Effects of human behavior on contemporary architecture design - Essay Example

Effects of human behavior on contemporary architecture design A structure gains meaning through the way its design relate to the contextual surroundings and the human beings who inhabit it. Architectural design of such structures is ideological. The current trends in social positions and ideals are essential in defining the design that suits human needs. Society values, needs and goals calls for satisfaction in every architectural design (Murphy 137). These designs should not only provide for society as a whole but also to the individual level. On individuals’ level, these designs must provide for the basic needs and define their place in society. Human beings in their natural way interact with the physical environment. They shape the environment to suit their needs. Human beings are always under conditions of uncertainty. They have unlimited needs that require to be satisfied for their survival. It is the unique nature for humans to have a sense of place (Newman and Douglas 72). The idea of place can be based on the built entity and the component of social order. This creates a need to possess a certain territory. The territory should provide comfort and shelter. Shelter is a basic need of human beings and an important factor in architectural design. At this level people seek out housing that fits their requirement, and will prefer to work in locations that reflect their ideals of social status. Individuals have a great deal of influence on modern architectural design in the manner they behave, interact and control space. Their safety and security connects to personal feelings and space that they inhabit. These feelings bear a great deal of influence on how design solutions appear relative to the surrounding society. Cultural traits are those characteristics that define culture and sub-culture. They are the human norms that govern actions, the view of the world and approach of human behaviors (Newman and Douglas 72). The most common trait definitions are cultural values, roles and norms. Cultural values call for an architectural design that is relevant to the cultural norms. A successful facility must provide aesthetic and functional significance to the society. Response to the human element is the common denominator through all architectural design. Personal self-worth is a requirement that stems for awareness. Thus, there must be a positive design that stimulates people's contribution to their tasks and activities. Self-worth generates friendship formation. This is because human beings are naturally social beings. People who share a common goal or interest are friends. This is because they create a like-minded persons group. This state of co-existence as friends has resulted to designs that will respond to the needs of social existence. Modern architectural design must address the way of interaction and proximity. Human behavior indicates that proximity plays a major role in the interaction. This is because friends always wish to be close to each other. According to Murphy (135), designs must offer an opportunity for spontaneous and unplanned interaction. For example, design elements take the form of widened corridors with sitting areas, cafeterias for privacy and meeting zones throughout a facility. The need for personal space is another factor that influences architectural design. Personal space relates to the public and social zones where they can share comfortably a common area. No matter how near a person is to another personal space exists until when there is physical contact. The advancements in many of the modern design are due to consideration of personal and public spatial allowances (Anderson 30). This is to give functional and comfortable spaces of living and working. For example, office designs have to consider the social and individual distances to allow individuality. This also calls for recognizing that businesses need to maximize the use of the floor area. Cafeterias, churches and restaurants have to balance these considerations in an effort to accommodate the highest number people within the efficient floor areas. Personal status plays a major role in contemporary design. It’s evident that individuals affirm their social status by their worth or their power in leadership. The need for glory or to be in a different league in terms of capital results to different forms of architectural designs. Money is a major determining tool in a structure to be set out. Newman and Douglas assert that architectural designs on all levels from homes, churches, offices and recreational facilities evoke personal status (125). In the current market place, corporate supremacy get defined by massive buildings and scenic towers erected. Large area of floor space and fascinating designs are items of corporate status. Thus, the inherent ideology of corporations must be respected, and on the mandate of hierarchy. This requires the design resolution to be able to capture and properly reflect the status of employees and visitors of the facility. The need to possess an individual or group territory has a remarkable influence on current designs. Territory is the zone between ownership and responsibility for personal or group space. Occupants of a certain space typically claim that space as their territory. Territory is a social distinction based on recognized norms and roles within private and public environment. Private territory refers to the immediate personal space that we inhabit. Group territory, on the other hand, relates to the shared structures and spaces by persons of like-minds. They may be an individual building such as a church, office, playground or school in public areas. The major responsibility of group territory falls on the assembly of people who claim that an area is their own. This results to architectural designs that best suits the needs of territory holders. The way wish to mark their zone and style used influences design. In the current, world territories have led to the advancement in real estate sector which relies majorly on architectural designs (Anderson 56). According to Cattermole (95), personal beliefs and the way people perform their tasks influences modern architectural designs greatly. This leads them to finding their way in building facilities and other architectural sector. Peoples’ visual and non-visual aesthetics gives an idea on the kind of design that is attractive and satisfying to the eye. Human beings majorly incline on the visual attraction created by a certain design. For this reason, the use of glasses in modern constructions is very high. This can be attributed to the need for human beings to develop structures that are eye-catching even from a distance. Crowding in human beings leads to competition for survival. The uncontrolled crowding is what causes the major concern. This calls for the protection of ethnic and social constellations and respect for self-defined boundaries or spatial arrangements (Anderson 90).This is an indispensable condition for human wellbeing and cooperation. High population links to enhanced susceptibility to diseases. People have different resistance in these high population threats. Those who are less adapted seek other geographical areas that are conducive to them. Venturing new geographical areas means development of new designs. To ease the effect of high population, it calls for utilization of aerial space rather than depending on ground space alone. These results to designs that cater for available aerial space; thus minimizing usage of land. Sports and other recreational activities also influence contemporary architectural designs. In current times, sporting activities have a high impact on society. This has resulted to the need to have facilities that can hold large numbers of fanatics. The facilities include stadiums and hotels and other social amenities. These facilities require a high level of designing skills. It is real that the world is a new environment; there must be a response to new technology, materials, modern ways of living and thinking. Thus, the new designs in social amenities are as a result of changing trends. The need for private and protected communication plays a major role in the design. People require opportunities for sharing confidences and intimacies with their trusted ones (Deasy and Thomas 164). There is also the need for boundaries of mental distance, in the interpersonal situations that range from most intimate to the most formal. These personal requirements influence the architectural design that best suits the needs. Finally, it is evident that, the evolutionary nature of human beings results to the evolution of architectural designs. Works cited Anderson, Jane. Architectural design. Lausanne: AVA Academia. 2011.Print. Cattermole ,Paul. Buildings for tomorrow: architecture that changed our world. Bath, UK: Overlook Press, 2007. Print Deasy, C.M., and Thomas E. Lasswell.Designing places for people: a handbook on human behavior for architects, designers, and facility managers. New York: Whitney Library of Design. 2002. Print Murphy, Michael D. Landscape architecture theory: an evolving body of thought. Long Grove, III.:Wavland Press Inc., 2005. Print Newman, David M., and Douglas A. Harper. Sociology: exploring the architecture of everyday life. 5th ed. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Pine Forge Press, 2004. Print Read More