ARCHITECTURAL PSYCHOLOGY

INTRODUCTION Architectural psychology is not merely about the physical characteristics and features of buildings, it is about perception and architecture in use. It means the way user interacts with space, how he uses different aspects and makes sense of or feels in an environment.

CLASSIFICATION In respect with architecture, psychology can be broadly divided into 3 parts: Colour Lighting

COLOUR - meaning and symbolism BLUE- calming, sedate, cooling. RED- increases enthusiasm, stimulates energy. GREEN- soothing, relaxing, self control. YELLOW- optimism, happiness, and energy. ORANGE- warmth, hunger, fun. WHITE- purity, cleanliness, and neutrality.

MODULATING THE SPACE: the light colour of an alcve is made softer and luminous by indirectly lit from above. This adds a dimension of airy spaciousness to this cosy little seating area. FOCUSING ATTENTION: the red and yellow accent colours of a display cabinet help in weaving together the collection of objects. HIGHLIGHTING SPACES: the lighter value of gold in the room beyond dominates while the darker gold value in the foreground recedes. this colour effect focus attention on the room beyond and makes it inviting.

LIGHTING BEHAVIOR OF LIGHTING Visibility of vertical and horizontal junctions aids orientation People follow the brightest path Brightness can focus attention Facing wall luminance is a preference Lighting can affect body position

FOCUSING Ambient lighting produced by wide beam light distribution facilitates perception and orientation in the horizontal plane. As direct or indirect lighting, it produces a directed or diffuse light to illuminate workplaces or traffic zones. EXTRA EFFECTS Accent light emphasizes individual objects or architectural elements using narrow beams of light. Bright points in dark surroundings attract attention. They separate the important from the unimportant, allowing individual objects to come to the fore. ILLUMINATION Wash lighting illuminates larger objects or spatial zones using wide beam light distribution. In contrast to accent light, it conveys a wide impression. ORIENTATION Orientation lighting improves perception by adding light points and lines, e.g. along pathways and on stairs. The light must function as a signal. Illuminating the room is of secondary importance here. CONCLUSION Architecture is basically constituted of the aesthetic, the engineering and the social aspects. The built environment which is made up of designed spaces and the activities of people are inter-related and inseparable. It is for us to understand this interrelationship and put it down appropriately on paper.