The architecture of health is a recent term all thing’s considered. To make living spaces that are both pleasing to the eye and beneficial to the well-being of those who live in them is key for any form of architecture project. From something as simple as a new coat of paint on an old building to the innermost workings of psychology in the matters of space design and what have you. Either way, there’s a tried and true science to the subject.
Of course, complex as this subject is, I’d much rather give you a quick and easy perspective on things, three ways to be exact, as to how you can benefit your future projects (or even current projects in need of renovation) under the lens of healthy and positive architecture.
1. Architecture is never neutral. It can be either negative or positive. Use it to your advantage.
Ever been to a place that just feels off. Maybe it’s the lightning, maybe it’s the almost German expressionist type of angles that makes the house or building look menacing. It’s a real thing, and we don’t have to go as far as horror imagery to draw examples. Living spaces that are cluttered, or have poor choices in color harmony and usage of space can lead to adverse feelings, both from those that live in them and perhaps those that seek to make a purchase.
That’s why a living space with properly applied neutrally colors, green spaces, and efficient spacing is so important because it gives off a positive and friendly impression. So, even though a house might not be an animate object, we still subconsciously treat it as one, and that’s something you need to consider regardless of the kind and style of project you’re working on.
2. Positive architecture makes people want to stay and visit more often.
Whether it's guests or customers (for more commercial projects) the better looking and feeling a place is the more they’ll be willing to stay. For either type of visit, it will result in a stronger, long-lasting, and most importantly, positive impression, which is exactly what you want. How many times have you been stuck in an oppressive office waiting for a business meeting or a transaction, and you just wanted to leave as soon as possible. Plenty I’d bet.
That’s what you need to aim against. The least you want are prospect buyers taking one peek and leaving, no matter how good you are at explaining or selling a project, or worse, your neighbors faking appointments to leave your barbeque before the game has even started.
3. The long-term benefits of architecture are good word-of-mouth advertisement.
Good impressions are just the beginning, it’s the good word of mouth that comes after that matters. You see, healthy architecture has a way of uplifting people. The more welcoming a place the more likely people are to stay, as I’ve mentioned before, but when this extends to actual habitation or frequency of visits for running projects, the positive comments will begin to spread.
In other words, the hard work of making your project approachable through the focus on making it a healthy living space will become a widespread seal of approval. Not because of special treatment or anything like that, but because you made your project a pleasant place to be in, as simple as that, but as we know, not everyone cares enough to go the extra mile.