Author: Think Goat

‘THE ARCHITECTURE OF HAPPINESS’ SERIES DRAWING FROM ALAIN DE BOTTON: HOW BUILDINGS SHAPE YOUR MOOD?

One of my favourite philosophers, Alain de Botton, has written a book on ‘The Architecture of Happiness’. I remember listening to a live discussion at the Sydney Opera House on his conclusions of how architecture shapes our lives. It resonated with me on every awakened level. It is all about ‘identity’, ‘place’ and ‘meaning’ of our location. Architecture and place- making is more than bricks and mortar. 

The three foundational principles of Architecture, by renowned Roman architect, Vitruvius, over two thousand years ago, underpin architecture as the pinnacle of the arts, reflecting our highest selves and are expressions of a civilization and of its age.  

Principles one and two are ‘form’ and ‘function’ and go to structural fitness and spatial arrangements.  Principle three; ‘delight’ speaks to deeper human need for ‘meaning’, and esthetics experience of beauty which is given equal status of importance.  

Sir Winston Churchill well understood the significance of architecture and the arts in his speech in the House of Commons on October 28, 1943 about replacing the bombed-out House of Commons chamber. The full quote went on as follows:

“On the night of May 10, 1941, with one of the last bombs of the last serious raid, our House of Commons was destroyed by the violence of the enemy, and we have now to consider whether we should build it up again, and how, and when. We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us. Having dwelt and served for more than forty years in the late Chamber, and having derived very great pleasure and advantage therefrom, I, naturally, should like to see it restored in all essentials to its old form, convenience, and dignity.” Winston Churchill, London, 28 October 1943

Churchill understood the power of what a building means and, in this case a grand civic building, believed that a building was more than just a structure; it was a place of trust and shaped all who entered it and engaged with it.

Architecture is the vessel that houses our emotions, our relationships. our behaviors and the most important moments of our lives.  As a design professional, I’m acutely aware of the influence of the built environment and am personally deeply affected and made miserable in poorly designed buildings.  I have always believed that the spaces that we inhabit are mirrors of the occupiers’ character. 

Meaningful moments are reflected in artefacts from our lives, our travels, in objects we collect that mark significant life event and people that live on in the present in our spaces.  These precious things are purposefully placed in one’s dwelling connecting us to how individuals use a space and are framed by space. 

We are all affected by the spaces we routinely inhabit: our homes, our workspaces, our public spaces, and our streets and public spaces. In this time of COVID 19, I am reminded that the built environment becomes even more  important in our lives, as living spaces have become busines /office spaces, learning spaces and family space rolled into one.  The significance of how space and spatial form and arrangement have never been more relevant.

This is true for all people even if they are not consciously aware of it. Sensitive space planning within a well-designed building not only improves our living experience but contributes to learning in educational settings, healing in hospital settings and general wellbeing in domestic settings. 

Practical considerations of spatial requirements such as number of sleeping spaces, ablution spaces, entertaining and kitchen spaces, noise attenuation, shade etc. are important of course and serve to meet needs of form and function.  However, at a higher level of need, form making and spatial relations is important to meet the needs for ‘delight’.  

What I mean by this is the uplifting spatial experience that good architecture achieves well beyond the functional brief that speaks to deeper needs for beauty, surprise and ‘delight’.  

Elegant design is the art of crafting spatial composition using light, texture, colour and material form to shape dynamic enriching experiences for users of that space.  The play of light meeting surfaces, framing of views and outlooks, such as views of a neighbor’s tree canopy that create moment of delight at particular times of the day.  The experience of the gentle caress of warm rays of sunlight through a window in a protected corner and a particular view whilst moving through space at the end of a view line are part of the art of creating experiences, not just a space as a holder of objects and artefacts.  These are dynamic relationships which occupies inhabits. Courteous gestures in the built environment speak to inhabitants, in richness of finishes and colors, in the riser step height that doesn’t tax the frail and surprisingly well-lit spot to signal level changes or moving into new spaces or simply to surprise us.  These are subtle gestures in built form that are expressions of care and consideration as well as beauty that enrich lives.

The questions that occupy architects and we designers is how to interpret the occupiers’ behavior? How can we observe people in an environment and how this is essential to understand to design well?  How do we plan a space around one’s happiness? 

Architecture and design rasion d’etre is as Alain quips 

“ Architecture’s task is to stand as an eloquent reminder of our full potential …”. 

It has never more important to set up spaces that make people happy.