Publication: 99acres, 9th March 2021
An architectural plan can affect your mental and physical wellbeing that eventually has long-term implications. Given the concerns around the spread of the COVID-19 virus and the need to stay in isolation, the market is witnessing an increased demand for designs that focus on the resident’s physical and mental wellness.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to the imposition of several quarantine and isolation measures for the foreseeable future. Although these initiatives are necessary to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, these have caused adverse mental health effects. The growing concerns around the new Coronavirus strain and the associated mental health toll has given birth to the question: How to design a building that helps uplift the mood of the resident?
What is the link between architecture designs and staying healthy?
Feeling stable and functioning well are two primary elements of having a healthy body and mind. The signs of a positive mind are happiness and engagement. A positive mind helps you develop healthy relationships and a sense of confidence that allows you to function well in life.
Aesthetically built environments can play a significant role in keeping you happy and fit. A calm environment releases certain chemicals in the brain that helps us relax. Thus, surroundings impact you in more ways than you can ever assume. This link between architecture and mental health is called neuro-architecture, and this concept has been in trend for a while now.
Let us check some latest architectural trends working in this direction.
Nature-friendly
Nature and your brain are profoundly connected. Your contact with nature acts as a mental balm. It alleviates stress and boosts memory. Besides, it helps you to stay fit. These days, the designers are emphasising on the need for adequate ventilation and open areas with indoor plantations. As a result, the trend of elaborate terrace gardens with diverse landscaping is fast picking up pace.
Using well-maintained plants and tactile home designing materials, such as wood and natural fibres to create a green ambience is yet another trend that architects tend to follow.
Minimalism
Minimalist style refers to a mess-free lifestyle. Disoriented homes can stimulate the release of cortisol hormone, which makes you feel stressed.
Staying in a cluttered setting drains a person’s energy and negatively strikes the mood. Hence, minimalism is the new trend that is significantly gaining prominence, especially among millennials.
Appealing aura
Architects are choosing natural materials, earthy colours, and stunning sceneries to enhance mental wellbeing. They likewise make sure that spaces do not look confined, empty, and uninviting.
Creating large windows and outdoor terraces to promote natural lighting can promote a peaceful and relaxing aura for dwellers. Further, the use of specialised lights that are warmer in perception help reduce the stress on the eyes. Using proper lighting fixtures can further help in improving the sleeping pattern and productivity of homeowners.
Active environment
Physical activity undoubtedly helps get rid of various chronic conditions and diseases. Indoor exercises are no less effective in keeping you fit. A housing complex that accommodates physical activity amenities, such as a workout centre, swimming pool, or tennis court sport, has become the new normal. New building design plans further promote staircase usage by fragmenting the facilities over different floor levels.
