Exploring the Science Behind Spaces: How Design Shapes Our Minds and Behaviours.
Spaces influence our lives in ways we often overlook, shaping not just our actions but also our emotions and well-being. From Winston Churchill's insistence on preserving the design of the British Parliament chambers to Florence Nightingale's early recognition of the healing power of light and colour, history is rich with examples of how environments affect behaviour.
Modern research, such as Roger Ulrich's ground breaking study on hospital views, further confirms that the spaces we inhabit impact our mental, physical, and emotional health. In this article, we explore the profound relationship between interior design and human behaviour, uncovering the subtle yet powerful ways our surroundings influence us every day.
In May 1940, a 65 year old Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill is thrust into the midst of a world war during his first term as Prime Minister. Though not the popular choice among his own party, his strength of character, charisma, rhetoric, and inspirational leadership style quickly earn him the hearts, minds, and trust of the British people. Finally, with his first public speech famously declaring, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat,” he also rouses Parliament to cheers and applause.
It is against this increased support and influence during his first three years as Prime Minister that, in October 1943, following the destruction of the Commons Chamber during the Blitz, he fiercely opposes a redesign of the chambers into a semi-circular or horseshoe shape, favoured by most legislative assemblies at the time. In an impassioned speech to a meeting in the House of Lords, requesting that the exact layout of the bombed House of Commons be followed, he utters the now-famous words:
"We shape our buildings. Thereafter, our buildings shape us.”
Churchill is resolute that the opposing rectangular shape of the old Chamber should be protected at all costs, as he is convinced that this layout is entirely responsible for the two-party system which, in his mind, holds the essence of British parliamentary democracy. Looking at the design of the chambers, few can argue his contention.
While this is a great example of the impact of buildings and interiors on our behaviour, examples are all around us and often go unnoticed. They can direct our specific behaviours and have an incredible positive or negative impact on our mood, even our physical and mental well-being, without us even realising it.
As early as 1860, the celebrated nurse Florence Nightingale observed the way that flowers, colours, and sunlight affected patients. In her Notes on Nursing, she wrote about their healing properties for the mind and body:
"The effect in sickness of beautiful objects, of variety of objects, and especially brilliancy of colours, is hardly to be appreciated… People say the effect is only on the mind. It is no such thing. The effect is on the body, too… Variety of form and brilliance of colour in the objects presented to patients are an actual means of recovery.”
However, it wasn’t until more than a century later, in 1984, that her theories would finally be quantified. The environmental psychologist Roger Ulrich designed a simple study. He analysed medical records from a group of patients who underwent the same gall bladder procedure at a Pennsylvania hospital. To his astonishment, he found that patients who had a natural view of trees and nature had much shorter stays and required fewer pain medications compared to patients who had views of a brown brick wall. Ulrich’s findings finally quantified the theory that the qualities of our surroundings have a profound effect on our physical, spiritual, and emotional health.
These findings and others have inspired artists and designers to start exploring alternative aesthetic options for hospitals. A great example is the work of artist and designer Morag Myerscough in the Sheffield Children’s Hospital in London, stripping the conventional anaesthetic white and filling the patient bedrooms with colour.
In recent years, further advancements in technology and neuroimaging have allowed us to measure our exact responses to environments in unprecedented ways, helping us to understand exactly what happens to our brains when we look at spaces or places that bring us joy. Through neuroimaging, we now know the exact biological and neurological responses to colour, light, sound, proportion, and smell—how they influence us, our heart rate, brain function, and body temperature.
In conclusion, the spaces we inhabit have a profound and often unseen influence on our behaviour, emotions, and overall well-being. From Florence Nightingale’s early observations to modern studies using neuroimaging, evidence consistently shows how elements like light, colour, proportion, and natural views can impact us physically and emotionally. By understanding and intentionally designing our environments, we can create spaces that not only meet functional needs but also inspire joy, productivity, and a deeper connection to the world around us.
In the Following articles, we explore the topic: The Invisible Impact of Interior Space on the Behaviour of People. Where we unpack it in 3 more articles.
Information Reference Index:
Impact of Nature on Recovery.
The Role of Colour in Healing Environments.
The Architecture of Democracy.
Historical Perspectives on Healing Spaces.
The Neurobiology of Joy
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