The term “architecture” has many different definitions depending on who you ask. For some, it is only referring to the design and structure of buildings, while others include the environment surrounding a building as well.

Regardless, what we can agree on is that architects are very influential people. They shape how other people think and behave by defining standards for good architecture and bad.

These norms are often built upon historical styles or theories about the importance of certain types of spaces in promoting wellness and productivity.

The way an architect designs their office space, for example, could motivate individuals coming into the room to do their best work. Or, they may influence how people interact with each other outside the workplace.

In this article, we will discuss eight ways that architectural style impacts human behavior. Some effects occur immediately, while others take longer to bear fruit. However, all of these traits have been proven to boost employee morale, improve communication, and promote more productive relationships.

History of architecture

Modern day buildings owe much of their shape, style, and structure to ancient architectural styles. Ancient cultures built incredible structures using very different construction methods and technology. These design concepts are now refined and incorporated into current building practices.

Architecture has been around for over 5,000 years, long enough to establish some fundamentals and patterns. Some trends remain popular to this day, while others become obsolete as technology advances.

The history of architecture is heavily influenced by politics and economics. Powerful people or groups often influence what kind of designs get completed and how.

This article will talk about five important historical styles of architecture and why they matter today.

#1 The Roman Empire: The Cityscape

Source: Pixabay

Powerful individuals or governments build cities that inspire awe and imitation. Rome is one such empire that left an impact beyond its borders.

A city within a city, the Imperial Palace in Rome was more than just a place where rulers lived. It served as a gathering spot for politicians, influencers, and intellectuals.

These outsiders came together to discuss political ideas, share knowledge, and create lasting cultural artifacts like sculptures and paintings.

As these discussions took place inside the palace, architects had free rein to use the space however they wanted. They shaped rooms and expanded existing spaces to promote interaction and discourse.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, urban planning slowly re-emerged as an individual profession.

What affects architecture?

Recent studies show that how you design an area of your life can have profound effects on your mental, emotional, and physical wellness.

Some research suggests that the type of environment you are in has a significant effect on how well you feel and perform. For example, people who work in open-plan offices tend to experience higher levels of stress than those with separate rooms or private offices.

Conversely, individuals with more privacy seem to enjoy their job less and achieve lower personal and professional success.

Architecture plays a large role in creating these environments so it’s important to think about the potential impacts.

Here are some tips for making sure your office is designed properly. Check out our article “8 Ways Having An Office Benefits You" for more benefits of having an office.

The environment

What kind of surroundings you live in can have a significant impact on your behavior and mental state. Your lifestyle choice determines how you feel about yourself and the world around you. For example, someone who lives in a busy area or with lots of people may feel more anxious or stressed out than someone who lives in a quieter neighborhood with little to do.

This effect is called environmental stress. It’s not necessarily good or bad depending on what you want from life, but it does make people uncomfortable which can influence their behaviors and emotions.

Architecture has an indirect effect on our emotional states by shaping how we perceive the space around us. This perception includes things like whether you believe there are enough resources available for spending time outside, as well as whether you think there are safe places to go if you need help.

Environmentally conscious buildings try to reduce impacts on the surrounding areas, particularly water and air. They use materials that are sustainable and energy-efficient, and they reduce waste through recycling and reusing.

The location

When you’re traveling, one of the first things to consider is where you want to stay. You might be thinking about how close it is to your destination or whether there are better hotels in that area, but another important factor is the architecture of the building.

Certain shapes influence people’s behavior. For example, research shows that rounded buildings make us feel happier than angular ones.

Why? It helps put yourself in the “us” position of the room. We subconsciously imagine ourselves as bigger around than we are tall. This feeling goes both ways — we think we’re smaller than we are.

There was a study conducted at Stanford University looking at the effect that environment has on test performance. They found that being in an open space made students feel more relaxed, thus helping them focus better while taking tests.

And what kind of environment do most colleges have these days? A square room with glass walls! Even if you don’t know anything about psychology, you can probably guess that doesn’t help anyone perform well.

So, when you’re choosing between two locations, find out which one makes you feel happier and healthier. And once you have, choose the happier one!

Architecture also impacts how often we go outside. If you look at a lot of large corporations, they will ask their employees whether they like their workplace.

The structure

What makes an area of a building feel comfortable or uncomfortable is determined not only by how well it lines up with your body, but also what parts of the architecture you subconsciously associate with things like safety, prestige, or relaxation.

Certain types of buildings – such as tall skyscrapers or beautiful villas – make people feel powerful because they perceive that there are many layers of security in place to protect them from threats or take advantage of them.

Other types of buildings can create feelings of insecurity or vulnerability, making people want to avoid public spaces completely.

Architecture has strong emotional effects on us, so it’s important to be aware of this when designing new facilities or updating old ones.

You could use this knowledge to ensure that your space creates calm, protective environments for staff and visitors, or expose limitations to help motivate employees.

Or you could choose strange, innovative shapes which provoke questions about who designed the space and why.

The materials

A well-designed space will influence how people behave in it. What kind of interior design you have will affect how others perceive your organization, what they consider to be important areas, and whether they feel comfortable being there.

Materialistic decorations such as glass or marble tables or walls are considered professional and sophisticated. These things make us think that someone paid special attention to this area, which makes us feel more respected.

On the other hand, using natural wood or plastic furniture is thought of as casual and friendly. People feel relaxed when they use spaces with natural textures and colors.

Both types of materialization can help create a sense of community, increase interaction, and strengthen relationships.

However, too much decoration may distract from the conversation or event taking place! Overly beautiful settings may also contribute to feelings of excessive importance and self-focus.

The shape

A well-designed building or area of land is shaped for a purpose – to motivate people to perform certain actions.

Think about it! This makes sense because you spend a lot of time in buildings, so they should be designed with your help.

Take a look around you — where do you work? What kind of room does your department have? Does it give you space to spread out and organize materials?

These are all important factors in how effective you will be as an employee. If these don’t exist, you may find yourself distracted by lack of space, or feeling like you can’t put away things properly.

This could hurt productivity and morale. And unfortunately, there are some major workplace renovations coming up (like those new meeting rooms!).

The best architects understand this and design spaces that inspire engagement, collaboration, and efficiency. Luckily, there are many ways to apply architectural theory to your own life.

The size

A large space can make you feel relaxed, like you have more room to move around or even to spend time in it. This is because spaces with lots of area make us feel comfortable.

Large open areas also give people a sense of calmness, which some may need after spending hours at work. Sometimes, just having some quiet time is what you want!

There are several reasons why designing buildings with big empty spaces is a great way to reduce stress. It may be due to the fact that there’s nothing else inside the building, so people get the feeling that they aren’t missing anything, or maybe because it makes them think about the emptiness of life.

It could be both – a spacious interior and an exterior full of windows and other openings.

Big empty spaces help create tranquility and relaxation, which many people need after working hard. Some people need this break every now and then.