Architecture and Psychology – A Study of the Connection of Architectural Image with Urban Environment Perception

Abstract

The study inquires to what extent certain images of urban architecture can evoke attraction or repulsion, functional framing or engaging individuals, in relation to certain elements (vertical, horizontal, materials, style). An aim parallel but very important is to demonstrate a behavioral influence generated by architecture, assessing the awareness of behavioral influence through architecture.

We measured attachment and decision to visit architectural works, and tested the perception of concepts of architecture, manipulation, atmosphere removed from any practical context, through questions related to photographs and through questions related to concepts, the result being not only a percentage measurement of the impact of certain architectural elements (verticals, columns, horizontals, glass, gates) but also a vast array of words connected with a certain concept.

We proposed images of buildings such as the gate of the agora in Miletus, the Greek temple, the winning project in the RIBA competition for Iraqi Parliament, the National Museum of Romania, Casa Radio in Bucharest, CCTV in Beijing, or the Battersea power station, the London pumping station, Steven Hall's horizontal skyscraper, selected for particular functions, or particular design features.

The questionnaire was carried out after careful study of the literature, especially that related to visual culture, persuasion, totalitarianism and psychology of sustainability – that must involve transdisciplinary studies looking at the links between humans, power and the built environment, as well as aim to create well-being through architecture. The found association of architecture with actions of force is interesting, as well as that architecture becomes independent of place and creator, being a mark for the power of a culture. Respondents are in majority in favor of the importance of architecture in everyday life, although not assimilated with manipulative intentions, so we conclude that architectural producers (both designers and funders) have succeeded in creating an outstanding force within the visual culture. Architecture is seen as a collective creation rather than an authorial one and respondents do not correctly intuit the impact that the financial, technological and the niche specialization of architects and structural engineers has on architectural visual culture. Obstructing the correct understanding of architectural also makes its influence more effective where it is present.