First Draft

The emphasis of my research will be about the reactions and the emotions we have for defined spaces and forms of buildings, and how our built environment affects us in our daily lives. Consciousness in its multiple definitions and iterations enables human beings to feel the emotions that buildings provoke and how they begin to form connections and attachments with various building spaces and forms through our psychological, philosophical and cultural ties.

 Why do human beings respond differently to different spaces? The different reactions we have for spaces are dependent upon the individual and our cultural backgrounds. The built environment has either positive or negative effects on our lives and our memories of those places. The emotional activities we experience in built environments are based on subjective memories, and other brain activity coupled with new sensory inputs.

The usual five senses take varied parts in creating memories - a sense of touch, a sense seeing, a sense of hearing, a sense of smell, and a sense of taste. Five senses, memories, and awareness are all interconnected. Awareness is an important factor in remembering and creating memories of places. The reactions, and the emotions human beings have for certain spaces and certain forms of the building are based on the memories stored in our brains and the five senses that took part in creating those memories.

My research will emphasize on why and how awareness affects our emotions triggered by built spaces. In addition to spaces, the use of materiality, colors, lighting and construction within the space are also critical factors to delineating emotions we garner from experiencing architecture, both real and virtual. The quality of the materials, colors, light, and the type of construction contribute to our awareness of the of inhabited spaces.

According to John Zeisel, “the ultimate meaning of any building is beyond architecture; it directs our consciousness back to the world, and towards our own sense of self and being. Significant architecture makes us experience ourselves as complete embodied and spiritual beings” (Zeisel). Therefore, if we understand how brains and minds work or how they function in different spaces and how they develop over time to respond to our built environment, we as architects, should be able to deliver the intent of our designs and provide the quality of space that can help to improve people’s lives.

 Studying the human brain and its response to different spaces, materials, geometric shapes, forms, colors, and light will assist me in designing a space that could satisfy the albeit momentary needs of people and potentially mitigate their psychological pains enhancing their lives for that moment, and the memory thereto.