Architectural design and mental health

(Student’s information)
I. INTRODUCTION

Using specialized tools and, most importantly, creativity, the discipline of architectural

design focuses on addressing and meeting the needs and demands for the creation of living

environments. Despite the widespread misconception that architecture is merely a

technological endeavor, the objective is to combine the technological and the aesthetic. In the

same way, it combines architecture, which is based on the development and presentation of

technical solutions, with design, which is considered as the creative process. Architectural

design explores the values and formal aspects of the works through spatial experiences by

combining the two disciplines. It is one of the project's core bases, and overall, it can be

identified with drawings, sketches, or project outlines.

Other elements of architectural design, such as those relating to geometry, space, or

aesthetics, are also included in this area. After all, there are numerous components and stages

that go into architecture, and consequently architectural design. In the designing phase, an

architect must bear in mind that he or she must conduct an analysis and build in accordance

with the needs and available resources, always keeping in mind the aesthetics and technical

features, as well as the fundamentals of construction. Because of this, the method that can

identify all these factors must take into account the requirement to express the needs, both

aesthetically and technically, on the paper or software.

In general, there are many distinct fields that make up architecture. Various branches must be

considered in addition to the constructive elements in order to complete the project. The use

of the space is generally the basis of architectural design, but aesthetic considerations can

also be considered. This means that categorizing architectural design is difficult because there

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are so many possible classifications. Architectural design can be categorized based on its

purpose, aim, aesthetics, and technical features.

Society has categorized architectural and interior design as aesthetic enhancements to the

"built environment," or the environment made up of manmade buildings and locations where

human activities take place. This has not only diminished the field's credibility but has also

kept it from obtaining the proper financing and public awareness that it merits. Initially,

architecture served as a method of protection against the environment around us. It gradually

developed into an artistic medium that included subjectivity, creativity, and beauty. Today,

architecture is once again evolving, moving from being an art form to becoming a topic of

psychological research and deliberate application aimed at psychological well-being. (Ricci,

N., 2018)

Together along with urban design, architecture represents a network of interrelated elements

that influence its form, choice of materials, design of functional structure, and spatial

arrangement at both the micro- and macro-scales. Stressors produced by the built

environment and urban design have an impact on users. Both have a significant effect on

people's health and wellbeing. Poor interrelations and the built environment's low quality can

lead to a variety of stressors that can negatively impact users' physical and mental health (Bil,

J. S., & Pawłowski, L., 2016). Despite its importance, the relationship between architectural

design and human psychology is still largely unrecognized or even neglected, both inside and

outside the design community. Furthermore, there is a reciprocal relationship between design

and psychology that is not only consequential. On one hand, good design has been

demonstrated to have distinct psychological and physiological effects; on the other hand,

psychology, human experience, and the operation of our neurological systems all play a key

part in what we perceive as successful design.

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II. Important aspect to consider when designing a building

A. Lighting in architectural design

Lighting, also referred to as illumination, is the intentional application of light to produce a

useful or pleasing effect. When talking about lighting, it refers on how a place or object

becomes visible to the human eye through natural or artificial sources. Depending on the

requirements of a location, lighting permits light to create a range of effects. In architectural

design, lighting is crucial because it influences how a place feels and how big it appears to

be. Due to its capacity to improve aesthetic value and create the atmosphere and sensation of

a habitable place, lighting is an important element in interior design.

In general, light coming from an electrically driven source, like a lamp, bulb, or tube, that can

be adjusted to produce the desired end effect is referred to as "artificial lighting." Depending

on what is needed, this light can be dimmed, boosted, focused, directed, or colored. The four

characteristics of light that can be altered are their intensity, color, direction, and movement.

