Psychology of where we live
Wellness-aware architecture
The importance of bringing nature back to the heart of how we live is a trend that reaches far beyond Gallura – Costa Smeralda: currently, the neuro-architecture of wellness is a lively topic that is debated more than ever among experts in the sector.
It would be an understatement to call it merely ‘fashionable’. We prefer ‘trend’ or ‘generic’. Well-being design is essential, an increasingly urgent necessity. While the world around us continues to change, more than ever the challenge for us and our colleagues is to find a new path of harmony between man and nature, a mutual exchange that enriches both parties. To understand the significance of these issues, think back to Glasgow’s COP26 slogan, ‘Build Better Now’. Alternatively, take a look at the ‘green’ thread which connects the most iconic and prestigious works of internationally renowned architectural stars such as Kengo Kuma, Renzo Piano, Stefano Boeri, Mario Cucinella, Cino Zucchi, BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), amongst others.
‘The heathy relationship with things (…) is often experienced in a confused way’, says David Palterer, Israeli designer and professor at Milan Polytechnic. ‘The relationship with these issues is often with regard to advertising consumption. Instead, there should be respect for, rather than submission to, nature, together with a return to the culture of beauty which was so dear to the ancient Romans. And a great deal of good sense when it comes to constructing buildings that should be the correct height for the air, the light and the aesthetics of a city. In addition, indoor spaces that interact with the outdoors and a return to the use of unprofitable technology that is snubbed because it doesn’t sell.
Having a connection with time and with our surroundings makes our home a pleasure to live in, and the beauty of its objects are a joy for our eyes. Take, for example, the bathroom and kitchen. Increasingly today, they are places that give us pleasure. (…). Items that are a pleasure to use, made from biodegradable and recyclable materials. These rooms have once again become places where the most important acts of our life take place.’
Our home is a place that is hugely significant psychologically: a space where we rediscover ourselves and the beauty of our natural environment. Our home is actually the nest in which we nurture our mental, physical and psychological well-being.
The empathic relationship between man, his home and nature has been studied at length by ANFA (Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture) resulting in the definition of what is now known as ‘environmental psychology’, a discipline that guides us at Ecos in the implementation of all our projects.