Residential space: a psychological perspective

Looking around us it's not difficult to notice the over-crowding of buildings. More and more apartments are being constructed, with demolition after demolition of old, sometimes not so old houses, making way for the new!

And what about the new? Most of the new buildings coming up are taller, with smaller rooms, or complexes with communal spaces. Some of these new residences look very attractive indeed, others a little claustrophobic, others quite puzzling. Whatever the shape, size or colour, we are all in one way or another being affected by buildings and structures around us - namely, residential space!

This space influences how we feel, act, react, function and behave in a number of ways. Both on a conscious and, probably more so, on an unconscious level, the buildings around us, places we live and work in, affect us constantly.

In fact, there are a number of ways in which our environment affects us:

• First of all, we are affected in a physical way. Wherever we are and whatever we do, we all move around physical settings. These include a number of physical choices, such as corridors, passageways, zebra crossings, bridges, roads, steps, different types and arrangements of seating, such as waiting areas, schools, churches, living rooms and so on.

We may opt for the stairs rather than the elevator, unless of course we have no choice, such as when the lift doesn't work! We may choose a quiet country road rather than a main one, we may prefer to sit in the back row in a waiting area rather than the centre. Our environmental surrounding constantly shapes our activities by defining physical possibilities we have to choose from while also setting boundaries and limits.

Moreover, buildings and structures in our residential space are designed with a purpose. If the purpose is one of relaxation and enjoyment, seating is likely to be very comfortable and laid back, lights dim and colours soothing.

On the other hand, if the environment aims at achieving production, such as a factory, lights are very bright not to allow anyone the chance to doze off, and seating will be anything but relaxing to ensure a person does not get too comfortable!

While our built environments may appear to present us with a number of structured choices, at the end of the day, we are forced to observe these choices, whether we like it or not, such as traffic diversions around the St Julian's bridge area.

We are also affected physiologically. We may or may not be aware of it, but certain elements in our residential space/environment act on our body. Colour, for instance, is an element that people cannot help but react to.

A red room tends to increase a person's blood pressure, respiration, heart rate and metabolism. The opposite reactions take place if one were to walk into a blue room. Since people tend to have similar reactions to particular colours, it is no wonder that colours are chosen specifically in certain environments, to elicit a particular effect on people. In addition to colour, temperature also affects how people feel.

• People's behaviour, both individually and interpersonally, is also affected by the social/cultural element of our environments. Seating arrangements, heights and ceilings all suggest, in a subtle and maybe not always so subtle, way, authority or equality among people.

It also suggests isolation or intimacy, relaxation or tension, whether work is co-operative or solitary, it reflects social roles and the various kinds of interactions occurring between people. If we were to think about the setting in a classroom, for instance, where one authority figure addresses many, or the higher/elevated and larger seating of a very important person, such as when the Pope visited Malta or when our archbishop addresses the public, the distinction in power and authority is immediately noticeable.

In a workplace where physical barriers block one desk from another, the suggestion of cutting oneself off from others and working alone at one's desk is strongly felt. Or on the contrary, the setting in a lounge/bar that usually suggests more intimate and relaxed interaction, unlike the long and formal table in a boardroom.

Even by looking at the size or style of civic buildings, we get an idea of one's place in society, as well as the nature of the society represented or reflected in particular buildings. It also says something about who we are. This would also dictate how we can behave, whether we can make a certain amount of noise, or whether we must tread very quietly in and out of our house, and so on.

In some areas it is ethically correct to go to the nearby local grocer or confectionery for bread and milk, wearing very casual home clothes, while in other areas, one might feel the need to really 'dress up' for this event!

It is also important to keep in mind that the expected behaviour of individuals and interactions that occur are, at the end of the day, greatly influenced by our culture. Maltese people do tend to have close-knit family relationships, and like to keep things as much as possible within such a context, but also tend to be noisy and highly emotional and expressive at times.

Having said all this, the effect of the environment remains an individual experience. While considering the physical, physiological, social and cultural effects, every person is different. We walk around with our thoughts, memories, associations and preferences.

Certain places might bring back some memories and carry a particular meaning. We may associate a room, a setting or area with a happy event, or with something sad. A particular setting might help us recall a memory, as happens when a person needs to be helped to remember what happened following loss of memory or during a crime scene investigation, for instance.

So when we next take a good look at our residential spaces, the environment we live and work in every day, we might choose to take a moment to reflect on the many ways we are being affected.

It might help us understand why we feel in a particular way when we are in one place and why we feel so different soon after when we have changed scenery. Reflecting on the physical, physiological, social, cultural, and individual effects of our environment might encourage planning authorities, construction companies, architects and ourselves to plan healthier, happier and more human-friendly residences and spaces.

Ms Grech Lanfranco is a counselling psychologist and UKCP registered family therapist who, while working mostly with individual and family/couple problems in Malta and Gozo, has an interest and flair for design.