Beware: use interior design at your own risk! (Research Findings Fridays)

We often talk about the benefits of interior design and well designed spaces. But if we stop to think about the negative effects of spaces that are not well designed, that's when we truly appreciate good interior design.

So for today's Research Findings Fridays, I'm going to do something a little different. Instead of a research paper, I would like to share a scary story about a sort of architectural experiment gone wrong....

It all started when I read this sentence from a book called Place Advantage by Sally Augustin:

"Environments in which the sensory experiences are consistent are viewed more positively by those who experience them..." p. 39.

This led me to think about what happens when sensory experiences in an environment are not consistent. When things don't make sense, the inevitable outcome is confusion. When we are confused, we are uncomfortable because as humans, we are constantly seeking to make sense of things and fit them into our existing schemas of how the world works. When we experience something that doesn't (known as 'incongruity' in psychology), we have to make it fit into our perceptions of how the world works; so we either adapt our views or we reject the situation.  If we can't do either, we are left perplexed and this can be harmful.  This idea then led me to think about this article I read a while ago:

"The Architecture of Madness: Buildings can drive you crazy, but can they help resort mental health?" by Phillip Nobel.

And here begins the scary story.  Part of the article discusses the negative psychological impact of the Boston Government Service Center (BGSC), designed by Paul Rudolf.  It is a famous example of how architecture can confuse, agitate, and sometimes fatally overwhelm.

BGSC via Flickr

Oh gosh, you must be asking yourself - What!? Why? How?!  Rudolf believed that buildings and spaces should sometimes rise above mere function - above all, they should instead strive to bring out emotions. The BGSC sure did - especially in its Lindemann Mental Health Center.  Rudolf created a space overwhelmed by bush-hammered concrete on every surface with a curvy, labyrinth feel in order to express or mirror the mental state of the patients inside.  Basically, it seems he used this building to selfishly project his own romanticized view of mental illness. To me, it seems like more of an art project than anything else, at the expense of real people. Needless to say, spiral staircases that lead nowhere, eerie passages with no end, subliminal imagery and a creepy, dismal chapel that looks like it was meant for human sacrifice are not encouraging for anyone, especially not the mentally ill.  There have been lots of accounts of patient disorientation, onset of kinaesthetic disorders and even suicide.  It's like a freakin' nightmare this building, and not appropriate for the treatment of those suffering from mental illness.  Even those working there at the time claim that this building was physically and psychologically damaging.  I'm not sure what has come of this building now.  It's definitely still there and sort of neglected.  I certainly hope that they are not treating patients there anymore... actually does anyone know?

BGSC via Flickr

If we believe that architecture and space planning can affect people in a positive way, we must also believe that it can affect people in a negative way, especially if the context is wrong.  The Lindemann Center and the BGSC is an extreme example of the negative effects of creating an inappropriate space for the people who are supposed to be using it.

BGSC via Style Park

BGSC via Style Park

And that's the end of the scary story folks.

When things don't make sense, we can either adapt our perceptions and consequently our behaviour, but the outcome may not always be good.  In the case of some of the patients at the Lindemann centre, they didn't have much of a choice than to give in to the subconscious pressures of their surroundings.  That's why it is crucial to create environments that make sense to those who inhabit them.  If all the sensory information matches up, and everything is in line with our perceptions and mental schemas, then we have achieved harmony.  The goal of any interior designer is to help those who inhabit a space achieve that harmony based on their own individual schemas, perceptions and sensory associations.

Have you ever been in a space that makes you uncomfortable?  Can you remember why you felt that way?  Do you think there was something about the design or layout of the space that was responsible?

On that note, try to have a good weekend, eh? Appreciate the environments that make you feel safe, comfortable, productive and confident.  If you need help with that, you know where to reach me ;)