PERCEPTION AND EMOTIONS IN THE BUILT SPACE: DESIGN OF HEALTHCARE SPACES BASED ON SALUTOGENESIS CONCEPTS

In this blog post, we will continue discussing ENERO Arquitectura’s areas of expertise that are applied to all of our healthcare architecture projects. This time we will focus on salutogenesis and its relationship to emotions and the perception of built space.

Salutogenesis is the theory introduced in the 1970s by the academic and sociologist Aaron Antonovsky that focuses on the factors that promote the health and wellbeing of patients, rather than the causes of disease.

The term salutogenesis defines a discipline that focuses its study on the origin of health and the so-called assets for health, as a complement to the pathogenic approach that looks at the origins of disease and its risk factors. Our architecture stimulates those abilities that enable us to deal with situations in a positive way.

When designing healthcare architecture, we apply the theory of salutogenesis by creating environments that promote recovery, reduce stress and improve the quality of life for patients and staff. We study behaviours and emotions in order to use them as another way of communicating with people through the built space, generating a path of transformation and healing.

There are several design strategies that we apply to achieve a salutogenic architecture. The introduction of natural light and the treatment of spaces on an intimate scale have been shown to aid recovery. At ENERO Arquitectura we place special emphasis on the development of privacy spheres, meeting and recreation areas that allow patients to adjust their social interaction throughout their recovery.

Another essential factor in designing architecture for wellbeing is the introduction of natural environments. Introducing nature into healthcare spaces with plant life brings calm and tranquillity, positively affecting patients’ recovery.

Taking the opportunity to talk about salutogenic architecture, we had the pleasure of having a conversation with architect Carolina López.

We asked Carolina about how built space and its humanisation influences the wellbeing of the people who occupy it.

Question: What role do you think the architect has in influencing people’s wellbeing?

All human action takes place in a built space, whether by nature or by humans. In nature, it is difficult to find spaces that distress us because biologically we originate from there. However, in spaces made by people, this does not automatically happen.

I believe that architects have the responsibility to create spaces to serve people in order to make our lives more pleasant, contributing in some way to our wellbeing.

Espacios interiores en el Centro Médico Olympia. ENERO Arquitectura. Fotografía Jorge Allende.

Question: How, then, can you contribute to this wellbeing through the built space?

If we want to approach a project from that point of view, we need to understand how we function as human beings and what mechanisms are inherent to the human condition that generate feelings. If we can understand how our nervous system works, how we relate to our environment and how we feel, we will have the tools to design with the intention of contributing to wellbeing.

Question: What resources does architecture have in terms of materials and textures to design from this point of view?

Curiously, and continuing on from the previous answer, when we design along these lines, there are no established patterns or norms regarding specific materials or textures. We build according to the sensitivities of the group of people for whom the space is being designed. There is no written manual, but there is a step prior to the selection of materials, which consists of understanding what mechanisms the human being has to perceive space or materials. The materials themselves do not have this intrinsic capability.

Fotografía exterior del Hospital Quirónsalud Badalona. ENERO Arquitectura. Fotografía Jorge Allende.

Question: Will perception, then, be the determining factor in the design of healthcare spaces for wellbeing?

To be very simplistic, we could say that it is one of the most influential factors. It is clear that architecture can aid in wellbeing, but it is not the only piece. Perception, after all, is what conditions our reality. If we know what the influencing factors are, we can then understand and address those needs.

Question: What factors do you mean?

Perception is made up of three elements that are worth commenting on.

On one hand, there is the mind, like your thoughts, your values, your beliefs and your experiences. Then there are sensations and emotions, which, curiously enough, occur in the present, in the same space where we inhabit architecture.

It is these three elements that shape the perception of space and, likewise, it will be what generates a certain feeling in you. So, it is not a particular material that gives you a particular feeling, but the perception you have of it. That is why the same space can be perceived differently depending on the background, age or mood of the person.

Question: How can emotions and sensations be part of the design process?

Emotions are biological mechanisms that activate certain internal functions in the body and which in turn activate external behaviours, sensations.

If we know what emotions activate our sympathetic nervous system and observe their associated behaviour, we can help trigger our parasympathetic nervous system by means of external stimuli. This is responsible for our sense of wellbeing.

Question: How do you explain, then, that there are spaces that convey calm and others that do not?

As I said, the space itself does not transmit calm, but what you perceive generates an emotion of calm and the sensations associated with it. For example, you might feel your muscles relax and then also observe in your mind that the movement of your thoughts also eases. This is due to our resonant system of mirror neurons. With them we can embody actions, sensations or emotions that we observe in others. This group of neurons allows us to imitate and mimic. This theory was expressed by the Italian neurobiologist Giacomo Rizzolatti in 1996.

Question: Can you share a final thought?

If we want to move towards an architecture that serves people, we must think about the group that is going to occupy that space and what needs their emotions are trying to communicate to us and what activities are going to occur in that space.

We will need to stop and observe these emotions and physical sensations in order to translate them into architectural design and therefore have a positive impact on our wellbeing.