BUILDING & HUMAN BODY
The relationship between architecture and the human body obviously has a long history. And the questions that arise when exploring this relationship are more than simply about finding the proper dimensions and placements within architectural space to “accommodate” a person and their behaviours within it. The relationship between architecture and the human body delves deep into why those behaviours manifest in the first place, as it calls upon the experiential characteristics and qualities that spark when the two unite – impacting not only occupant behaviour through the body, but also impacting occupants intellectually, emotionally, physiologically and even spiritually through the body as well.
In order to understand the relationship between the human body and architecture with space, we first need to know how we become aware of it. Firstly of course we see it, since it is largely evident to us visually. It is a complex interaction of the eye and brain. Human psychology is directly related with architecture. The building form, the function incorporated in it, the colour, the lighting, landscape, material, negative and positive spaces in and around it but architecture is directly attached with human psychology from conscious to subconscious level. It is the influence of the environment on human behaviour
“Architecture can have a profound effect upon those that experience it” – Maria Lorena Lehman
The design of the buildings impact the consciousness of the users and it becomes a part of people’s lives. For example, it has been found that patients in rooms with views of a tree out of their window actually recover faster than patients in rooms with no views of nature. There is reciprocity between humans and the built environment. The architecture affects our behaviours, but at the same time we also influence the architecture in order to make it suit the activities that we want to carry out in certain buildings.
ReActor by Alex Schweder and Ward Shelley
Investigating how constructed environments can affect and be affected by human interaction. On the one hand, human behaviour, perception and wellbeing is influenced by architecture and urban design. On the other hand, occupants have a major impact on the environmental and energy performance of buildings. Conditioned by external and internal forces – the movements of two inhabitants – ReActor tilts, rocks, sways and turns a full 360-degrees. Inside a mirrored interior provides both dwellers with the essentials: a bed, dining table and washing station. Both Schweder and Shelley spend periods of five days living within the construction. Occupying either side of ReActor, each person’s daily routine is influenced by the movements of the other. If one leans over the edge of an extruded balcony at on end , the other has to do so as well to ensure stability. Perhaps a physical metaphor for the shared responsibility of cooperation.
In this context, architectural psychology can contribute with a number of methods that can be used in order to consider different forms of behaviour and therefore achieve well-functioning buildings.