Each of these characteristics can be adjusted to affect the four primary purposes of stage

lighting: mood, selective focus, modelling, and visibility. Placing bulbs and enlarging the

number and size of luminaires in a place are only a few examples of how artificial lighting

affects a space. Artificial lighting can also be used to methodically define areas, generate

sensations, and influence people's psychological responses in a given setting. Regarding

architectural designs, artificial lighting can be divided into three primary categories. They are

ambient lighting (general space illumination), task lighting (used for specific tasks like

reading), and accent lighting (for highlighting a feature). Lighting contributes to the creation

of visually dynamic areas in architectural designs in addition to its functional role.

Additionally, it can be utilized to change the atmosphere of a place.

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Therefore, creating a setting that is aesthetically pleasant requires proper lighting. As a result

of the necessity of lighting in the built environment, studies on lighting in the field of

architecture have been found. The majority of these works looked at artificial lighting and its

importance in terms of energy consumption, thermal efficiency, and new technologies.

Additionally, it was discovered that certain research have looked at the use of artificial

lighting as a psychological communication tool in a few particular built-environment

contexts. However, fewer studies were found that has compiled the various growing theories

and frequently disregarded viewpoints on the use of artificial lighting as a form of nonverbal

communication in various built environment architectural designs. (Sholanke et al., 2021)

Visual comfort must be considered when examining how artificial lighting affects people

psychologically. According to certain research, there is a strong correlation between a space's

luminance levels and how well its inhabitants can see in that space. To explore the relevance

of this link, (Yun et al., 2012) did a study on offices in Seoul, South Korea. The study's goal

was to identify the variables that affect how much lighting energy is used and consumed in

open-plan offices. Vertical and horizontal luminance, user visual comfort, and lighting use

were the three main factors under observation in the study, with an emphasis on the functions

of occupant adaptive activities. The study found a substantial direct association between the

typical indoor luminance levels and the comfort illuminance, which is the amount of

luminance that inhabitants perceive as neither low nor bright. Also suggesting that people can

be influenced by previous environmental luminance and that they have a tendency to adapt to

specific visual settings. (Sholanke et al., 2021)

B. Nature/Greenery in architectural design

In the beginnings, nature directly influenced man, and their entire way of life was governed

by it. Humans always work to protect their survival and security demands. The Renaissance

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gave nature back to man by seeing it as a source of aesthetic experience, just as it had been in

antiquity. The garden has been integrated into the building, resulting in quiet, open spaces for

enjoyment. In the 17th century, the relationship between architecture and nature underwent a

cultural shift. In contrast to the regulated and orderly nature of man, the natural landscape

was seen as wild and disordered. Architecture and nature have developed a relationship that

aestheticizes daily living since the 19th century. The surroundings of humans and nature are

no longer at odds with one another, and nature is valued as a social good. (Haupt, P., 2018)

Architecture impacts how people, and their surroundings interact. However, it significantly

contributes to the development of an environment that supports human activity. In the

modern world, architecture, which causes the most ecological damage through the act of

construction, aims to fix the strained ties between humans and the environment. Architects

make a conscious effort to consider greenery in their architectural design and construction

process. Over time, architects and urban designers have emphasized how natural features

shape places. Numerous factors, which can be broadly separated into the physical

environment and the human environment, influence architecture. Architecture must coexist

with nature, so it shouldn't be seen as an obstacle to be conquered. The harmonious

coexistence of man and nature is influenced by the composition of the urban and landscape,

and the natural landscape is shaped by four key natural factors: terrain, light, air, and

greenery. These elements bring architecture to life and shift it from an ideological plane.

(Haupt, P., 2018)

C. Space in in architectural design

It's conceivable that the idea of space is developed today in the majority of architectural

schools as an antiquated and essentially uniform aspect. The concept of space is being

developed, particularly through architectural history lectures and architectural design studios,

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with just remnants of specific periods of Western philosophy. It is also interesting to note that

there is a great deal of uncertainty and carelessness regarding the origins and characteristics

of the idea of space in educational systems that introduce it as a crucial component of

architecture. Nowadays, the majority of architects try to design spaces that go beyond just

four walls and a ceiling. Since it is our nature to explore our senses, it is the responsibility of

the architect to always seek out novel methods to stimulate the built environment, both

interior and exterior.

