The Architecture of Mindfulness
Introduction
“How did we create a world in which we have more and more and more to do, with less time for leisure, less time for reflection, less time for community, less time to just… be?”
1.
Safi, Omid. 2014. “The Disease of Being Busy.” On Being. 2014. https://onbeing.org/blog/the-disease-of-being-busy.
Page 2
Introduction
Cassandra Dickson
Undergraduate Thesis Architectural Studies Spring 2018
Bachelor of Science in Design Barrett, The Honors College The Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts Arizona State University
Committee:
Professor Philip Horton Dr. William Heywood Dr. Renata Hejduk
Page 4
Abstract
Page 6
In the age of social media, the 24-hour news cycle, and an overwhelming pressure to become “successful,� there is a marked lack of personal connection within communities and a constant state of stress and overwork. This constant state of stress then builds into anxiety, as there are few public resources for mental reprieve. The World Health Organization reports that anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide, begging the question as to how they can be addressed most effectively. As some sense of design is implicit within any environment that provides for mental wellness, it must be carefully curated to not only provide for the physical necessities, but also speak to something beyond explanation- a sense of mental refuge and comfort. Using the concept of mindfulness, architecture has the power to compel users to truly be present, activating space to become a designed experience rather than a passive infrastructure.
Thesis Statement
Page 8
Design is currently not considered as a conventional means of healing or medication, yet it has great potential to influence mental health and therefore should be further explored as a means to promote universal mental wellness. Through mindful architecture, anxiety and stress could be alleviated and mental health addressed in a non-stigmatized, accessible way that benefits the surrounding community.
Table of Contents
Page 10
I. The Rise of Technology and its Effects A. Social Media B. Constant Connection C. The 24 Hour News Cycle
11
II. The Age of Anxiety 17
A. B. C. D. E.
What is Anxiety? Prevalence Treatments Alternative Medecine Mind-Body Connection & Meditation
III. Mindfulness 25
A. B.
What is Mindfulness? Principles of Mindfulness
IV. Architecture as a Solution 31
A. B. C. D. E.
The Role of Architecture in Mental Wellness The Architecture of Mindfulness Architects Embracing Mindfulness Case Studies of Mindful Spaces The Architecture of Happiness
V.
ASU Tempe Campus Research
A. B. C. D.
VI.
Significance
55
Mental Wellness on Campus Identifying Spaces on Campus The Mindful Matrix Mindful Implementations
67
VII. Bibliography 71
The Rise of Technology & its Effects
The omnipresence of social media and personal technology takes a severe toll on people’s mental health. Increasingly, an individual’s inability to step away from technology can have dire consequences, one major effect being anxiety. As writer Kate Pickert observes, “...our devices allow us to be many places at once--but at the cost of being unable to fully inhabit the place where we actually want to be.”2 Technology is a manipulative power that takes hold of one’s ability to remain present, almost as if not by choice. As society’s attention is focused on online praise or impending tragedy through a screen, the connection to the present moment and casual personal encounters are lost. Technology can be incredibly beneficial for connections to a sense of community, both local and global, and benefit users. There is nothing inherently malicious about it, “if [they] have the awareness of how to use it in the right way,”3 says Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk and founder of mindfulness-based technology company ‘Headspace.’ Yet as focus is taken away from the present, there is a constant underlying pressure to stay connected and be successful enough to gain fame through strangers on the internet rather than use social media as a means to reinforce real life relationships. Technology takes a toll on the sense of community, connection, and overall mental health of today’s society, especially among youth susceptible to the mirage of online profiles.
2.
Pickert, Kate. “The Mindful Revolution.” TIME, January 2014.
http://time.com/1556/the-mindful-revolution/.
3.
Pickert, Kate. “The Mindful Revolution.” 2014.
Page 12
The Plight of Modern Society.
Social Media
Page 13
Since September of 2006 when ‘Facebook’ became public,9 the number of users of social media platforms has increased exponentially. Just in studying the number of all American adults who use “at least one social-networking site” there was a jump from 7% to 65% from 2005 to 2015.10 There is a generational gap as well, as 18-29 year olds are most likely to have such profiles. Just from 2005 until 2015, there was a 78-percentage point increase among young adults that have social media profiles, and a 69-point bump among those ages 30-49.11 Overwhelmingly, social media is now seen as a societal norm and the pressure to be connected has begun to affect more than just one’s social life.
The evolution of social media has come to shape the technological landscape as well as real world social interactions. Looking back to 1995 to what was “the largest Macintosh World Wide Web site in the world”4 at the time, ‘The Globe’ was created by Cornell students Todd Krizelman and Stephan Paternot and is widely considered the foundation for most social media sites that followed. “The idea behind it was remarkably prescient,”5 combining personal websites for each user with chatrooms and messaging, but was based initially for the exclusivity of the Cornell community. In 1996, ‘Six Degrees’6 was one of the first public platforms for social media, designed to connect friends and communities through a virtual contact list. However as the infrastructure and access to Internet was neither yet developed nor widespread, the full effect of such platforms could not be foreseen. In 2002, with the rise of ‘Friendster’, the social media movement really started, as the site “made meeting people less intimidating and highly addictive.”7 As the popularity of such online culture grew and rivals such as ‘MySpace’ emerged, the need to publicize one’s friends, whereabouts, and interests only grew. Most of these platforms have since suffered from newer platforms taking their place, with companies like ‘Facebook’, ‘Youtube’, ‘Twitter’, ‘Instagram’, and ‘Snapchat’ dominating the social media field in 2018.8 The platform name seems almost inconsequential, as technology will always evolve. The more significant observation is the rising popularity of using such social platforms and the inability to disconnect.
