poor mental health including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Around 15% of prisoners have specialist mental health needs. Around 2% are thought to have acute and serious mental health problems. Self-harm incidents also rose by 73% between 2012 and 2016. However, in what way does the building itself affect state of mind in prisoners? Some would argue that America’s prison problem is very much a design problem. Facilities are usually built like fortresses—monoliths in rural locations ringed with razor wire and high walls.

Interiors are detailed to withstand tremendous abuse, made with hard materials like concrete, linoleum, steel, and concrete block which mercilessly reflect the endless noise inside prisons, raising stress levels of both inmates and those who work with them. There’s generally either too much or too little light—most of it fluorescent, and switched on 24/7—which scrambles everyone’s circadian rhythms. But due to security and cost concerns, access to natural light is a luxury.

Windows are expensive and their size and location often determine a facility’s weakest security points. The typical interior colour palette, meanwhile, is a study in sensory deprivation—just a few shades of monotonous, soul-crushing beige. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, these questionable interior design choices are more important than ever. Prisoners are required to spend over 23 hours a day in their cells- an imprisonment much more likely to affect the mental health of the prisoners.

I wanted to research on the idea that buildings may affect mental health in ways other than visually or through touch. I came to the obvious conclusion that an excess of noise can aggravate many- for example, a house situated next to a main road may dissuade some from buying it due to a lack of sleep or relaxation. Perhaps more dramatically, numerous studies have linked noise pollution to increased anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Even small increases in unwanted ambient sound have significant effects. However, what are the effects of a lack of noise? A little-known topic, this question could lead to confusion among many. Surely silence is relaxing, even sought-after?Not in this case. The quietest place on Earth can be found in the ‘Microsoft Chamber’ in Washington. The specially constructed anechoic chamber set the official world record for silence when the background noise level inside was measured at an ear-straining -20.6 decibels. In context, the quietest sound that humans can hear is 0 decibels. So how does the experience affect people’s level of comfort? According to a creator of the chamber, Hundraj Gopal, most find the experience very uncomfortable. “Some people want out within a few seconds,” he confides. “They say they just can’t be in there. It unsettles almost everybody. They can hear people breathing on the other side of the room and hear stomachs gurgling. A small number of people feel dizzy.” This research indicates that the soundscape of a building can have a dramatic effect on mood or mental health, whether it be too loud or too quiet… I would suggest that this problem arises most often in newbuilds rather than old ones; while older houses are often built using bricks, many newbuilds are made from breezeblocks or plywood. These materials lack as much soundproofing from the outside world. Furthermore, many estates lack adequate foliage to absorb the sounds. Therefore, a possible solution for this could be the addition of trees between houses.

CHAPTER 3: LIGHT & COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS

Many people have expressed a desire for their houses to contain an ‘outdoor-indoor feel’, meaning that they would like to incorporate nature, as it is seen as beautiful. Perhaps the most famous example of a house which incorporates nature is Fallingwater- designed by the incomparable Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935, the house represents an attempt by the architect to build a structure both inspired by and integrated with nature. In 1991, members of the AIA named Fallingwater the "best all-time work of American architecture" and in 2007, it was ranked 29th on the list of America’s Favourite Architecture. These achievements indicate the importance people place on the integration of nature in homes- while the house itself seems no spectacular feat of architecture, the addition of the waterfall is recognised and celebrated. According to a study by the University of Exeter, our brains are hardwired to have a positive reaction to seeing and hearing water. Furthermore, I believe that Fallingwater’s surroundings add to its charisma- the forest setting creates a sense of peace which many long for in their houses.

Another example of architecture which incorporates nature is the Redwoods Treehouse. Wrapped around a redwood tree in New Zealand, this cocoon of sustainably harvested pine and poplar slats is a treehouse restaurant. It plays host to what must be a most ethereal dining experience. The open-slat design allows light to filter in by day; at night, light emanates from inside, visually setting the cocoon and walkway ablaze.

