Architecture and Environment Paper

Architecture and the environment help to shape one another so they must be describe together. To build architecture constructors take from the environment but both architecture and the environment serve the people of the world. To fully understand the interactions of architecture, the environment, and the effects of each on human behavior one must view as variables of one whole.

The Impact Physical Structures Have on Human Behavior

It only takes visiting a beautiful place like a Maine coast light house, a Scottish castle, or a villa in Greece to feel the profound affects it has on ones mental condition.

Worries are melted away and the soul is refreshed. Lighter or brighter spaces tend to increase alertness and even guard against depression. Rooms that are intended for relaxation should have dark colors with carpeting and few sharp edges. Low ceilings typically improve focus on detail-oriented tasks where conversely high ceilings increase creativity. Views of nature such as trees and open green spaces significantly inspire creativity, concentration, and memory.

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Clearly, it is significant to construct buildings that are sensitive to the needs of a user and should also compensate for ones inability to spend time outside. Certain human populations spend more time indoors than outdoors, which can have an unpropitious effect ones well being, health, and even comfort. This is why it is so important to create indoor environments that suit and meet ones basic needs (Pultar, 1997).

Architecture Directing Human Behavior

Architecture not only influences human action but can also help to direct that action.

Research has proven that the way a person lives can affect their social interaction with others. One study showed those who live in apartments that were close to one another were less interested in social interaction surrounding them and had possession of limited space. The interest for knowing what was around them was not present nor the need to share who they are with others. Places of worship and places of work are perfect examples of how architecture can impact human behavior. Churches specifically use designs and furniture when building a church that will elicit the appropriate response when the congregation is attending. However, doing this the reverence of the God they want others to understand and know about is an exciting learning experience that the people want to continue to come back and worship at that church. (Bro & Popow, 2000)

Environmental Psychological Implications of Design

Everyone is impacted to some degree by building design, so it is to no ones surprise that the involvement of environmental psychology in design is enormous. The way ones surroundings are arranged can provide either possibilities or limitations. Therefore, when creating any kind of space, it is very significant to know for what and who will use it. It is important to know where to build, how much space will be needed, and its purpose. The building needs to be matched with his or her user so that the best functionality can be established while meeting certain criteria such as quality, safety, and performance. Environmental psychological implications of commercial design are being designed these days very often depends on public demands. Without the involvement of the user, a designer will be unable to construct a building that will meet everyone’s needs and will pay attention to aspects such as safety and flexibility. For instance, there are several intentions of a hospital.

A hospital must first provide the right kind of care to its patients but at the same time, it needs to consider the needs of its employees by providing a sufficient work environment. One of many concerns when designing a hospital is providing the most efficient care for patients without sacrificing effective care. Therefore, the layout of a hospital contributes greatly the care of a patient. It has been researched that the distance between a nurse’s station and a patient’s room plays a vital role in the kind of care the patient receives and the speed with which he or she receives it. Besides space, another concern existing in a work environment, such as a hospital, is privacy. Privacy is very difficult to be maintained in such an environment and is important for the well being of a patient and staff. It has been acknowledged that short periods of privacy improved the productivity of nurses. At the same time, allowing privacy for patients contributes to more interactions that are social.

In addition, the amount of noise, the kind and quantity of light, facility indoor colors, more windows and nicer views, and availability of gardens are just few of the many features that can improve the well-being of a patient and contribute to better employee productivity (Kesan, 2000). Environmental Psychological Implications of Residential Design When constructing a residential property, it is very important that the design will encourage and best performance to those using this living place. The user is vital in the process of creating a residential layout because he or she will be spending a lot of time in this property. Therefore, it is very important that a residential property meets ones needs, is well made, safe, functional, and cost efficient. Recent research concluded that it is important to create a unity between the built environment and a user because the design of a home can affect ones way of living (Tappendorf, 2002).

When designing a residential area, one must be aware that he or she is not only creating a building for space but he or she is also producing a place, which must provide residential satisfaction and will help express identity. Space supplies the user with dimensions for living, the needed amount for privacy, and room for others. Place is personal individually influenced, and makes one feel at home. Creating a life space requires various implementations and considerations such as where, for whom, and for what purpose the house is built, how to organize the support spaces like the kitchen and bathrooms, and how many and where to place the support systems like lightning, windows, and others. In addition, when organizing a living space, one should decide between an open or closed plan.

A closed plan means more divided rooms allowing for more privacy, whereas an open plan allows for more flexibility within a living space but less privacy. In the end, providing a home that is functional and meaningful at the same time will allow the owner to become attached to it (Tappendorf, 2002). Whatever the decision one makes in his or her residential area, this chance of doing so will most likely change over time. Importance of Architectural Development supporting Sustainable Development Various factors contribute to the importance of architectural development being necessary to support sustainable development. For far too long, this has been not a significant matter because the main focus was to create a higher standard of living, which caused enormous and irreversible damage to the environment.

However, with the continuously rising numbers of people on this planet and the increasing shortage of natural supplies and resources, the paradigm shifted to make a change. Sustainable building is without question one of the most cost-efficient solutions to reduce the rapidly depleting natural resources and adverse impact on the environment. Clearly, when build anything; it is crucial to think about the future and therefore, the environment. As seen in the past, humanities decisions have impaired the ability to sustain and in some cases done irreversible damage to the environment. Continuing on this path is impossible because it will destroy the ecosystem for future generations.

The ecosystem will be unable to restore itself and make it impossible for future generations to survive on this planet. According to the U.S. Department of Energy constructing and maintaining manmade environment is responsible for half of all greenhouse gas emissions and more than half of annual energy consumption in North America (Moore, 2009). This news is shocking and definitely requires a major change in the way future architecture develops. Fortunately, research agrees and it is progressing to implement more environmentally sound aspects when designing architecture.

Conclusion

In conclusion architecture design plays a big role as to how humans respond to their surrounding as we know work, school, hospitals, and churches all has its effects on person whether it is the furniture, lighting, colors, or structure. The world buildings are being designed with the given understanding to promote and motivate people to want to remain where they are. Designs are always evolving to match what the environment is putting out.