How architecture makes us feel建筑设计对人心理健康的影响

　　How architecture makes us feel建筑设计对人心理健康的影响

　　More than half the world's population are city dwellers¹, and, by 2050, the United Nations predicts that seven in ten people will be. With that in mind, architects are having to consider how architecture influences our emotional wellbeing in urban settings.

　　According to Colin Ellard, a research psychologist at Waterloo University, Canada, there is a lot of evidence which shows "the profound impact that the design of buildings has on how we feel, how we treat one another, and our overall psychological well-being²". A study from the University of Heidelberg concluded that people raised in the countryside are less likely to have mental disorders³ than those raised in the city. The city of Vancouver in Canada, which is surrounded by mountains and ocean, recognises this need to connect with nature. It has included protecting ocean and mountain views in its urban planning guidelines. For example, tall buildings are erected⁴ in strategic locations that don't block scenic⁵ views for downtown residents.

　　The British designer Thomas Heatherwick wants to make architecture less soulless and boring. He told the Guardian⁶ newspaper, "We need to fearlessly demand interestingness… and make buildings that nourish our senses." He has written a new book, Humanise, where he lists seven characteristics of a boring building. These include being too flat and straight. He says lack of depth means light and shadow cannot play on surfaces, while straight lines are at odds⁷ with nature and make buildings monotonous⁸.

　　However, making buildings interesting is not always easy, as architect Rafael Vinoly found out in 2013 when he created the 37-storey skyscraper⁹ known as the Walkie Talkie in London. The building was admired for its curved exterior¹⁰ walls covered in reflective glass. However, it acted like a magnifying glass and reflected light which melted nearby cars and almost set fire to a carpet. A screen had to be added to prevent the building causing further damage.

　　So, for your own wellbeing, surround yourself with buildings that bring you joy, and ideally a view of nature.

　　词汇表

　　dweller 居民

　　architect 建筑师

　　architecture 建筑物

　　design 设计

　　urban planning 城市规划

　　erect 建造

　　strategic 有策略的，经过悉心规划的

　　downtown 市中心的

　　resident 居民

　　soulless 毫无生趣的

　　interestingness 有趣之处，趣味性

　　lack of depth 缺乏深度（此处指建筑表面缺乏起伏变化）surface （建筑的）表面

　　line 线条

　　monotonous 一成不变的，单调乏味的

　　storey 楼层

　　skyscraper 摩天大楼

　　curved 曲面的，有弧线的

　　exterior wall 建筑外墙

　　screen 隔挡，挡板

 

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