How are you feeling?

Figure 1: National Theatre on London’s South Bank (England, 2023)

Figure 2: King’s cross in the summer (Cindy, 2020)

What did you feel when you looked at the first figure? And the second one?

Our feelings are complicated, and we can’t control them most of the time, but they are often affected by our surroundings. That’s why in this mental health awareness week, I like to emphasise that our emotions can vary in different spaces. Different buildings’ shapes –  symmetric or spontaneous like nature – colours, building materials, or the size of the building can all give you a relaxed feeling, comfort, or the complete opposite (Zhao, R. 2016).

We experience these various feelings in different urban or suburban spaces as we continue to evaluate the spaces surrounding us. When Kevin Lynch asked the people to provide a mental map of the city, they did express some of their feelings in particular places. For example, the excitement that people expressed for New York City skyline even when they are in Jersey City by looking at it from a distance (Lynch, K. 1965).

In ‘the phenomenon of place’ by Christian Norberg-Schulz he explained the poem “places” by George Trakl. The poem talked about everyday place with everyday activities, however, Norberg-Schulz was able to identify the private and the public space, or natural and manmade by the feelings expressed in the poem (Larice & Macdonald, 2013).

At the end, we all have emotions related to places for example our hometown. The connection between our feelings and the place is strong and it is very essential that any change in the city should be made so carefully. As its impact is not just physical but it is also emotional.

References:

Figure 1: National Theatre on London’s South Bank (England, 2023)

• England, H. (2023, May 10). A Brief History of Reinforced Concrete Buildings. The Historic England Blog. https://heritagecalling.com/2022/09/22/a-brief-history-of-reinforced-concrete-buildings-in-england/

Figure 2: King’s cross in the summer (Cindy, 2020)

• (2020, August 6). King’s Cross welcomes The Great Outdoors – UKinbound. UKinbound. https://www.ukinbound.org/member-news/kings-cross-welcomes-the-great-outdoors/

(Zhao, R. 2016).

• Zhao, R. (2016) Architectural space and psychological feelings, Architectural Space and Psychological Feelings | Atlantis Press. Available at: https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/ssehr-16/25857733 (Accessed: 18 May 2023).

(Lynch, K. 1965).

• Lynch, K. (1965) The image of the city. Cambridge (Massachusetts): Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

(Larice & Macdonald, 2013).

• Larice, M. and Macdonald, E. (2013) The urban design reader. London: Routledge. Page:272