Architects have long sensed that the places we live and work in can affect our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Now even behavioral scientists are giving these ideas an observed foundation. Architects use neuroscience for building designs, from schools to senior living centers to multifamily buildings. Let’s explore how they are using these ideas.
Higher thought. The height of a room’s ceiling affects how people think. When a ceiling is 10 feet or higher, people feel physically less constrained, and it encourages people to think more freely, which may lead them to make more abstract alliances. A lower ceiling, 8 feet or so, inspires more detailed statistical mindsets. Maybe the room you pay bills in might be most efficiently accomplished in a room with low ceilings, whereas creating an art masterpiece might be more likely in a studio with loftier ones. If you cannot change the size of the ceiling, add some mirrors to make the room look more spacious.
Natural focus. The window views outside can influence intellect. Gazing into a view of natural settings such as a garden, forest, or field can improve focus—resulting in a restorative effect on the mind. Looking at urban scenes can induce mental fatigue, whereas looking out at a natural setting is effortless and can give the mind much-needed rest. Urban settings are too stimulating with traffic and crowds, requiring more cognitive work than gazing at a grove of trees. If you can’t get out of the urban setting, try looking at nature on your computer or have a natural background on your smart devices.
Seeing the light. Green is good, and all but with it comes light. The natural world offers daylight which synchronizes our sleep-wake cycle, enabling us to stay alert during the day and sleep at night. Unfortunately, schools and retirement homes tend to be too dark, which can lead to lower test scores or cognitive declines. Providing bright daytime light researchers believe can help restore proper brain rhythms and improve overall brain function, especially in those with dementia.
A room to relax. Albeit the bright light might boost cognition, it counteracts relaxation and meditation. Have you ever noticed how restaurants dim the lighting at dinnertime? Keeping the light low during dinner parties can promote peace and intimacy. Room contents can also be similarly soothing. A room with sofas that are curved and rounded might be preferred to those with sharp, squared-off perimeters. The brain associates sharp angles with danger or potential threats. Colors schemes also play a part in the brain. Blue is commonly associated with calmness and relaxation, whereas red is more of an arousing feeling. Think of each room in your home and what you want to feel while being there when you decide what color paint to use or decoration.
These advances in neuroscience help create buildings with the mind in mind. How we think and feel reflects the environments in which we develop.