4.
Lawrence, Jonathan. “A Student-Created Company Is the Talk of
7.
“Then and Now: A History of Social Networking Sites.”
the Web.” Cornell Chronicle. 1996.
8.
Smith, Aaron, and Monica Anderson. “Social Media Use 2018:
http://news.cornell.edu/stories/1996/04/student-created-company-talk-web.
Demographics and Statistics.” Pew Research Center. 2018.
5.
Edwards, Jim. “The 10 Key Turning Points in the History of
http://www.pewinternet.org/2018/03/01/social-media-use-in-2018/.
Social Media.” CBS MoneyWatch. 2011.
9.
“Then and Now: A History of Social Networking Sites.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-10-key-turning-points-in-the-history-of-social-media/2/.
10.
Perrin, Andrew. “Social Media Usage: 2005-2015.”
6.
“Then and Now: A History of Social Networking Sites.” n.d.
Pew Research Center. 2015.
CBS News. Accessed March 24, 2018.
http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/10/08/social-networking-usage-2005-2015/.
https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/then-and-now-a-history-of-social-networking-sites/2/.
11.
Ibid.
Constant Connection With the birth of the ‘Smartphone,’ social media seems almost inescapable as it is within an arm’s reach at all times. From 2007, with the release of the ‘iPhone’, “people can share, message and update each other no matter where they are.”12 And while users feel connected to the online community while using such platforms, one could only imagine how many real connections they have missed as they type away on their phones. The fear of missing out felt by looking at pictures and posts of others13 seems almost hypocritical, as those who feel they are missing out could easily do similar activities, or at least an alternative, if they were not connected to a device that isolates them. The ability to disconnect from the sources of pain is somewhat overlooked by users who let technology and social media control their emotional state. It is becoming increasingly difficult to separate man from their machine and self-regulate what warrants the use of such platforms; for purpose, enjoyment, or simply to avoid sheer boredom. As the lines between necessity and excess blur, the connection to technology becomes similar to an addiction. Among younger generations who use technology almost as a lifeline to connect to friends and portray a public persona, “roughly half of social media users ages 18 to 24 (51%) say it would be hard to give up social media.”14 The reason for such dependency on technology is the same neurological reflex as addiction to substances such as cocaine.15
Page 14
The instant gratification felt when one receives a response to a message or social media post is due to “the neurotransmitter receptors in the brain’s reward center releas[ing] dopamine.”16 As the body recognizes this as a positive response, it becomes hard to quit. Therefore the addictive behavior grows as it becomes harder to avoid the pleasure that the body recognizes. This dependency comes with consequences however, as the effects of constant connection leaves no room for reprieve. Ma, a Japanese concept centered on the idea of a ‘gap,’ calls into question how we structure our lives in that our schedules provide no reprieve to just be and not feel guilty for doing so. With most students, there is either a neverending list of responsibilities to be accomplished every day, or their days are too open-ended and filled with non-purposeful relaxation through social media or entertainment. There is no encouraged purposeful break to reflect or just breathe. As a result, the stress levels are not alleviated after the task is accomplished. Allowing time to “create boundaries for nothingness, edges of vacancies where ideas can spout and muses grow”17 would prove extremely beneficial for a sense of relief in an over-scheduled life. A short break in between stressful tasks could be extremely impactful for the sense of mental pause and readjustment to fully focus on the next task and close a chapter on the previous one. Disconnecting from external factors and focusing more on the present moment can mitigate the negative mental health factors associated with technology.
12.
Edwards, Jim. 2011. “The 10 Key Turning Points in the History of
15.
“New Studies Compare Smartphones to Cocaine Addiction.”
Social Media.”
Elements Behavioral Health. 2017.
13.
“Smartphone Addiction a Ticking Time Bomb.”
https://www.elementsbehavioralhealth.com/addiction/new-studies-compare-
Elements Behavioral Health. 2015.
smartphones-cocaine-addiction/.
https://www.elementsbehavioralhealth.com/behavioral-process-addictions/smartphone-addiction-a-
16.
Ibid.
ticking-time-bomb/.
17.
Abrahamson, Lawrence. “The Potential of Nothing.”
14.
Smith, Aaron, and Monica Anderson. “Social Media Use 2018:
MAS CONTEXT. 2013.
Demographics and Statistics.”
http://www.mascontext.com/issues/17-boundary-spring-13/the-potential-in-nothing/.
The 24-Hour News Cycle With the rise of technology and social media, ‘the news’ is also available at the touch of a button, typically within minutes of an event happening, no matter how far away it is taking place. While most would see this connection as a positive way to remain informed of global events, “the non-stop deluge of information coming via mobile phones and online means that most students across the world have neither the time nor the interest to follow up on even quite important news stories – unless they are personally engaged.”18 Most typically read headlines as they appear through notifications, that can be erased with the swipe of a finger - eliminating lasting impressions, or harboring the focus on major tragedies as the multitude of sources rush to publish bad news first to break a story.
