Bad Architecture produces same feeling in the picture shown. Sadness, depression, stress, all these are negative emotion that affects us. Of course in reality this will not happen every day. But our experience of negative environment in unappealing and boring architecture is alarming. These could be the places where we go eat, sleep, where we work or even our own room. Some people may not feel good, uncomfortable and emotionally affected inside these spaces.

Unfortunately, most of us got used to it. Probably because we are busy or might think that beauty is not essential in our life. And other people say that it’s just for decoration: unimportant and useless. But how about those jewelries and accessories in our outfits? Have you not questioned the purpose of these things? Those beautiful and favorite clothes you wear? That summer vacation in Samal Island that you planned for a long time for your family and spend money just to be on that place?

Emotionally unhealthy Architecture

Can you imagine the effects to people living in a dull environment? The worst thing is to live on these places for a long time and accept that it’s normal. The accumulation of these things in a long run can lead to mental, behavioral and health problems. Almost every day we experience these aesthetically unappealing architecture. It’s out of our control and difficult to manage. In some places architectural aesthetics are not openly acknowledged by the city. They prefer practical solutions than giving attention to beauty and designs. Money, economy, family status these are just some of the factors that they consider. This is because of course putting priority on food and medicine. These are physical needs, but how about emotional needs? One of the common reasons that we mostly hear in promoting architectural aesthetic is the accepted impression that beauty is only for pleasure, luxury, and practicaly irrelevant. This is why it became less a priority in some places in the world. The result, built environments are slowly becoming generic, over-abused and duplicated.

According to scientific studies, the spaces where we are in truly affects us. They are now able to measure the neuro-scientific and physiological benefits when user is experiencing beauty that contributes to our well-being and healing. The individual aesthetic enjoyment can be investigated using brain imaging experiments. Surroundings influences our thoughts, feelings and our health. Unmanageable negative environment will lead to stress and if aggravated, even thoughts of death or suicide. On the whole, mentally and emotionally suffering inhabitants, are products of a miserable society.

Benefits of beautiful Architecture

1. Architectural aesthetic provides mediation

This is your brain on Beautiful Architecture. This article written by Becky Chung said that beautiful architecture can provide deeper moments of personal reflection according to fMRI study as shown in the picture. This means that by contemplating to beautiful architecture is like a meditation. Looking thoughtfully to form, shape and decorations of building for a long time gives us a good feeling and induces emotional reflection. It brings us to a point where we achieve an emotionally calm state and to be mentally clear. Many doctors are actually promoting meditation as a part of their medication as this reduces stress, depression and anxiety.

2. Architectural aesthetic is therapeutic

In some places like hospital, they include different types of therapy. By comparing patients in a hospital, one window view is a brick wall and other view is a grove trees. Roger S. Ulrich published this study entitled “View through a window may influence recovery from surgery”. The patient who has experienced nature view gets a shorter recovery period and had positive evaluation from nurses (http://chrisbrownstudios.com/the-benefits-of-beautiful-design/). Beautiful architecture provides healing through the work of our senses, brain and heart connection. Studies shows that brain and heart works together in producing emotion. The information is collected by our brain which is produced by our senses that affects our body.

Providing beautiful experience for ourselves is beyond luxury. It is inner healing. So have that time to enjoy beautiful places like visiting Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum by Frank Lloyd Wright. Go out and have some coffee, sit on a soft couch with the perfect lighting and beautiful interior paired with alluring smell of your favorite double shot espresso. Or have some trip in calming resorts to unwind while enjoying the sunset at the beach.

3. Beautiful architecture can turn into profit and wonderful memories

Concepts like architectural phenomenology design is a strategy that intends to promote a unique experience of the phenomena of space, light and form that impacts human senses that is studiously applied by conscious architects. Through this, our spatial experience becomes a memorable encounter. When building becomes brilliant it will be loved and remembered by people. Remarkable architecture can be appreciated and noticed by different group or individuals. The best thing could happen is when it becomes iconic. This becomes a tourist destination. Eventually creating business opportunity that will provide jobs in the future.

How can I help to restore the value of beauty in architecture?

1. Start from our self - It’s all up to us and it’s our choice. If we want to continue to experience these emotionally unhealthy spaces. If we have this pure concern, interest, willingness and empathy of changing the old world we live in and uplift the emotions of humanity. Everything will be easy, not forced, no bias.

2. Understanding the law of vibration - according to scientific studies everything in our universe is energy and is explained all in science, through Quantum Physics. Emotions that we feel like appreciation, excitement and happiness are high vibrational frequencies according to this article. When we go deeper on sub-atomic level, matter do not exist, it’s a pure energy or what they call, Unified Field or The Matrix. Everything vibrates and moves in the universe, nothing rests. Remember that humans are made of cells, that are made of atoms, and made of particles and these particles are only vibrating energy. Each atom is a probability of a wave and what we call physical matter is made up of empty space. (Source)

3. Realize the value and importance of beauty - By knowing the mental, physical and emotional benefits and how our aesthetic enjoyment and neurology works in contributing a better and positive life. Then you have that drive to pursue to change the old beliefs that “beauty is nonsense”.

4. Look for the right professionals - There’s no other professional that is knowledgeable in space planning and aesthetic design that studies the relationship between human and spaces than Architects and Designers. They are the only ones who can do such things. Designing building or spaces is not an overnight activity. Architects and designers spend a lot of time in creative contemplation and thinking of innovation to make your home or structures functional, strong and beautiful. This what we are paying for, their creativity. They translate it to plans then build for us to live better. Architects and designers not only draws and gives creative ideas, but they offer practical solutions

5. Let them work for you - After hiring the right professional, let them do the work. Clients will undergo interview by an architect, she will ask your current needs, wants and future plans. After the interview, the architect will do studies which includes space analysis and planning, aesthetic design, structural and utility studies. But this will not only run once, it will take days and even months usually for big projects to come up with a final result.

6. Listen to their advice - Architects will present these to clients and explain the concept of the proposal to you. Let them explain first, ask later and listen to what they say. Take note that your building will be your home for the rest of your life. They design your home according to your lifestyle and needs which reflects you.