on human reactions. This helps create more
efficient and user-friendly environments.
Environmental psychology in architecture
studies how architectural design impacts human
behavior and well-being. This connection is
exemplified by Christopher Alexander, an
influential architect, who emphasizes the
importance of psychology in his book "A Pattern
Language," highlighting the need to design
spaces that align with human desires and actions,
(Alexander, 1977). He advocates for the creation
of places that are proportionate to human size,
usage patterns, and cultural context. Kevin
Lynch, a prominent author, contributed to the
field of urban design with his book "The Image
of the City," which explores how people perceive
and navigate metropolitan landscapes. Lynch
identified five key elements: pathways,
boundaries, districts, nodes, and landmarks,
which are essential to individuals' mental maps
of cities. His work underscores the importance of
coherence and legibility in urban design, which
can enhance people's sense of direction and place
identification, (Lynch, 1964). Jan Gehl, a Danish
architect, and urban designer, is renowned for
advocating people-centered design principles.
His research emphasizes the significance of
designing cities and public spaces prioritizing
human experience, social engagement, and
pedestrian activity. Gehl's contributions have
globally impacted urban planning techniques,
promoting walkability, safety, and accessibility
in urban contexts, (Gehl, 2011). Donald Norman,
a prominent cognitive psychologist and usability
specialist, has integrated psychological concepts
into the design of everyday objects and
environments, including architecture. Norman's
insights into human-centered design have broad
applications in architectural practice,
emphasizing the significance of user-friendly
settings that enable intuitive interaction and
navigation, (Norman, D.A., 2013). Bill Hillier
and Julianne Hanson are renowned for their
contributions to space syntax, a theory, and
method for analyzing spatial arrangements and
their impact on human behavior. Their research
examines how spatial configurations influence
mobility patterns, social interaction, and
accessibility in built environments, (Hillier,
1989). Space syntactic analysis is a valuable tool
for architectural design, urban planning, and
environmental psychology, informing decisions
on building layouts, road networks, and public
spaces. Kurt Lewin is widely recognized as the
pioneer of environmental psychology, a field that
emphasizes the importance of understanding how
individuals interact with their surroundings. He
coined the term "life space" to refer to an
individual's psychological environment,
encompassing their perceptions and experiences,
(Lewin et al., 2014). Environmental psychology
is crucial for understanding how people behave,
think, and feel in different settings. This field
offers insights into designing spaces that promote
health, well-being, and productivity. Roger
Barker's work in ecological psychology focused
on studying behavior in its natural context. He
developed the concept of "behavior settings," the
environments in which specific behaviors occur,
(Barker, 1989). Barker also highlighted the
reciprocal relationship between individuals and
their environments. His work on the "urban
overload hypothesis" suggested that dense urban
environments can lead to stress and sensory
overload, ultimately affecting behavior and well-
being. Roger Ulrich, a Professor of Architecture
at the Center for Healthcare Building Research at
Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden,
conducted a study titled "View through a window
may influence recovery from surgery," which has
been cited over 6700 times, (Ulrich, 1984). The
study found that patients with a window view of
a natural setting had shorter postoperative
hospital stays and fewer complications. This
research has been cited and replicated numerous
times, offering valuable insights into how design
decisions shape the human experience of built
environments.
Belonging to the Place and Symbolism in
Architecture
The concept of belonging to a place is a deep
emotional connection that individuals establish
with a specific location where they feel
comfortable and safe. The process of developing
knowledge and respect for a particular location
can transform it from a meaningless space to one
that holds deep and enduring significance. This
process of belonging pertains to an individual's
or group's profound emotional attachment to
their surroundings, an attachment that transcends
the sum of its components. Place belonging,
therefore, represents a unique connection
between an individual or a group and a location,
one that varies based on the geographical level,
degree of specificity, and social or physical
aspects of the area. This connection manifests
itself in different psychological processes,
emotions, and cognition, and is an integral part
of our existence that contributes to our sense of
identity and purpose (Allen et al., 2021), (Figure
1).