The term "space" first appeared in the field of architecture at the end of the 19th century with

the volumetric theories of Semper in Germany. It then developed with aesthetic theories, was

enriched by early modern thought, and finally became widely accepted in the English-

speaking world with Giedion. As a result, the word "space" started to appear in everyday

architecture. (Üngür, E., 2015)

Space is what architects, painters, and designers use to fill, enclose, and create entirely

human, finite landscapes within the endless environments of nature. The dimensions and

shapes of an architectural space's exterior and interior, the quantity, location, and appearance

of its entrances and exits, the degree to which it is divided into halls and pathways, the

topological and metric patterns of those halls and pathways, the number of floors above or

below ground, the lighting (intensity, wavelengths, spatial pattern), and the visual and tactile

qualities of its surfaces (textures, for example) are all physical attributes. All of these have

the potential to make an impact on human cognition. (Montello, D. R., 2014)

III. The Effects lighting, nature and space have on mental health

Architectural design has altered over time in reaction to changing societal preferences as well

as the development of new building materials and techniques. While certain styles have come

and gone fast, others have endured the test of time and have been around for centuries, even

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influencing some of today's modern architecture. By enabling, facilitating, requiring,

obstructing or preventing different perceptions, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors,

architecture affects human cognition, experience, and behavior. This is done physically by

architecture, such as when barriers obstruct movement, sight, or sound. It does this mentally,

such as when visual patterns elicit aesthetic reactions or encourage exploration. Buildings

that integrate architectural elements that our brain interprets as being related to those features

of those settings that helped our human ancestors in surviving are those that make us feel

good. Therefore, it's crucial to understand which particular characteristics or patterns our

brain identifies with those survival elements. (Ricci, N., 2018)

Additional stressors are created by the environment's architecture, social interactions, and

spatial design. The duration and course of the stress response are influenced by a number of

built environment factors. Environmental elements that come from the built environment,

such as noise, air quality, temperature, material radiation, household fungus, and others,

produce a variety of stimuli that might affect an organism's behavior and mental health. One

of the main sources of stress on the body is psychological stress, which modifies a

physiological response (which is especially detrimental to people whose organisms are

weakened). Their body is overburdened with psychological stress coming from the

environment at different levels. In the context of mental health, where stimuli and illness

influence behavioral patterns and architectural design influences behavioral reactions, it is

important to be considered. (Bil, J. S., & Pawłowski, L., 2016)

Given how artificial lighting impacts mood, emotion, and mental attentiveness, it is vital to

the wellbeing of those who inhabit a space. Additionally, it can alter people's physiological

and psychological states as well as support and impact circadian rhythms. As a result,

artificial lighting techniques are frequently used to generate a variety of environments or

elicit particular emotions. It is an effective passive communication tool. Improvements in the

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type, sources, quality, and intensity of artificial lighting in learning environments, such as

classrooms, are said to increase students' and teachers' levels of mental alertness and

productivity. Students responded more favorably to LED lights than to fluorescent ones,

claiming that they were more comfortable, attractive, and stimulating, according to a study by

(Castilla et al., 2018) that compared how students felt about them and how they affected their

productivity when exposed to LED and fluorescent lighting. This suggests that the types of

luminaires used to produce light have a direct impact on the outcomes produced and the

impact it has on the end users, in addition to the fact that artificial lighting elicits both

emotion and stimulation.

Lighting should be used properly in order to maximize its benefits in this regard because it

has a lasting impact on people and how they interact with others. In contrast to a bright room,

respondents reported less approach motivation in a dark room, according to a study by

(Veenstra & Koole, 2018) on the effects of ambient lighting. The purpose of the study was to

determine how lighting affected users' psychological motivation to enter or interact with a

particular space. The study proposed that darker conditions are more likely to diminish

approach motivation than brighter environments because people tend to think that a dark

space is more likely to be lacking activity.