Page 15
With the barrage of media coverage being almost unavoidable, readers feel more of an emotional burden from the constant negativity felt from today’s current events. British psychologist Dr. Graham Davey suggests, “Violent media exposure can exacerbate or contribute to the development of stress, anxiety, depression and even posttraumatic stress disorder.”19 While exposure to negative news does not directly cause such disorders, it has an unreasonably strong impact and causes pessimism and an overall weariness towards the world. The news being consumed is directly affecting the emotional state of the reader in a disproportionate way.
Constant exposure has a tendency to numb one’s ability to organize which events might be considered important or even deemed unreliable. While the excessive coverage of every major tragedy that happens will be reported in depth minute-by minute, the lighter side of current events is disproportionate. There are countless funny or heartwarming videos, but the major news networks overwhelmingly cover the breaking news of politics and tragedy with haste and thoroughness that a lighthearted story does not hold much weight against.
As notifications for tragedies seem to appear on the home screens of subscribers far too often, there is no escape from the negativity and hardly ever an equal counter force to acknowledge good happening in the world. The negativity seems to outweigh any positive notifications because tragic events are reported at every development of the story, reinforcing the significance inherent in each tragedy. This negativity is then internalized by users as they are then “likely to see [their] own personal worries as more threatening and severe, and… find [their] worry difficult to control and more distressing than it would normally be.”20 The way that news has the power to warp perception and emotional peace is completely unacceptable, begging the question as to how to limit its power. There needs to be a balance to limit the power one’s technology has on one’s sense of mental wellness.
18.
“Study Conclusions.” The World UNPLUGGED. 2010.
19.
Gregoire, Carolyn. “What Constant Exposure To Negative News
https://theworldunplugged.wordpress.com/addictions/conclusions/.
Is Doing To Our Mental Health.” The Huffington Post. 2015.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/19/violent-media-anxiety_n_6671732.html.
20.
Ibid.
Page 16
The Age of Anxiety
Addressing mental health speaks to something at a more basic biological level. The idea of psychological needs comes from psychologist Abraham Maslow as he developed a ‘hierarchy of needs’ used to fulfill a person’s full potential.21 Without physiological and material needs accounted for, one cannot focus on deeper thoughts and philosophy needed for self-actualization. Therefore in order to shape identity, one must reflect on his or her mental state and what they require. “Happiness is primarily a subjective phenomenon for which the final judge should be ‘whoever lives inside a person’s skin,’”22 yet individuals should recognize when their emotional state is not adequate. By addressing mental health directly, one can achieve a greater sense of purpose in life and tackle adversity more easily.
21.
Lyubomirsky, Sonja, Kennon M. Sheldon, and David Schkade. 2005. “Pursuing Happiness: The Architecture of Sustainable Change.” Review of General Psychology 9 (2): 111–31. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.9.2.111.
22.
Ibid.
Page 18
Fix Me.
What is Anxiety? Anxiety is classified into many different forms, but all anxiety disorders share a general feature of excessive fear or an emotional response to real or perceived threats, either in the present or anticipating future threats. This fear then impairs behavior and often functionality in everyday life as it becomes overwhelming.23 While there are different moments in which a sense of anxiety is to be expected, a persistent sense of fear or nervous anticipation can start to negatively affect personality and overall health, physically and emotionally. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year.24 While risk factors for anxiety disorders are both genetic and environmental,25 the stress from today’s habits of technology, social media, news, and pressure to be successful and their effects on mental health cannot go ignored.
Page 19
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by “uncontrollable worry over events and activities and potential negative outcomes”26 and affects a large proportion of today’s society. This affects “6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the U.S. population, yet only 43.2% are receiving treatment; women are twice as likely to be affected as men.”27 The stress becomes so overwhelming that it “interfere[s] with the individual’s daily life, occupational, academic, or social functioning.”28 While not all people may feel they fall into the category described by the disorder, stress is a common occurrence perpetuated by a society focused on multi-tasking and overextending one’s self in order to fulfill societal expectations.
23.
Rooij, Sanne van, and Anaïs Stenson. n.d. “An Introduction to
26.
Powers Lott, Abigail, and Anaïs Stenson. n.d. “Types of Anxiety.”
Anxiety.” Anxiety.org. https://www.anxiety.org/what-is-anxiety#.
Anxiety.org. https://www.anxiety.org/what-is-anxiety#.
24.
“Facts & Statistics.” n.d. Anxiety and Depression Association of
27.
“Health & Education Statistics: Any Anxiety Disorder.” 2017.
America, ADAA. Accessed March 25, 2018.
National Institute of Mental Health. 2017.
https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics#.
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder.shtml#part_155095.
25.
Maples-Keller, Jessica, and Vasiliki Michopoulos. n.d. “Causes and
28.
Rooij, Sanne van, and Anaïs Stenson. n.d. “An Introduction to
Risk Factors.” Anxiety.org. https://www.anxiety.org/what-is-anxiety#.
Anxiety.”