A commonly used way of incorporating nature is through large glass panes, either in doors or windows. In fact, as we become more able to create large sheets of glass, the trend of including them in our homes has increased dramatically. These walls of glass mean that levels of light intensity are much higher than in a regular home, a design feature proven to combat depression and boost serotonin. A study taken place by PubMed demonstrated that not only may light pollution affect human physiology but also lack of exposure to natural light is related to high levels of cortisol and lower levels of melatonin at night, and these, in turn, are related to depressive symptoms and poor quality of sleep. In fact, there have even been laws passed which protect the amount of light people are entitled to, meaning that even the government recognises the importance of natural light exposure. ‘Right to light’ is a form of easement in English law that means the owner of a building with windows that have received natural daylight for 20 years or more is entitled to forbid any construction or other obstruction that would deprive him or her of that illumination. Neighbours cannot build anything that would block the light without permission. This demonstrates just how important light exposure in architecture can be towards positive mental wellbeing.

However, there are some who prefer to hide away from the outside world, people who feel safer and less observable to a passer-by or neighbour. This could be due to past traumatic experiences which have left people feeling unsafe or it could just be a simple dislike of nature and light. For example, some people own expensive paintings or books which must be protected from harsh sunlight or else they will fade. Architects would have to bear this in mind when creating a building like an art gallery - while sunlight can inspire further, the priority lies with the paintings. For example, in the picture below, the room has no windows and is instead lit by strong ceiling lights. The backdrops are a pure white colour, allowing as much light as possible to be captured in them. The floors are deliberately shiny so as to mirror any of this minimal light. Architects and interior designers have cleverly sculpted this room in order to make it as brightas possible for the artworks to be highlighted without using natural lighting and therefore damaging them.

Light is registered by the brain as visual information from the retina is relayed through the lateral nucleus of the thalamus to the primary visual cortex- a thin sheet of tissue which is located in the occipital lobe in the back of the brain. The colour centre is a region in the brain, thought to be located in the ventral occipital lobe, responsible for visible perception and cortical processing of colour signals received by the eye. This ultimately results in colour vision. Many functional magnetic resonance imaging studies in both humans and macaque monkeys have shown colour stimuli to activate multiple areas in the brain, including the fusiform gyrus and the lingual gyrus. The limbic system is a brain area, located between the brain stem and the two cerebral hemispheres, that governs emotion and memory. It includes the amygdala, the hypothalamus and the hippocampus. Vartanian et al 2013 and Coburn e al 2020 conducted experiments in which nearly 800 online participants were shown 200 photos of architectural interiors, varying on three basic features. These included high or low ceilings, curvilinear or rectilinear forms and closed or open enclosures. The participants had to rate their experiences of the images along 16 psychological factors. Analysis concluded that viewer responses were characterised by only three dimensions, however- coherence, fascination and hominess. The degree of fascination covaried with neural activity in the right lingual gyrus. By contrast, coherence covaried with neural activity in the left inferior occipital gyrus when participants judged beauty, and hominess covaried with neural activity in the left cuneus when deciding if they would wish to enter the space. In conclusion, our visual brains harbour responses to these subjective psychological dimensions, of which we might not even be aware.

To conclude this chapter, I would argue that architects should place extreme importance on designing features which allow as much light exposure as possible into a building- the research supporting this idea is so extensive that it would seem foolish to ignore. Indeed, the mental and physical health benefits of light can improve life dramatically. Living in a building which allows for a great amount of natural light will create a more positive mood, relaxing and physically benefitting one’s health.

CHAPTER 4: EXPRESSION THROUGH ARCHITECTURE

Architecture has been utilised throughout history as a form of expression. Whether that be intimidation (in castles and imposing fortresses) or inspiration (previously discussed in the Eden Project or Singapore Airport), people over the years have continuously used buildings as a means of expressing the emotion that they feel. Particularly noticeable recently has been the looting and burning of buildings in Minneapolis due to police brutality towards black people. The public recognised the value placed on public buildings and realised that their destruction would be the perfect way to draw attention to the BLM protests. Storefronts were smashed, buildings looted and apartments burned down. While many would argue that the riot was unnecessarily violent, I believe that the decision to destroy architecture was an intelligent one in this instance. It has been proven that one’s attention is more often drawn to imperfection rather than perfection- smashed glass or charred walls can cause feelings of discomfort in many. Therefore, the rioters were successful in achieving their aim of drawing attention to BLM and displaying the discomfort felt around the entire subject of racial injustice.