Landscape architects are transforming urban environments into healthy living places that

provide the much-needed relaxation and ventilation, drawing inspiration from the concept of

green therapy. To meet the demand for green retreats, they are developing sustainable designs

and incorporating biophilia into architecture. Biophilic architecture helps to reduce pollutants

while also enhancing the aesthetics of the surroundings. As a result, landscape architects

promote healthy living and the general well-being of the population while also boosting

biodiversity. Nature and humans have always shared a unique affinity. The mood and well-

being of building inhabitants can be enhanced by providing views that are connected to and

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visible from within nature. A direct line of sight to the outside and our natural surroundings

can lower stress, elicit more positive emotions, and enhance focus. By strategically placing

glazing throughout the structure, views can be achieved. Designs that provide a smooth

transition from interior to outdoor area can help us feel more connected to the natural world.

IV. Aspect in design that should be avoided during construction

Since architecture is that phenomenon aspect that the architect works on and attempts to

utilize all of his or her efforts to achieve an architectural product free of any flaws from all

regards, architecture is the fingerprint of architects all over the world. Architecture is a

response to both physical and non-physical aspects, so architects must take both into account

while developing their designs. It is clear that different designers use different ideas and

concepts during the design process. Defining every aspect of a building's attributes is the first

step in the preliminary design process in architecture. One of the first stages of a project,

sketching, typically accounts for 8% of the budget (Safin, S., Leclercq, P., & Blavier, A.,

2008). Errors can be easily rectified before and during this step by modifying a few

components on the sketches. Additionally, starting the design from scratch in the event of

significant errors may be an option. The cost of errors increases significantly as the process

progresses, and recovery is quite challenging. Concepts cannot be changed; they can only be

corrected (and sometimes not completely). Furthermore, given the amount of time and money

already used, it is impossible to return to a significant solution. Furthermore, in the context of

the architectural design process, the status of error is highly specific. In general, the majority

of errors result from the evolution of the context and the design rather than from an initial

mistaken action. If they are not promptly identified and corrected, this change in context can

turn certain previously proper activities into mistakes with (sometimes) serious financial or

safety repercussions. According to design values, there are two main aspects of mistakes in

architectural design. (Abdullah, W. S., & Qaradaghi, A. M. A., 2021)

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A. Distortion in Unphysical Design Values

It is the transformation of a body, a sketch, or any architectural structure from excellent to

awful, beautiful to ugly, or the creation of a representation that does not accurately reflect the

reality of the object. The majority of designers make errors in non-physical design values like

aesthetic value, artistic value, poetic value, regionalism value, simplicity value, etc., hence

this distortion belongs to the non-physical category of error. It is intended that every element

of the facade is an outsider, does not represent an essential component of them, and was not

included in the design. The perpetrator's actions would affect the physical appearance of the

abuse place and create damage to it. As a result of accumulating and experiencing a world

devoid of aesthetic values, human visual adaptation plays a significant part in the path that

behavior takes. Building facade distortion comes in many forms and degrees, starting with

issues with formal organization, unity, and harmony of elements, color coordination,

suitability of materials and finishing techniques, and methods of coordination with street

furniture. (Abdullah & Shari, 2019)

B. Measurable Mistakes in Physical Design Values

Since these errors are determined by the physical values of architectural design, they are

significantly more frequent in architectural design. Since measuring physical attributes is

more direct than measuring unphysical properties, diagnosing such errors is far more

uncomplicated than diagnosing errors involving unphysical properties. The following are

some of the most typical physical errors in architecture: (Abdullah, W. S., & Qaradaghi, A.

M. A., 2021)

 Mistakes in Architectural Standards.

 Mistakes in Proportional Use.

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  Functional Mistakes.

 Structural Mistakes.

 Material Honesty Mistakes.