Prevalence Anxiety is a normal part of life, yet if one is dealing consistently with feelings of fear or worry that do not go away, get worse with time, or begin to affect everyday life, it is then classified as an anxiety-related disorder.29 The World Health Organization reports that anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide30 with close to 10% of the world’s population affected.31 Just in researching the statistics, approximately 31.1% of U.S. adults have suffered from symptoms of anxiety at one point of their lives,32 and a number of cases go unreported too. Among adolescents, approximately 31.9% U.S. teens have an anxiety disorder, with females suffering at a drastically higher rate of 38% compared to males at 26.1%.33 Young adults are suffering from mental health problems as they are exposed to technology and social media proven to psychologically alter them and are not given the resources to take care of their mental health. What is even more important to note is the number of cases of anxiety have been steadily rising. Between 1990 and 2013, the number of people suffering from depression and/or anxiety increased by nearly 50%, from 416 million to 615 million.34 Assuming there is a correlation between the rise of technology, increase of terrorism, the birth of social media, lack of respect towards personal time and an omnipresent pressure to perform, the statistics are not surprising.
Page 20
Among college students alone, “between 2009 and 2015, the number of students visiting counseling centers increased by about 30% on average, while enrollment grew by less than 6%,”35 the Center for Collegiate Mental Health reported in its 2015 annual findings.36 The number of students willing to recognize the need for help and seek it out is rising and resources must be allocated accordingly in order to help students. According to a 2017 survey conducted by the American College Health Association, 61% of students said they had “felt overwhelming anxiety,”37 often making it difficult to function. With a sizable percentage of students struggling with mental health, the effects are more widely felt across campus. Students should be provided with as many resources as possible, both structured and informal, aimed at maintaining mental health in a sustainable way in order to allow them the greatest chance of success in their school careers. As more students feel stress and require resources, the need for innovative ways to promote mental wellness among the student body must not be understated.
29.
Rooij, Sanne van, and Anaïs Stenson. n.d. “An Introduction to
33.
Anxiety.”
34.
Ibid. WHO. “Investing in Treatment for Depression and Anxiety Leads
30.
“Facts & Statistics.” n.d. Anxiety and Depression Association of
to Fourfold Return.”
America, ADAA.
35.
Reilly, Katie. “Anxiety and Depression: More College Students
31.
WHO. “Investing in Treatment for Depression and Anxiety
Seeking Help.” TIME, March 2018.
Leads to Fourfold Return,” 2016.
http://time.com/5190291/anxiety-depression-college-university-students/.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2016/depression-anxiety-treatment/en/.
36.
Center for Collegiate Mental Health. 2015. “Annual Report.”
32.
Harvard Medical School, 2007. National Comorbidity Survey (NCS).
https://sites.psu.edu/ccmh/files/2017/10/2015_CCMH_Report_1-18-2015-yq3vik.pdf.
(2017, August 21). Retrieved from https://www.hcp.med.harvard.edu/ncs/index.php.
37.
“National College Health Assessment.” 2017.
Data Table 1: Lifetime prevalence DSM-IV/WMH-CIDI disorders by sex and cohort
http://www.acha-ncha.org/docs/NCHA-II_SPRING_2017_REFERENCE_GROUP_EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY.pdf.
Treatment Treatment for mental health has historically come in the form of therapy, medications, or a combination of the two. Psychotherapy “directed at the person’s specific anxieties and tailored to his or her needs”38 can be effective by talking to those suffering from anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a subset of psychotherapy, “teaches a person different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting”39 to anxiety-producing and fearful situations. By addressing the source of anxiety directly, it is then easier for the individual to move forward in a more progressive manner. If awareness is brought to the source of anxiety and potential triggers, the individual suffering can more easily rationalize how to avoid the source or cope with his or her feelings when confronted with a stressful situation. Talk therapy can be most beneficial in a supportive environment and combined with stress management techniques, such as meditation, yoga, or breathing, the need for medication can sometimes be avoided. When necessary, medications can also alleviate symptoms of anxiety, especially in more extreme cases of anxiety that interfere with patients’ daily life. Medications are “sometimes used as the initial treatment of an anxiety disorder, or are used only if there is insufficient response to a course of psychotherapy.”40 With drugs that alleviate symptoms of anxiety, the medication temporarily blocks the hormones causing negative feelings and often come with other side effects that can physically affect the individual when the drugs are not taken consistently.
Page 21
While patients “treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication [seem] to have better outcomes than those treated with only one or the other,”41 the medications are essentially a way to treat the symptoms of anxiety, rather than tackle the root causes. It is not necessary for everyone to be in a constant state of contentment, as the pharmaceutical industry capitalizes on this misconception.42 Perhaps if the source of anxiety is tackled more directly by changing lifestyle habits and environment, the need for medications could be diminished and new approaches to mental health could be developed. The number of cases of anxiety is markedly increasing, yet the ways of looking at treatment are not evolving in a way that would address environmental sources of anxiety. Anxiety disorders are generally treated with psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both,43 but the potential for design or other alternative meditation practices is not always given the validity it should be credited with. Changing physical environments and practicing meditation is not the typical prescription for individuals suffering from anxiety, but it should be. Those who suffer from anxiety should explore every possible option to help battle against internal thoughts that they feel they have no control over. Overall, mental health should be given the priority it needs in order to be overcome and new solutions should be explored in the battle to have universal mental wellness.
