Human Response to Physical Structure (Research Paper Sample)

Human Response to Physical Structure
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Human Response to Physical Structure
The environment of an individual either in the commercial sector or in their residential areas can influence their moods, behavior and health. The design of a structure within an individual’s environment can stimulate both physiological of psychological reaction towards the environment. Architects in the current world are working hand in hand with researches in the field of psychology so as to design suitable structures that can be accepted by people and fit into the function that they are designed to do. The need for commercial sector to maximize on profits and minimize costs are some of the key reasons that have made the human psychological study in relation to the environment a basic factor before designing a building. There are several ways in which structures influence physiological and psychological reactions from individuals. The paper will focus in analyzing some of the reactions in relation to the commercial and residential structures.
The windows, doors and space can trigger a reaction from an individual either with their awareness o lack of their awareness. For instance, the arrangement of foodstuff in a fast food shop can influence and individual. Bread can be located on the shelves far away from the entrance and near the entrance sweets and other small snacks can be located there. In this manner the individual can be influenced to buy the sweets although their initial decision was to purchase a loaf of bread. This is one of the ways that environmental design in the commercial sector triggers a reaction from the individual. Doors and windows influence the amount of light entering a room. Light has influence on the mood of an individual. Patients who are in a room that allows in light recover faster than those who are in rooms with little amount of light. People working in a place with less amount of light are likely to be less productive and lack motivation compared to those who do similar work in an environment with plenty of light. A room that contains too many items triggers so many simulations which can result to stress levels in an individual. An open office with several occupants results to an increase in stress levels among the individuals from the simulations of overcrowding. An office with a lot of privacy results to a stress free environment. Individuals can interact freely with the other employees and privacy decreases the need for seclusion. It helps avoid the crowding which is usually associated with unhealthiness, criminal activities and poor social interaction CITATION Smi02 \l 1033 (Smith & Bugni, 2002).
Personal space have also been found to stimulate reactions from individuals in the residential and the commercial sector. Increase in human density should be taken into consideration by archi...