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ARCHITECTURAL PSYCHOLOGY

“There is no doubt whatever about the influence of Architecture and structure upon human character
and action. We make our buildings and afterwards they make us.
They regulate the course of our lives.”
Sir Winston Churchill, a two-time Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, while
addressing the English Architectural Association in 1924

A DAY OF MY LIFE

“No! Not again… not today”. It’s Sunday morning and I woke up late
again thanks to the noise made by hammers and electrical saws and
other machinery used in the workshop next door that kept me awake
most of the night. But I can’t afford to be late today because I finally
got a job interview for the career I dream of. So I quickly roll out of bed
and prepare for the day that could change my life.

ANALYSIS: A good planning and designing criteria of residential neighborhoods and housing units in
particular could have a huge impact on human wellbeing and satisfactory level. A design that meets its
optimal standards of lighting, acoustical and environmental solutions is likely to produce healthy residents
both by physical and mental means.

“Did I get a parking violation ticket? Maybe they should provide our
neighborhood with a suitable parking lots first.”

ANALYSIS: if parking design criteria is well met in a city. Residents of

this certain city are likely to use them which will eliminate the problem
of parking in the streets or over pathways. In other word it could really
improve people behavior regarding the issue. And teaching them how
to be organized.

“Come on!! I am already late!!! How about a well-designed road to

facilitate traffic. This is really annoying”

ANALYSIS: a road that is well planned and designed could improve

traffic significantly and therefor helps to lower drivers anxiety level
which will affect road safety in general and decrease accidents
occurrence.
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“Is that it? It doesn’t look like much. This is working my nerves. Wish
me luck”

ANALYSIS: architects should ask them self “What feelings and

emotions and states of mind do I want to trigger in the occupiers of
the building? “ It must also be clear that the patterns of behavior differ
according to the building. With appropriate design, the healthy patterns
can be underlined. A hospital should radiate peace, confidence and
hope accordingly. A school should arouse curiosity, joy and excitement
and an office should support creativity, productivity and concentration .

“How am I supposed to know where to go? There are no signs!!!!”

ANALYSIS: People’s comfort and wellbeing often rely on freely moving

between spaces. Clearly understood pathways and points of entry and
egress are critical to fostering mobility and feelings of security, while
the absence of these features often breeds confusion and anxiety.

“Okay now we’re getting somewhere. I think this is a meeting room

maybe someone can help me.”

ANALYSIS: the impact of furniture arrangement is great to generate a

certain outcome for example; people gathering around a center and
facing each other are more likely to engage in intellectual conflict which
is evidently useful in meeting rooms to maximize individuals’ skills.

“That’s just great. This day keeps getting better. I didn’t get the job and
now they robbed me of my wheels. Ahaa Ahaaa!!”

ANALYSIS: Spatial structures are also associated with safety and

security issues. If spatial structures fail, measures such as alarm systems
or surveillance cameras often come into play. Certain structures can
therefore attract crime or vandalism, but can also help to improve
security and provide
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Conclusion
The environments we build and inhabit shape our lives and the choices we make. In reality, architecture is an
active player in our lives.
There is a reciprocal relationship between a person affecting, and being affected by, external forces in their
immediate surroundings. It isn’t an overstatement to say that architecture affects all aspects of our being; how
we think, feel, act, and even our health.

That Building You’re In Is Nudging You to Make Certain Choices

The nudge doesn’t guarantee a behavior or outcome; it acts as a sort of reminder (or in some cases, a warning).
This kind of design is often defined as “choice architecture.”

- The effect of green areas and recreational places is tremendous on human mental and physical health.
- Ill-conceived and inferior architecture, combined with other factors, can promote stress, encourage exhaustion,
induce psychosomatic symptoms and even promote physical discomfort. As a rule, these effects are not immediately
apparent, but often appear after a period of months or years. This allows for the reverse conclusion that spaces can
also support healing processes and promote well-being.
- In order to feel comfortable in an environment does not only require a pleasant indoor climate. Light, plants,
materials, construction methods, temperature, and air conditions also play a role for well-being and health. We have
to bear in mind that humans have a holistic perception: Our senses influence our thinking, feelings and actions and
therefore our entire body. If our senses are positively stimulated, this can have an invigorating or calming effect. As a
result, spaces can influence our thinking, action patterns and, thus for example, promote motivation, our readiness to
act, and strengthen our performance or concentration. If we
Feel uncomfortable in spaces, this can lead to restlessness or discomfort, hypersensitivity, lethargy or even
Anxiety.
- The living environment in which we dwell and are surrounded by, and thus also our surrounding built environment is
fertile ground for our individual development and evolution. In a positive sense, spaces can contribute to
strengthening our sense of self-esteem and satisfaction. Deficits in this area might cause dissatisfaction, restlessness,
alienation and listlessness.
- Educational buildings (schools in particular) with certain form are about maximizing person-environment
congruence when support is the goal, or how to seek an appropriate amount of incongruence and challenge when
the goal is personal growth. such forms (L ,U AND S) creates a secure outdoor environment where students feel
safe and protected yet still experience a sense of connection to a larger world.
- A secure neighborhood is more likely to raise awareness and self-consciousness of the consequences of vandalism
and crimes.

In conclusion we can state that

the design of a building involves more than its form

Don’t forget:

Environment

Can be engineered

As a strategic tool