 Environmental Mistakes

 Healthy Property Mistakes

 Economic Mistakes

 Legislation Value Mistakes

 Religious Value Mistakes

 Traditional Preservation Mistakes

 Traditional Preservation Mistakes

V. Logical solutions for better living in healthy buildings and implementation

A healthy building depends on the effective completion of numerous requirements. Sound

design and construction are essential for every building's good implementation, mechanical

stability, and occupants' basic safety. To achieve ecological balance in new and renovated

buildings for the long-term viability and humanization of architecture, sustainable design is a

collective process. In terms of the environment, this process combines the innovative

technologies of today with the natural, minimal resource conditioning methods (daylight,

solar heat, natural ventilation) to create an integrated, "intelligent" system that supports

individual control to achieve environmental quality while being resource conscious. Utilizing

all of the already-existing infrastructure, including "main streets" and small-town planning

concepts, sustainable design rediscovers the social, environmental, and technical aspects of

pedestrian, mixed-use communities. It also recaptures indoor/outdoor connections.

The environment is already being harmed by the use of contemporary synthetic materials in

design and construction. Additionally, the adoption of comparable materials somewhat

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depersonalized international architectural styles. Therefore, creating an eco-friendly

architectural environment and maintaining its uniqueness become highly crucial in this age of

environmental degradation, resource depletion, and devastation of nature, which is made

possible primarily via the use of natural building materials. Several countries are starting to

deliberately incorporate natural materials into their modern architecture. Modern technologies

are continually being created to improve the inherent qualities of natural materials and for the

versatility of their use. Some of them were developed based on the extensive knowledge

gained over decades of working with natural materials (The construction of straw blocks as

an example). (Ilvitskaya et al., 2019)

Landscape architects are transforming urban environments into healthy living places that

provide the much-needed relaxation and ventilation, drawing inspiration from the concept of

green therapy. To meet the demand for green retreats, they are developing sustainable designs

and incorporating biophilia into architecture. Biophilic architecture helps to reduce pollutants

while also enhancing the aesthetics of the surroundings. As a result, landscape architects

promote healthy living and the general well-being of the inhabitants while also boosting

biodiversity. The term "biophilia" was created and adopted in the architectural field at the

start of the twenty-first century to highlight the emotional component of people's desires for

connections with the natural environment inside of buildings. It was suggested that biophilic

design could offer some design principles to sate this craving for nature in architecture. The

principle of biophilia is the basis of the theory of biophilic design. Numerous concepts from

environmental psychology show that people's need for nature stems from an innate attraction

to natural elements. These theories clarify the method through which exposure to nature

affects both physical and mental functions. The understanding of the importance of contact

with nature was transferred into the field of architecture to explain a variety of concerns

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regarding the integration of nature in architecture. This was done on the theoretical basis of

various environmental psychology theories. (Zhong et al., 2022)

VI. CONCLUSION

The built environment undoubtedly has a significant impact on human lifestyle and health,

both positively and negatively. The built environment must be viewed favorably when its

overall effects on human comfort and lifestyle are taken into account. Only the benefits of the

built environment have continually been highlighted with the development of new

technology. There is currently a wealth of research revealing the clear psychological and

physiological advantages of good architectural design, which go beyond just having an

aesthetic appearance. It is now understood that poor architectural design and implementation

directly correlate with negative health and psychological issues. Also, there are correlations

between physical and mental wellbeing. The more well-established "healthy building"

principles, such as using natural materials, using sustainable energy sources, encouraging

activity, etc., can have an impact on our mental health.

It's critical that we reevaluate the ingrained social stereotypes that have mistakenly reduced

the study of architectural design to only an artistic endeavor, depriving it of the significant

legitimacy it merits as a discipline with the capacity to significantly advance society. The

psychological effects of irresponsible architectural design won't ever be addressed, and the

field will continue to lack the resources needed to enhance the society we live in if only

psychologists and architects are aware of the beneficial psychological and restorative impacts

of architecture.

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