Scientists explain why we love symmetry so much and how our heart rate changes while observing a beautiful building.
The perception of interior and exterior, as well as our self-esteem, is directly dependent on the peculiarities of the work of our brain. This is the subject of neuro-architecture.
Perhaps you have ever felt uncomfortable or trapped in a certain building. Perhaps the hallway was narrow and long, with no visible exit or a poorly lit room with a low ceiling. Or vice versa: amazement and delight being in another interior.
A whole science is devoted to the study of the brain reactions of this or that space – neuro-architecture. This is not a style or trend of architecture. The fusion of neuroscience and architecture studies the human response to the built environment. Even now we can understand why we react in one way or another to a certain building or space.
How does our brain react?
Certain cells in the hippocampus respond to geometry and how space is organized. Every time we enter a room, house or any space, these cells are busy navigating and storing spatial information in the form of cognitive maps.
As an experiment, remember a space where you were uncomfortable and wanted to leave. At this point, your heart will start working faster and your breathing will speed up. This is because your body will start producing adrenaline and cortisol – stress hormones.
Our physiological state has a huge impact on our health. Bearing in mind that most people spend most of their lives in public spaces – the architecture of homes and workplaces are extremely important to our well-being.
People’s reaction is different, isn’t it?
Faithfully! There is no universal reaction, our initial reaction to space very often differs from subsequent ones, once space has already become familiar to us. Add to this our experience lived in this space. For example, the brains of two people will react differently to the same room if one of them has successfully passed an interview and the other has been fired. Scientists are also studying differences in people’s ages and cultural experiences, which can dictate preferences.
What do we unconsciously look for in a room?
Of course, not everything on our wish list is dictated by biology, although this is what neuro-architecture explores. We look for different spaces for different types of communication. When we need to communicate, we look for open spaces, and at the same time, we choose a closed space when we want to be alone with our emotions.
Arbitrary proportions of buildings very often negatively affect people’s perceptions. The more correct the building is built using the golden ratio and other proportions, the better it is perceived by people. The golden ratio is a universal manifestation of structural harmony.
Research shows that the façade has a strong influence on our perceptions: symmetrical ones evoke more pleasure and emotions. For example, facades with complex textures are more liked, and monotony causes less brain activity.
For their part, Canadian professors prove that people are good at perceiving curves in architecture. People like curved paths, perhaps because they generate what environmental psychology calls “secret.” In short, we prefer spaces that attract us with the gradual disclosure of new information.
How to take advantage of the neural architecture?
It is important to know what we need and how the supposed design will make us feel put into perspective. The personality of each of us dictates our preferences and aspirations. For example, if a person is an introvert, he is unlikely to feel good in an open-type guest.
If we are looking for a new home, it is necessary to think about our old experience: where we were comfortable, in what interiors we experienced discomfort, and in which, on the contrary, we felt in a good mood. It is good to determine in advance what can work in our case. This requires patience and attention to your feelings and emotions.
Trust your feelings![:]
