The Influence of the Built Environment on Mental Wellbeing

Research area 05 of 12 · Project E

The fabric of the settlement that the individual dwells in is constructed at multiple scales: building, block (street), neighbourhood (road), community (road) and region (highway). These scales superimpose at the point of experience, creating an immense amount of sensory overload if not planned carefully. A deep understanding of different individuals might allow the exploration of different methods of classifying experiences and analysing the assemblage to propose appropriate methods of planning. Bringing a change at each individual layer will require cognizance of the interactions of humans and the environment at every scale. A thorough assessment of each element in the settlement, the various scales of execution of the element and its influence on the human psyche can help build the foundation to the major questions architects and planners are asking today.

Focus

The spatial contents of different kinds of settlements and the influence of each on the user/interactor psyche.
The heterogeneity of places across different settlement typologies and its inter-influential relationship with the user.

Aims

To classify and organise the studies and resulting theories on the relationship between mental health and settlement design and planning.
To understand the relationship between the different characteristics of the Urban/ Rural fabric and its ramifications on neurological processes.
To devise a method of classification of human beings (considering all psychological factors) to make it possible to classify humans into various experience groups.
To classify the various characteristics and identify the ones that might negatively influence individuals, societies, neighbourhoods and communities.
To identify and classify the psychological impacts of planning and design on dwellers.

Keywords

sensorial-perceptual-cognitive arousal
emotional response
urban and rural geometries
mental health and architecture
depression
spatial experience
spatial emotions
design psychology
enactivism
socio-petal and socio-fugal spaces

Contributors: Neha Jain, Sparsh Patlan, Nivedha Jawahar

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