38.
“Health & Education Statistics: Any Anxiety Disorder.” National
41.
Ibid..
Institute of Mental Health. 2017.
42.
Greenberg, Gary. 2013. “The Psychiatric Drug Crisis.” The New
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder.shtml#part_155095.
Yorker. 2013. https://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/the-psychiatric-drug-crisis.
39.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and National
43.
“Health & Education Statistics: Any Anxiety Disorder.” 2017.
Institute of Mental Health. “Generalized Anxiety Disorder: When
Worry Gets Out of Control.” National Institute of Health. 2016.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad/index.shtml.
40.
“Health & Education Statistics: Any Anxiety Disorder.” 2017.
Alternative Medicine
Page 22
Integrative Medicine is a method to combine conventional healthcare practices with alternative treatments to approach wellness in a holistic manner. As conventional methods have proven effective yet challenging, with either cost or quality being sacrificed, the medical community is now embracing alternative approaches. The interest in Integrative Medicine, how to address health in all aspects of lifestyle, is increasing as “the historical role of the physician as comprehensive caregiver has markedly diminished.”44 While modern medicine has easily observable results, there remains a need for a holistic approach to healthcare. Integrative medicine focuses on combining the best conventional care with “preventive maintenance of health with emphasis on diet, lifestyle, stress management, and emotional well-being.”45 Wellness is a complex matter that requires being addressed on numerous levels. As alternative practices address the issue of spiritual wellness which conventional methods typically ignore, wellness can be improved at a holistic level.
As the percentage of the population dealing with mental health setbacks only grows, the number of treatments should be expanded and explored accordingly. While formal modern medical science is the most widely accepted form of treatment for mental health diagnosis, many cultures utilize alternative medicine to heal both mind and body. Alternative medicine is “any medical treatment that is not part of conventional evidence-based medicine,”46 consisting of a wide range of practices, products, therapies and theories that may not be accepted by the leading healthcare system. “Alternative medicine exists in all cultures to some degree and terms”47 and though there is a negative preconception, it could be useful to explore alternative approaches to the mental health crisis currently plaguing society.
44.
Snyderman, Ralph, and Andrew T. Weil. 2002. “Integrative
47.
Kuznetsov, D., and N. Kostinska. 2017. “The Role of Alternative
Medicine.” Archives of Internal Medicine 162 (4). American
Medicine in Modern Healthcare.”
Medical Association: 395. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.162.4.395.
48.
Ibid.
45.
Saatcioglu, Fahri. 2013. “Regulation of Gene Expression by Yoga,
49.
Ibid.
Meditation and Related Practices: A Review of Recent Studies.”
50.
Ibid.
Asian Journal of Psychiatry 6 (1). Elsevier: 74–77.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2012.10.002.
46.
Kuznetsov, D., and N. Kostinska. n.d. “The Role of Alternative
Medicine in Modern Healthcare.” Accessed March 26, 2018.
http://eztuir.ztu.edu.ua/jspui/bitstream/123456789/6527/1/254.pdf.
When applied to mental wellness, there are five major types of alternative therapies that can provide beneficial results to the sense of focus. ‘Energy Medicine’ is used to “unblock or rebalance [one’s] energy force,”48 as the release can impact focus, sense of purpose, and motivation. Biology based practices use ingredients found in nature as supplements and remedies. Manipulative and body-based practices use movement of the body as a way to heal or prevent pain, such as chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage. ‘Whole Medical Practices’ include ancient healing systems,49 such as ‘Ayurveda’ from India and traditional Chinese medicine. These types have of therapies have all proven effective to treat “both everyday complaints and serious illness,”50 MindBody interventions should be more thoroughly researched as it provides the most promise for truly tackling mental health.
Mind-Body Connection & Meditation
Page 23
The most significant type of alternative therapies when addressing mental wellness is a ‘mind-‘body’ therapy, focusing on the entirety of the self rather than a singular aspect. Mindbody techniques strengthen “the communication between your mind and your body and spirit.”51 Through meditation, prayer, relaxation, and art therapies, mind-body techniques have the potential to impact mental wellness, which then improves physical symptoms and function as well. With meditative practices “effectively counter[ing] psychological distress and thereby support[ing] healing and wellness,”52 they should be implemented with all approaches to mental wellness. Connection to one’s spirit is often lost among the distractions provided by everyday life. Using these techniques can re-center one’s sense of well being and place in the world. As one gains a sense of purpose, the emotional state seems to be more balanced and provide a sense of stability and calm in an otherwise unpredictable world. Alternative medicine can be used in conjunction with conventional medicines, but can improve the sense of individuality that drugs have no way of replacing.
