Architecture and the Environment

Architecture and the Environment

Architectural designs may convince individuals in various ways. The influential nature of architectural design is centered on the location, environment, and design. A human response to architecture differs from individual to individual, what one individual finds believable another may not. Individuals often do not realize that architectural designs have an influence on humans and their behavior. For example, one individual might find that a night in Las Vegas gives him or her chance to enjoy the evening in a way that he or she would not normally act while other individuals may not. Numerous businesses will create their architectural designs to influence individuals to virtually leave their wallets at the door.

Physical Structure versus Human Behavior

According to Fritz (2011), "The next time you are in a building, notice how the structure of the building determines your path through it. Although you may move to your destination in a variety of ways within the building, your actions are still determined by the structure of the building. You do not walk through walls, you walk along corridors. You do not enter rooms through windows, you come through doors. You do not jump from floor to floor, you take determine the path of least resistance. Many of the structures that have the most influence on your life are composed of your desires, beliefs, assumptions, aspirations, and objective reality itself." (p. 3).

Architecture Controlling Human Behavior

Architectural design for many years has played a very significant part in our lives. The goal of creating a structural design is to create a structure that fits the needs of the individuals and make them feel comfortable and to fulfill the purpose of the building's intended use. The design and layout of an area differ between work and private living. Therefore, it is crucial to meet these requirements for each purpose and to pay extra attention to variables such as the perception of control, privacy, and density, which can have an adverse effect on an individual's mood and health. Since many individuals spend more time indoors rather than outdoors, it is essential to create an architectural design that fits those individuals' needs and does not have a negative impact on their health, space, and comfort (Fritz, 2011).

Architectural design can easily persuade individuals but in some cases it can act as a control over human behavior. According to Ayers (2007), "The structural design or arrangement of space imposes restrictions on behavior. Doorways determine our access to a room and room dimensions restrict the kinds of behaviors that can take place inside a room" (p. 2). With these considerations in mind, a building's function as well as its users must match its design. Because uses and inhabitants change both functionality and design needs, the design of the interior must accommodate flexibility (Ayers, 2007). A building's interior must create the appearance of space, regardless of its actual size because space makes inhabitants believe they have the choice between interaction and isolation. Individuals report a more positive sense of control when their environment allows them to choose interaction or isolation rather than experiencing both randomly pushed upon them. The psychological effects of crowding have been associated with arousal and stress (Stone, 2011).

Research and data has proven that when an individual has enough space to function and carry out their daily lives those individuals feel that they have a clear sense of control over the immediate environment in which they are in. These individuals have also shown to be less prone to anxiety, stress, and aggressiveness. These individuals also show enhanced well being or health. Studies have shown that overcrowding or confined spaces increase the risk of aggressiveness, withdrawal, and inappropriate actions with others. However, individuals who have ample space, positive lighting or color schemes have shown an increase in positive mood and work production.

Commercial and Residential Design

To some degree, every individual is in some way, shape, or form, influenced by a building's design whether the individual realizes it or not. Because of this impact or persuasiveness the use of environmental psychology is crucial.

According to Kesan (2000), "Environmental Psychological Implications of Commercial Design are being designed these days very often