Architectural Psychology and Biophilia in Healthcare FINAL - Flipbook - Page 4
Larger spaces with higher ceilings have also been found to foster abstract thinking.
White ceilings are almost universally preferred because the perceived room height
increases with the ceiling lightness (Oberfeld et al., 2010). On the other hand, smaller
spaces help narrow focus on specific objects or problems.
Where does this leave designers?
According to the findings, it depends on the task at hand. If we are trying to foster
relaxation, imagination and creativity, it would make sense to design large open spaces
with high ceilings and blue (cooler) color hues. If it’s alertness, attention, and specific
problem‐solving is important, designers might want to consider smaller spaces with
colors in the red (warmer) color hues.
Patterns Geometry and Landscapes:
In A Pattern Language (1977), Christopher Alexander said the following regarding the
built environment: “No pattern is an isolated entity. Each pattern can exist in the world
only to the extent that it is supported by other patterns: the larger pattern in which it
is embedded, the patterns of the same size that surround it, and the smaller patterns
which are embedded in it.”
Also, in the 70’s, Benoit Mandelbrot discovered a mathematical analog to Christopher
Alexander’s pattern language. As a mathematician working for IBM, he was studying
well‐known mathematical problems known as the ‘Julia Set.’ These were problems that
were self‐replicating with no apparent end. This led to a revolution in the mathematical
analysis of nature, known as fractal geometry.
In fractal geometry, the same pattern appears at every scale, creating a deep sense of
layering and is frequently found in nature. Fractal patterns are considered biophilic
since our experience of them theoretically connects us at a subconscious level to the
experience of nature.
Another pattern that has been attributed to deep psychological
imprinting is the “nine‐square” pattern and is well‐documented in
Donald H. Ruggle’s book, Beauty, Neuroscience, and Architecture
(2017). According to Ruggles, the nine‐square pattern organizes the
features of the human face and is imprinted in the mind of an
infant. He demonstrates how this pattern appears again and again
in the built environment.
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