Another example of the public expressing themselves through architecture would be with graffiti. This form of art can be found all over the world and in every sector of society. One could argue that graffiti is merely a progression of finger-painting on the walls of caves during the Stone Age. Graffiti is commonly regarded as ugly or an indication of disrespect from the youth, however I would argue that in some cases it can add enormous value to a building. An obvious example of this would be Banksy’s work. Usually, graffiti on the side of a house would cause alarm bells to ring in the heads of prospective buyers. In this case, houses marked with Banksy’s work can regularly be sold for four times the original price. An example of this is on Rosebery Avenue, London, where ‘Cash Machine Girl’ can be seen. House no. 173 was sold in 2017 for over £1,190,000 when its original price a decade previously had been £275,000. This staggering increase in price due to mere graffiti indicates the importance we as a society place on expression, specifically through architecture. Inhabitants of Rosebery Avenue have surely had their lives changed immensely for the better, meaning that the houses they possess have brought them pride and happiness. Therefore, expression through architecture in this case brings positive mental health.

Perhaps one of the simplest forms of human expression through architecture is with the use of colour. A variety of hues and tones are preferred by each person around the globe, meaning that one colour cannot bring happiness to all. For example, according to a global survey from paper merchant G F Smith and psychologists at the University of Sussex, the most calming colour is blue. However, there are thousands of people who claim to dislike blue. Seemingly, there is no solution to this issue.

Nevertheless, these conflicts of opinion fail to deter people, who will take their favourite colour and run wild with it. An extreme example of this can be found in “The Pink Lady of Hollywood” who has been dressing, eating and decorating solely in pink since 1980.  “The Green Lady of Brooklyn” shares the same sentiments, as she has refurbished her house and wardrobe to only contain green. People such as these label themselves as ‘monochromatics’.

 According to interior designer Amanda Nisbet, “Using colour is not necessarily for the faint of heart, but its ability to singularly and definitively create an experience makes it one of the most important and valuable tools in interior design”. People who decide to surround themselves with only one colour do so because it brings them joy. I believe that architects shouldn’t shy away from colour, because when used effectively, it can create strong reactions of serenity or happiness in people. Grey or white is hard to get wrong and is therefore overused, in my opinion. However, this means that people struggle to obtain inspiration from much of the world’s architecture as it is very repetitive. In physics, colour is essentially the way our eyes and brain perceive different wavelengths of light reflected off objects. For instance, the rainbow represents the spectrum of colours that the human eye can see – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. In which case, what is black and white?  Some people maintain that white is the absence of all colour and black is the presence of all colour. However, science explains that objects appear white if a rough surface reflects different wavelengths at about the same strength. Black colour means that an object absorbs all wavelengths instead of reflecting them. Perhaps one of the most positive responses to this research is the government of Albania- with the collapse of Communism in towns and cities they started to paint the ugly communist blocks of flats in a variety of colours. This demonstrates that the government recognised the importance of bright colours in uplifting the people, resulting in a more positive mindset throughout the area.

The Welsh seaside town of Tenby is arguably most famous for its “sugared almond coloured houses” by the coast- each cottage is painted in a muted pastel colour which means the town can only be described as unique. Each year, around two and a half million people visit Tenby, making it arguably the most iconic holiday destination in Wales. In fact, the town is so pretty that my family has a painting framed in my house, meaning that the subject is close to my heart. The fact that the area receives so many tourists indicates the attraction people have to colourful architecture. As I explained previously, it is a rarity and therefore celebrated highly during the few occasions it can be found. This typical skyline demonstrates the uniqueness of Tenby’s colour palette.

