Emotions can be triggered by architecture. Consider how well-designed memorials might elicit emotions such as pride, sadness, or appreciation. Other building kinds can also surprise or even mellow one’s mood. It all boils down to how a specific area is designed — to elicit an emotional response in its people.

Emotion in architecture is strongly associated with how well an architecture emits a “feeling of place.” Often, a “feeling of place” can assist an architect in developing a personality. This personality can elicit emotion in the occupants of the building since it resonates with them.

Architecture in itself is an art form – one that blends science, design, art, and history into one beautiful creation. To understand architecture, one needs to have a basic understanding of the various elements that go into creating it. It needs to be experienced and has a lot to do with the culture, history, and influences of a particular nation, or region.

When architecture can engage emotionally with its inhabitants, its message and meaning can be felt more deeply, producing a more lasting effect.

How architecture plays a role in human emotions:

Human emotion is crucial when creating architecture because when a building resonates emotionally with the occupants, the message that an architect intends to transmit through his work is felt more deeply and makes a permanent imprint. The critical linkage of emotions influences the tenants’ experience of architecture.

We must first deconstruct the current environment and build a space to construct any space. Every aspect of a building, such as materials, structures, and the building’s design, has a direct impact on the character of the area.

It is all about being moved by architecture, not about feeling happy or unpleasant. It is a profound sense of emotion, intensity, and participation. An architect ought to be able to connect individuals with their physical surroundings and recollections and elicit emotional responses in them.

In the example of public space, let us consider the library and the emotions it evokes. Libraries are seen as serious places that emanate respect and restraint. When a person visits a library, they are isolated from the noisy life of the outside world. It’s as if the library has safely swallowed them and taken them to another realm. It gives the impression that the person has found something for the first time.

Biophilic architecture:

Biophilic design connects building residents to nature. Biophilic buildings use natural lighting, ventilation, landscape features, and other aspects to create a healthier constructed environment. SageGlass is an excellent example of biophilic building technology.

Biophilic interventions maximise natural light from dispersion to temporal variations. A lighting system that naturally or artificially mimics our circadian rhythm aids link individuals to the outdoors and keeps us in line with our normal 24 hour cycle. Enhancing visual comfort by maximising natural light and daytime changes.

Humans have an instinctive connection to nature, so it seems logical that we feel better in environments that reflect the outdoors or offer views, plants, and/or water elements. When using biophilic design concepts, architects use numerous approaches, including:

Nature vistas. Some buildings are positioned to offer ocean vistas or a lush landscape, while others are not. In urban and industrial settings, architects may build courtyards with trees and other vegetation to give occupants access to nature.

Better air and ventilation. People who spend most of the day indoors take pauses to “get some fresh air.” Architects respond to this need by implementing biophilic design features, moveable windows, sliding overhead doors that lead to outdoor areas, or HVAC systems that promote healthy air exchange.

Striking the right balance between look and feel:

There are numerous advantages to using architecture to convey emotions. There is even a theory that links architecture to happiness. Nonetheless, architects may consider integrating emotions – as another function of a structure – as a threat, something negative that could sap creativity and leave a building with a purely technical design.

However, as previously said, this would be nothing new. On the contrary, architects already do so, perhaps unknowingly. Recognizing that a building may transmit emotions to its users can only help demonstrate that architecture is more accessible to everyone than they imagine.

It is critical for architects to strike a balance between the function of a space and the thoughts and perceptions it evokes. In addition, they must recognize their ability to create something that not only lasts for decades, if not centuries, but also offers new meaning to how buildings are produced and constructed.

Concluding thoughts:

It is essential to carefully consider each component of architecture because even seemingly insignificant design decisions can have a significant effect on people’s feelings. There are occasions when even the architecture that is considered to be the most neutral can be highly aggressive.

Understanding the balance between architecture and emotions is crucial for any self-respecting architect. Working towards creating structures that don’t just wow, but move can make a big difference in how an architect’s legacy is perceived.