Architecture and the Environment
Brigette Tarwater
PSY 460
October 4, 2012
Nancy Lees

Architecture and the Environment
Psychology primarily focuses on the behaviors, thoughts, and emotions of organisms. There are many influences that contribute to these aspects of growth and development in a variety of areas. Not only does the concept and theories of nature versus nurture graduate an individual into the person that they will ultimately form into, but social elements, the environment including architectural surroundings, life experiences and many more fundamental characteristics form the foundation of a human.
Research plays an explicit role in the comprehension process to explain the cause and effect of many different scenarios which may surface throughout an individual’s life; the outcome of different supporting roles can potentially support or consequently change the path which an individual may stroll towards throughout that life. The illusion that the comfort of our surroundings or the exhilaration of a new area whether it is a preference as an urban or rural area can cause peace or stress which has been noted in scientists theories and research. There are many different structures that are built in ways to produce peaceful, spiritual, aggressive, zealous, etc. ties causing behaviors to act according to the emotions that are being felt. Architectures design structures in which, the external and internal design, color, pattern, math, and physics, and many other attributes and subtopics contribute to the like and dislike of people’s opinions and the effectiveness that it plays in their lives whether at work or play.
In 1810 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe studied and expressed the impact that colors have on the psychological affect through the sense of vision. The characteristics of colors and the portrayal of different lighting can increase or decrease arousal mentally, physically, emotionally, and sexually in humans. For instance, “the color red is a dramatic color that can cause an increase of adrenaline, elevated heart rate and increase of gastric activity” (Popow, 2000). Hence the use of warmer tones with a dim lit atmosphere within an eating facility creates a surge of stimuli causing individuals to feel hungry and order food. These colors can create a warmth and bright mood, or the same colors can influence hostility. On the controversy rooms that may appear to have color from the cooler spectrum such as blues, grays, greens etc. may create a calming and relaxing demeanor, or induce memories of illness and sadness. Different cultures use color and lighting differently based upon beliefs, culture, rituals, and communications; these characteristics are the focuses that guide architects on ways to influence an individual’s psychological reactions to their surroundings.
In recent study environmental psychology has been and is still currently being researched and explored for new ideas that have developed meaning in regards to a natural surrounding and the impacts of behaviors in organisms; however, they have also come to include the division of commercial and residential architectural structures to affect physical and mental reactions. Not only have scientists noticed that lighting and color of buildings emphasize different meaning, but the physical structure of height, layout, proximity to its surroundings, and purpose affects how and why a building is designed and the affect that significance holds within its purpose.
Max Wertheimer founded the Gestalt theory of psychology which built upon the hypothesis that describes the visual perceptions of individuals and the elements that allow individuals to see and piece together things as a unified element. The laws of Gestalt state the good experiences that individuals can have are related to order, simplicity, symmetry and structure. Dr. George Boeree examined 20th century architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his horizontal residence that could allude to a perception of tranquility and the human body at rest, whereas the vertical structures that he built symbolically can imply a sense of rising, aspiration, assertiveness, a higher authority such as seen at a capitol building or a religious meeting house or cathedral. A structure that is bright and colorful and open typically seen in residential settings where the symmetrical disposition has a calm, relaxing feeling, behaviors may be more relaxed and open. A building that is more structured and formal, in a rural area presents an array of professionalism. This structure accented by décor and the proximity to other professional structures, creates an expectation where individuals stand guard, have a more orderly demeanor. Their behavior may exhibit nervousness or control in quieter setting more efficient setting.
The similarities that can be found between a residential and commercial setting is the implied knowledge to structure a building for convenience of its use. The purpose behind the use creates a vast difference in the architecture. A building that will be used for a warehouse, or a restaurant or a school depending on the population size may vary how small or large the buildings are built. They may have larger open spaces where a residential home may be on a much smaller scale with closer corridors which can elude a sense of protection and safety compared to an open structure. The type of building can also contribute to the type of individual’s attitudes and mannerisms that one may experience. An auto shop which may be smaller and dirty may create uncleanly behaviors or a much higher scale of noise, whereas an office building that is built with an open space or multiple windows alleviates privacy and demands employers to have a more appropriate behavior pattern. Homes that are larger in scale may subtract from a family’s potential to be extroverts with each other or may cause an increase in solitude; youth can learn harmful behaviors and can develop addictions such as pornography. Stress levels may decrease having more room for belongings and a sense of place for personal items; where as a home that is much smaller or built to travel with all necessities close in functioning proximity can assist in creating higher levels of stress due to privacy but lower levels of stress due to lower payments.

As the population increases so does the demands of job opportunities; thus the need for more homes and office buildings or larger spaces to expand a family or business is needed. Therefore the increase in buildings continues to develop as the need arises.
“For these reasons there is a critical and immediate need to shift thinking on how the built environment is designed. To reduce environmental impact, protect public health and improve environmental equity and justice, we must change principles for building practice” (Glyphis, 2001).
There are multiple behaviors and personalities that desire designs and structures varying in size, shape, and purpose. The bigger positive impact of an individual’s surrounding the more likely the behavior, attitude, and mental process will genuinely result in a happier complete individual. Therefore, architects need to be in tune with how to affectively build to create a more positive behavior within the workforce and the outcome of satisfaction in the residential area as well.

References
Boeree, PhD., G. (2000). Gestalt Psychology. Retrieved from http://webspace.ship.edu /cgboer/gestalt.html
Glyphis, J. (2001). How Can the Architect Contribute to a Sustainable World? Retrieved from http://secondnature.org/documents/wingspread.pdf
Popow, W. (2000). A Report on Psychology and Architecture. Retrieved from http://www.grandlodge.mb.ca/mrc_docs/Psychology%20of%20Architecture.pdf