Meditation has proven helpful not only for the soul, but also directly affects the brain. In a 2004 study, “Tibetan-trained expert meditators were able to consciously induce electroencephalography (EEG) findings indicative of increased learning and neural plasticity,”53 linking the effects of meditation and neuroscience in a previously unexplored way. Electrical activity in different parts of the brain was observed and recorded in these meditation gurus, showing the power of meditation in shaping and changing the brain. “Mental training involves temporal integrative mechanisms and may induce short-term and long-term neural changes,”54 therefore the practice of meditation physically alters the brain’s chemistry, especially after consistent training. These changes benefit individuals in altering one’s ability to understand and then handle stress and anxiety. Meditation may be typically seen as an eastern religion or new-age trend, but the science behind the positive effects it has on the brain’s ability to focus and de-stress is evident. When aspects of meditation are applied more generally to everyday activities, the quality and production of work can drastically improve,55 as well as the mental wellness of those who practice.
51.
Kuznetsov, D., and N. Kostinska. 2017. “The Role of Alternative
54.
Lutz, A., L. L. Greischar, N. B. Rawlings, M. Ricard, and R. J.
Medicine in Modern Healthcare.”
Davidson. 2004. “Long-Term Meditators Self-Induce High-
52.
Saatcioglu, Fahri. 2013. “Regulation of Gene Expression by Yoga,
Amplitude Gamma Synchrony during Mental Practice.”
Meditation and Related Practices: A Review of Recent Studies.”
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 101 (46):
Asian Journal of Psychiatry 6 (1). Elsevier: 74–77.
16369–73. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0407401101.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2012.10.002.
55.
“Mindfulness Could Improve College Students’ Testing
53.
Loizzo, Joseph. 2014. “Meditation Research, Past, Present, and
Ability, Study Finds.” 2013. The Huffington Post. 2013.
Future: Perspectives from the Nalanda Contemplative Science
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/27/mindfulness-testing-focus-reading-
Tradition.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1307 (1).
comprehension_n_2957146.html.
Wiley-Blackwell: 43–54. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.12273.
Page 24
Mindfulness
In an effort to embrace alternative methods to mental health, the practice of mindfulness has become a popular way to meditate. Meditation is not about doing, but rather being. Mindfulness is about being fully present, on purpose and without judgment. By observing the moment as it exists, the focus is then turned outwardly and personal stress is reduced. Through awareness, mindfulness helps one shift from a doing mode to a being mode, transforming one’s understanding of self and well-being.
Page 26
Connection.
What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is the idea of paying attention to the present with a non-judgmental attitude, a concept developed by the psychologist Jon KabatZinn. It requires more than following a recipe or set of instructions,”56 but rather tackles the spirit as the center of wellness. One must bring his or her “whole being to the process”57 rather than force a sense of relaxation or hollow meditation. If one applies the practice to everyday life, stress and pain can dramatically decrease and happiness and well-being can be drastically improved. Mindfulness meditation requires a quiet environment, a comfortable position to sit, a mental device, and a passive, non-judgmental attitude.58 Breathing is the most common mental device, observing and altering it, allowing one to truly connect to the body and what it may be communicating. Those suffering from anxiety “tend to breathe in their upper lungs (upper chest) with shallow, rapid breaths, instead of breathing into their lower lungs (lower chest).”59 Anxiety is seen as a “disorder of the breath” and therefore the effects could be mitigated through meditation practices that focus on calming the breath, and subsequently the mind.
Page 27
Kabat-Zinn is widely considered the father of mindfulness, crafting a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in 1979 for patients in the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. While the program was not intended to replace formal medical or psychiatric treatment, results have proven overwhelmingly positive in managing pain and reducing stress. Meditation and mindfulness meditation can “lower cortisol levels and blood pressure, increase immune response, and possibly even affect gene expression.”60 These practices have the power to alter physical wellbeing, emotional state, and even the structure of the brain, “increasing signaling connections and protective tissue.”61 When committed to mindfulness, the countless benefits extend to alter wellness at a larger scale. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy was designed after the effects of MBSR proved successful. Most commonly used to help patients suffering from anxiety, this form of therapy uses mindfulness as a way to connect to a greater awareness. Using aspects of mindfulness is proven to reduce anxiety and mood symptoms as it increases “awareness of everyday experiences in patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.”62 Practicing mindfulness is beneficial to mental health and should be used more often as a therapeutic means to help those suffering from anxiety disorders.
56.
Kabat-Zinn, Jon. 2013. Full Catastrophe Living. New York City:
61.
“Mindfulness Meditation Linked With Positive Brain Changes,
Bantam Books.
Study Suggests.” 2013. The Huffington Post. 2013. https://www.
57.
Ibid.
huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/15/mindfulness-meditation-brain-integrative-body-mind-
58.
Ibid.
training_n_1594803.html.
59.
“STEP 4: Practice Your Breathing Skills.” n.d. Anxieties.com.
62.
Evans, Susan, Stephen Ferrando, Marianne Findler, Charles
Accessed March 29, 2018.
Stowell, Colette Smart, and Dean Haglin. 2008. “Mindfulness-
https://www.anxieties.com/57/panic-step4.
Based Cognitive Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.”
60.
Pickert, Kate. 2014. “The Mindful Revolution.” TIME, January 2014.
Journal of Anxiety Disorders 22 (4). Pergamon: 716–21.
http://time.com/1556/the-mindful-revolution/.
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JANXDIS.2007.07.005.
