Chris Costello—ENG4102

Chris Costello
Donna Laquidara
ENG 4102—Critical Writing Workshop
12/5/00

The Impact of Poor Environmental Design on the Human Psyche
(page 1)

Introduction
Bad architecture, haphazard suburban development and thoughtless urban planning are rapidly growing diseases that have infected America. Our modern landscape is becoming overrun with badly designed buildings and spaces that are constructed with little concern for visual harmony beauty or community purpose. This mutation of our environment has a negative psychological impact on the individual and is a major factor that contributes to the various social problems that prevail in today’s society.

Unfortunately, very little scientific evidence exists that proves any of these claims. Yet, it should be obvious that many of us live in quite ugly and depressing surroundings. Dr. Nikos A. Salingaros in an on-line discussion promoting the virtues of the “New Architecture”, says:

“…the crucial experiments that will distinguish between buildings and urban environments that are either healing, or make you ill, have not yet been done. Environmental psychology is only now starting to become an independent discipline. Also, the people who would fund experiments on the emotional appeal of structures don’t want to do so, because it is upsetting to the architects. I have had papers rejected with the excuse that I need to produce experimental data: my response is that everyone feels these effects, so no experiments are necessary” (“Ecology”).

I also believe that everyone feels these effects but few take the time to realize that they do. We are so conditioned by our consumer culture to accept bad architecture that we can be completely unaware of its effects. Much like being intoxicated, when “under the influence”, damage that is being done to the body cannot be felt.

Through my observations and supporting documentation, I hope to provoke an “awakening” and personal consideration of whether or not these arguments are valid. If you live in the city or suburb, stop for a moment and evaluate your next trip to the workplace or “the mall”. Is what you see on your way pleasant or appalling? I argue that, just as beautiful places inspire positive and healing emotions, ugly places do just the opposite. Their effects can have startling consequences in our society as poorly designed environments nurture introversion and anxiety within our urban culture. This process must be reversed.

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