The emotional impact of architecture is a powerful force that shapes our experiences within a built environment. Architecture can trigger emotion through the ‘sense of place’. The way a particular place is designed with its personalized touch, a guided experience, a thought process, and an emotion is thus evoked.

?A place is a space which has a distinct character?, says Ar. Sanjay Puri. Our relationship with the built environment we reside in or are surrounded by goes beyond just aesthetics and functionality. A museum evokes a different feeling from a school/college, though both are knowledgeable. An empty white-painted room evokes a different emotion from the same room added with a touch of some indoor plants and paintings. The relationship between architecture and human emotions allows architects to design structures that resonate with the inhabitants. The architecture of a place takes on a personality which then evokes emotions within humans. 

Architectural design and feelings intertwine through many key elements of architecture. While architecture evokes emotions, it also enforces them. There are various ways in which designers can mold that experience within a certain space. The primary features of architecture are space, colour, light, shape, material, and surroundings, with other features like texture, sound, ventilation, patterns, and landscape being some of the great tools of architecture that make us aware of our emotions. 

Spatial Identity

Our spatial behaviour is based on the shaped environment. When we talk about space, expansive and open spaces make us feel free, while cramped spaces can cause some discomfort. A place that looks into a sense of journey while designing, reflects a positive impact. At times, natural lighting instantly evokes a feeling of calmness and relaxation, while sometimes enclosed spaces with dim lighting, creating an intimate ambience are preferred. Social interaction and community engagement are encouraged by well-designed public spaces that foster a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of loneliness by combating isolation.?

Personal spaces are equally important and need to be accounted for, as they provide privacy and independence on an individual level. The degrees of privacy are categorized into three ? privacy on a personal level, privacy at a family level, and lastly, privacy at the neighbourhood level. In a house, each individual needs to have their own private space and spaces where the family gets together, creating their privacy levels. The setbacks of this particular house create its space as an individual from the neighbouring houses.

Colour Theory

Colour certainly has a psychological effect on humans and is mostly strategically used in space. The colours of a space are decided based on factors like the purpose of the space, the target audience, the frequency and permanence, etc. Red signifies passion, love, and energy. It is also used to draw attention, like warning signs, notices, etc. Overuse of this colour could lead one to feel overwhelmed but also just as energetic. Yellow reflects positive energy, creativity, and happiness. It is usually used in caf?s, classrooms, co-working spaces, etc.

The colour blue evokes a feeling of tranquillity and helps in relaxation and balanced energy. While lighter blues are used in hospitals or offices, royal blues are used in bedrooms, representing luxury and rich design. Green reflects a sense of connection to nature and is also a colour minimally used. It promotes well-being and calmness. Lighter greens represent growth, freshness, and vitality, whereas darker greens reflect stability, wealth, abundance, and balance. 

Cultural Emotions

The emotional response to buildings is not always uniform. Understanding the general principles of emotional design allows architects to create buildings that resonate with a wider audience. Architectural style along with cultural and historical background perceives an experience of a space differently. 

Some buildings, like cultural hubs, places of worship, art museums, etc. that align with people?s values and beliefs, can foster a feeling of belonging and strengthen connections within the community. While visiting historical structures like the Taj Mahal and Hawa Mahal, we are in awe of the beautifully sculpted structures and look into the architectural details, like the intricate carvings, solid pillars, and minarets, etc., while the forts of Rajasthan or heritage sites of Badami and Aihole, keep us invested in the architecture as equally the storyline and background. Heritage sites, with their architectural grandeur and rich history, have a profound impact on our emotions. It takes us back in time and gives us an escape from the modern world.

Architectural Moods

Have you noticed how some spaces affect our mood instantly?

The influence of architecture on mood is an elaborate and diverse realm. Recently, there has been a growing recognition of research and studies conducted on the influence of the built environment on mental health and general welfare. Our moods are undeniably affected by the spaces we inhabit. Architects design spaces that promote specific moods, fostering productivity, relaxation, social interaction, etc., depending on the intended use of the building. 

While some architectural features support mental health, some detract from it. A thorough understanding of this conceptual difference should be done by examining how people interact with their surroundings. Through this, architects can design a space that promotes positive emotions, reduces stress and anxiety, and enhances the overall quality of life.

The psychological effects of architecture extend beyond mood. Studies have shown that the design of a space can influence our behaviour, decision-making, sleep patterns, eating habits, and even our sense of safety and security. A school designed with open and collaborative spaces, with adequate natural light and unique seating arrangements can encourage student interaction and learning, while a hospital room painted with neutrals and blues, with a good amount of natural light, can promote patient healing.

Set of opportunities & challenges

?While emotional architecture holds immense potential for creating impactful and meaningful spaces, translating this concept from theory to reality presents opportunities and challenges. 

The former set of opportunities is user engagement, form follows function, technological advancement, and enhanced advancement experience. User engagement incorporates a lot of time spent on research and development by architects to gain insights into the emotions to be evoked and design spaces accordingly. Though emotional design doesn’t have to be entirely minimalist or aesthetic, spaces can be designed not only to stimulate emotions but also to serve their intended purpose. Today’s technological advancements not only help architects test their designs but also help the users communicate their needs better. Through overall research and understanding, the architect can develop spaces according to their needs functionally and emotionally and promote enhanced user experience with a great sense of well-being and positivity. 

The challenges are many due to emotions being highly subjective. Architects face the challenge of designing spaces that resonate with a broad audience or cater to a specific user group without isolating others. They need to ensure a good balance between form, space, aesthetics, functionality, and emotion to produce an effective built environment. Some spaces trigger positive emotions for one, while neutral or negative for the other. Emotional spaces need to be functioning while touching our hearts with the potential to improve our lives by shaping the way we feel in and around a built environment. 

Ultimately, emotional architecture holds the potential power to transform our everyday experiences, making a space more than just a built structure but an integral part of our lives. By embracing the complexities of human emotions, architects can craft environments that not only meet practical needs but also enrich our mental health.

Sources

• https://www.marialorenalehman.com/blog/how-emotion-impacts-the-perception-of-architecture
• https://architecturaltechnology.com/resource/emotional-architecture.html
• https://youtube.com/watch?v=NgRb_AnrEkI&feature=shared
• https://www.jpr1source.com/post/building-better-moods-how-architecture-can-impact-your-emotions#:~:text=Architecture%20that%20reflects%20cultural%20heritage,and%20connection%20to%20the%20community.