Many people (particularly older generations) regard neon hues as too garish or youthful to be suitable for them. In terms of nursing homes, interior designers believe that peaceful environments can be created when blue is combined with neutral colours, shades of beige and warm wooden effects. The use of these colours in nursing homes render inhabitants peaceful and make them feel at home. Bright yellows, reds and intense colours that could cause disquiet, anxiety and tiredness of the eye must be avoided in spaces designed for the elderly. 'Fluorescent' or neon refers to colours that absorb and reflect more light than conventional colours. Because of this, these pigments are brighter, bolder and better. The colour spectrum moves from invisible, low-energy infrared rays to high-energy ultraviolet rays. While more muted colours were favoured during the 1970s, ultra-bright colours, including hot pink and electric purple, characterized the 1980s, making it the decade of neon. Neon's high visibility has also made it a favourite among nightlife and festival fans. Neons are being used more regularly in modern homes, particularly by younger generations.

Using the research I discovered throughout this chapter, I would argue that the use of colour in architecture indeed plays a vital part in the mental health and mindset of people. While the effects of colour may be rendered slightly less practical to measure than light intensity or room size, I believe that the hidden benefits of choosing bright colours over greys or blacks in architecture are astounding.

CONCLUSION

This project has explored the extent to which architecture can affect mental health, by discussing the overriding factors which people take into account when viewing architecture- coherence, fascination and hominess. Through this process it has been clear that there is a direct influence from the spaces we surround ourselves with and the degree of happiness we feel. This is proven by numerous case studies and data, indicating that our mood is swayed heavily by the environment we live in.

At first glance, some would dismiss the pairing of Architecture and Psychology- however I believe that the two influence each other much further than one would expect. Indeed, it could be argued that architecture can affect one’s mental wellbeing to a much greater extent than expected. This is due to the fact that we spend every single day surrounded by our houses, schools, offices etc without even taking the time to notice how they affect us.

In my dissertation, I explored some key features which can positively affect our perceptions of buildings:

Firstly, I researched the “happiest” and “most beautiful” buildings in the world, discovering that one of the principal reasons for buildings to be labelled beautiful is due to intricate detailings. People appreciate the amount of time put into creating architecture, preferring a complex work of art to a dull grey block.

A second feature which leads to inspiration in many is the use of ecological materials and designs. Examples of impressive works which incorporate nature include Singapore Airport and the Eden Project, both huge tourist attractions. People enjoy unique architecture such as these, as they add variety to the monotony of the landscape.

Colour is another positive stimulant to our senses. While everyone shares differing preferences in this area, when decorated in a hue that the inhabitant enjoys, their mental health can improve drastically. I explored multiple people who have dedicated their lives to their favourite colour, dressing and decorating their entire houses in it. They always appeared happy and content, therefore proving the fact that colour is a key feature in our happiness levels.

On the other hand, there were also many reasons why architecture can negatively affect our mental health:

One of the most obvious reasons I explored was the size of rooms- a smaller room can lead to feelings of claustrophobia and can make one turn in on themselves as they have little to stimulate their minds. This paired with inaccessible doorways can make people feel trapped and as if they cannot escape, causing anxiety.

Another prominent reason for negative reactions to architecture is a lack of light. Our senses are important in the perception of the spaces around us, meaning that a small amount of light can lead to negative consequences on health. While this factor directly affects our physical health, mental health can quickly deteriorate because of this.

I would also say that the amount of mess in a building can affect people. Though many people have differing preferences in terms of minimalism or maximalism, a lack of clutter is generally favoured. A messy room can cause anxiety in many, leading to feelings of hopelessness; while an organized room has been known to summon feelings of purpose and motivation.

Using all the evidence highlighted above, I would argue that architecture does indeed have an overwhelming effect on mental health. Certainly, it could be argued that everyone’s preferences differ and there cannot be one formula for happiness which fits all. This is true. However, I believe that architects should attempt to take into account the data indicating which features bring peace or joy to the majority of people. I think that we as a society could suffer less from depression, anxiety or insanity if our buildings were a more positive influence on our lives.