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The Relationship Between Building Design and Mental Wellbeing

Abstract

The built environment can influence occupants' psychological experiences, emotional responses, and overall mental wellbeing. People spend a substantial amount of time within buildings, making architectural design an important factor in creating environments that support comfort, relaxation, concentration, and positive social interaction. Building characteristics such as natural light, ventilation, spatial organization, visual connection with nature, acoustic conditions, privacy, and material selection can shape how occupants perceive and experience interior spaces. Understanding the relationship between building design and mental wellbeing is therefore increasingly important in contemporary architectural practice. This study examines the relationship between building design and mental wellbeing by assessing how selected architectural characteristics influence occupants' psychological experiences. The study considers factors including spatial configuration, access to natural daylight, indoor environmental quality, views, greenery, colour, materials, privacy, and opportunities for social interaction. It explores how these characteristics may contribute to feelings of comfort, calmness, safety, belonging, and satisfaction within different building environments. Particular attention is given to the role of natural environmental features in supporting positive psychological experiences. Access to daylight, natural ventilation, outdoor views, vegetation, courtyards, balconies, and other forms of connection with nature can influence occupants' perception of indoor environments. The study examines how biophilic design principles and exposure to natural elements can be incorporated into building layouts to create spaces that support relaxation and reduce environmental stressors. Spatial organization and user control are also considered important dimensions of mental wellbeing. Buildings that provide appropriate levels of privacy, personal space, intuitive circulation, quiet areas, and opportunities for social interaction may support different psychological needs. The study therefore considers how spatial hierarchy, wayfinding, acoustic conditions, flexibility, and user control can influence occupants' experiences. The interaction between these factors and the specific functions of residential, educational, healthcare, and workplace environments is also considered. Poorly designed buildings may expose occupants to excessive noise, inadequate daylight, poor ventilation, overcrowding, lack of privacy, visual discomfort, and confusing spatial arrangements, all of which may negatively affect their environmental experience. These conditions demonstrate the importance of considering psychological wellbeing alongside functional and technical requirements in architectural design. A comprehensive approach can help create environments that respond to both physical comfort and the emotional needs of occupants. The study aims to establish the key relationships between architectural design characteristics and mental wellbeing and identify strategies for creating psychologically supportive built environments. The findings are expected to encourage greater consideration of human experience during the design process, particularly through improved daylighting, natural elements, spatial organization, privacy, acoustic quality, and opportunities for social interaction. The research can contribute to more human-centred architectural approaches that support healthier, more comfortable, and psychologically responsive buildings.

Keywords: Building design, Mental wellbeing, Psychological comfort, Human-centred design, Environmental psychology, Natural daylight, Biophilic design, Indoor environmental quality, Spatial organization, Privacy, Social interaction, Acoustic comfort, User experience, Healthy buildings.