Principles of Mindfulness According to Kabat-Zinn’s class, in order to successfully practice mindfulness, there are seven attitudinal factors that one must pay attention to. The attitudes are “non-judging, patience, a beginner’s mind, trust, non-striving, acceptance, and letting go.”63 They are not independent attitudes but rather combine to form the basis for a strong meditation practice. “Mindfulness is cultivated by paying close attention to your moment-to experience while, as best you can, not getting caught up in your ideas and opinions, likes and dislikes.”64 Judgment is inherent with every thought that crosses one’s mind. Therefore objectively observing the present experience proves a more difficult feat than one might assume. Even during meditation, one may silently judge his or her habits or success within the practice, cluttering the mind with thoughts of how to improve the meditation rather than living in the present and accepting the moment. When handling stress it is even harder to filter the natural bias that immediately falls upon new events or obstacles. By practicing a non-judgmental attitude, “watching whatever comes up… without pursuing them or acting on them in any way,”65 the individual learns to cope with stress and to release the subconscious negativity that comes with new events and obstacles.
Page 28
Patience is essential with mindfulness meditation as it “reminds us that we don’t have to fill up our moments with more activity and with more thinking in order for them to be rich.”66 The mind has a tendency to wander and “lose itself in thinking,”67 sometimes positively, yet the natural tendency towards negativity often takes over. Practicing patience brings awareness back to the moment and opens one to the possibility for acceptance. Existing thinking and beliefs often hold bias and limit the possibilities that one can grasp and see things as they really are. “To see the richness of the moment,”Kabat-Zinn suggests one must adopt a “’beginner’s mind,’ a mind that is willing to see everything as if for the first time.”68 By cultivating a novice mindset, one becomes more receptive to new possibilities and prevents the stubborn tendency to hold onto one’s limited knowledge. Eliminating previously held notions reaffirms the fact that “no moment is the same as any other”69 and allows each new experience to be felt fully in the moment. Trust is an inherent necessity for followers of mindfulness as the connection to one’s self and limits is more important than external authority. The spirit of meditation “emphasizes being your own person and understanding what it means to be yourself.”70 With guided meditation it is far too easy to rely on the instruction of teachers rather than one’s self. Yet meditation is intended to help individual become more fully one’s self, in finding this trust it can then be expanded to trust others and the universe beyond to a sense of greater purpose.
63.
Kabat-Zinn, Jon. 2013. Full Catastrophe Living. New York City:
66.
Ibid. 24.
Bantam Books. Page 21.
67.
Ibid. 23.
64.
Ibid.
68.
Ibid. 24.
65.
Ibid. 23.
69.
Ibid.
70.
Ibid. 25.
Principles of Mindfulness As the constant pressure to get something done or go somewhere can be difficult to push aside, the attitude of ‘non-striving’ is one of the more challenging aspects of mindfulness meditation. “Ultimately meditation is non-doing,”71 a concentrated effort to focus on the moment and one’s self in simply being rather than trying to accomplish something. No pressure should be associated with meditation as goals for meditation defeat the purpose of being guided by the present moment. “Focusing carefully on seeing and accepting things as they are”72 will allow the goals to be achieved by themselves, happening within the soul rather than out of pure coincidence. A core principle of meditation is acceptance, as one must accept the present moment in order to reside within it. With most stages of acceptance starting in denial and anger, energy is wasted in harboring negativity rather than promoting positive change. Acceptance is not about being “resigned to tolerating things as they ‘have to be,’”73 but rather a willingness to see them as they are. Applying this attitude of acceptance can help with coping during stressful events and overall allow one to release the sense of anxiety commonly felt over things beyond control.
Page 29
The last of Kabat-Zinn’s principles of mindfulness meditation is the art of ‘letting go.’ During meditation, one becomes aware of the tendency to harbor thoughts and feelings that become difficult to detach from. While positive feelings can be beneficial to call upon in a moment, the recurring negative thoughts that “are unpleasant, painful, or frightening in one way or another”74 can be difficult to get rid of. “Letting go is a way of letting things be”75 and therefore accepting the present in order to live in the moment. The freedom that comes from letting go of external and internal pressures and judgment allows the individual to trust and accept the moment and him or herself, encompassing the spirit of mindfulness altogether. Using simple practices such as meditation, or even just being fully engaged in one activity at a time, can be a mindful way to pay attention to your body and mind. By connecting to the self, you can then have the energy to focus on others and outside factors. As mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment, not necessarily a formal meditation, it could form in merely washing the dishes or folding laundry. Simple gestures that people use as a form of soothing monotony, such as chores or even a morning commute, are subconsciously mindful devices. It provides an activity to be fully emerged in without getting distracted, quieting the mind and allowing for a few moments of repose in an otherwise crowded busy schedule. When someone can self-discipline to stay engaged in seemingly everyday activities without letting the mind wander, it can prove beneficial to a sense of breath and reprieve, no matter how uninteresting the activity may be. By using mindfulness to enhance your sense of self, you can begin to feel a purpose, an identity, and a sense of tranquility.
71.
Kabat-Zinn, Jon. 2013. Full Catastrophe Living. Page 26.
74.
Ibid. 29.
72.
Ibid.
75.
Ibid. 30.
73.
Ibid. 28.
