Why

architecture can protect health

A three-element interplay defines our mental wellbeing: relationships with other people, our biography, and the physical environment within which all this occurs. How does architecture influence our mind state? We feel good if social interactions develop in places suitable for human activities. So, to understand how to promote individual and collective mental health, we must focus on the emotional expectations triggered by personal decisions, and the neurobiological mechanisms of the human brain.

tuning architecture by davide Ruzzon
tuning architecture by davide Ruzzon

Four factors correlated to architectural design

1/ Neurobiological Stress is related to cardiovascular diseases, cellular oxidative processes, and cancer. An urban and architectural design sensory frozen also fosters neurodegenerative processes in the hippocampus.

2/ Psychological A proper urban settlement with emotionally enriched architecture decreases anxiety, depression, imbalance, loneliness, and boredom.

3/ Social A neglected spatial configuration produces fear and anger, two primordial human emotions fueling weak or negative pro-social behaviors, reducing collaborative exchange and increasing mutual distrust.

4/ Physical A suitable environment decreases stress, mitigating the risk of metabolic syndrome, namely the set of certain diseases such as heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, arterial hypertension, low levels of HDL, and fat.