Page 30
Architecture as a Solution
Physical environments should be challenged to be part of a solution to mental health problems as they have the power to influence the emotional state of the people within them. Looking at architecture as a critical aspect of the battle for mental wellness expands the range of possible solutions and treatments. Architecture should serve a role in promoting mental wellness through mindful experiences.
Page 32
Space.
The Role of Architecture in Mental Wellness Considering the current status of societal stress, the return on investment in mental health, and different practices that address these issues, there appears a marked lack of architecture designed to address society’s changing needs. Architecture has the power to promote a sense of presence, forcing users to pay attention to the immediate environment or simply fading into the background to allow users to think on their own. Place influences emotions, which control our lives and could also impact behavior.76 By crafting mindful architecture, the need to constantly be connected to outside factors can be reduced. Through design, mental state and behavior can be influenced in a way that promotes wellness and therefore potentially alleviates the anxiety the user feels towards things beyond his or her control. “The way we look at [our] surroundings is influenced by the needs we call on those surroundings to meet,”77 as architecture fulfills the psychological needs of the user. And while the diversity of users will impact the success of the design in influencing emotional response, when a place “addresses user’s psychological needs, they are happiest.”78 It is undetermined if specific designs can result directly in a uniform version of happiness for all users, yet there are tangible ways to promote the ‘architecture of sustainable happiness’79 that are not always considered in design.
Page 33
While one could argue that physical space is not important enough to be designed for a direct result, further observation is then required. The methods of self-reflection are only beneficial when applied in an environment that provides for such activities. “The philosopher’s advice to withdraw into oneself in order to take one’s place in existence loses its value”80 as the emotional response to physical space takes over one’s will power to stay in a calm state of self-reflection. Therefore there is a need for architecture to accommodate desired emotional responses without being overbearing. As the early Modern architectural historian and theorist John Ruskin articulates, the desire from buildings is of shelter, and “to speak… of whatever [one] find[s] important and need[s] to be reminded of.”81 It is not enough for a building to sit idly by and rest solely for function. The purpose of design is to elicit a response, emotionally and physically, which shapes user experience, community, and environment. As emotions dictate how one understands the world, designers should address the human cognitive ability at the visceral, behavioral and reflective levels.82 By addressing different levels, design can elicit appropriate emotions and provide positive experiences. Winston Churchill said, “we shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us,”83 therefore it is important to design them accordingly. If architecture is given the appropriate amount of significance, design has the power to shape society in a subtle and purposeful way that cannot be achieved through more conventional or direct attempts.
76.
Augustin, Sally. Place Advantage: Applied Psychology for Interior
80.
Bachelard, Gaston. 2014. The Poetics of Space. New York City:
Architecture. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2009.
Penguin Books. Page 233.
77.
Donovan, Jenny. Designing to Heal. Collingwood, Vic.: CSIRO
81.
Botton, Alain de. 2006. The Architecture of Happiness. New York
Publishing, 2013.
City: Vintage Books. Page 62.
78.
Augustin, Sally. Place Advantage: Applied Psychology for Interior
82.
“What Is Emotional Design?” n.d. Interaction Design Foundation.
Architecture.
Accessed April 20, 2018.
79.
Lyubomirsky, Sonja, Kennon M. Sheldon, and David Schkade.
https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/emotional-design.
2005. “Pursuing Happiness: The Architecture of Sustainable
83.
Stringer, Leigh. 2015. “We Shape Our Buildings.”
Change.” Review of General Psychology 9 (2): 111–31.
LeighStringer.com. 2015. http://www.leighstringer.com/we-shape-our-buildings/.
Page 34
In researching how mental health can be addressed through architecture, there are few measurable standards of design to do so. The International WELL Building Institute is a public benefit corporation that looks at how buildings and communities can improve human health and well-being across the world.84 They have created a system to certify buildings and urban design projects that promote user health. The WELL Building Standard “explores how design, operations and behaviors within the places where we live, work, learn and play can be optimized to advance human health and well-being.”85 Using seven different elements of air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind,86 the WELL standard addresses the qualities of space that are beneficial to the overall health of the user.
84.
“About.” n.d. International WELL Building Institute.
Accessed April 12, 2018. https://www.wellcertified.com/en/explore-standard.
85.
“Explore the Standard.” n.d. International WELL Building Institute.
Accessed April 12, 2018. https://www.wellcertified.com/en/explore-standard.
86.
Ibid.
The WELL standard applies to new buildings as well as renovations, but it is a certification process that the architects or developers must seek. All architects should aim to achieve WELL certification, but a more feasible goal should be to create mindful architecture. Mindful architecture compels the users to be present in the experience and can be implemented universally in any design process. It does not need to be exclusive, and should apply to both buildings and public space. Mindful design is the first step in providing architecture to address mental wellness. The concept of mindfulness should be applied to architecture in shaping a standard of design focused on the human experience.
The Architecture of Mindfulness An architecture of mindfulness would not only fulfill the needs of mindfulness meditation, but also go further in establishing physical attributes that can then form an ideal environment to be present in. Different spatial qualities such as natural light, fresh air, circulation, privacy, scale and even the time of day can all contribute to the users’ desire to spend time within the space in a mindful way. For the purposes of establishing a baseline for a space to be considered mindful, certain physical and abstract qualities of the space must be achieved. There are essentially three different levels of a space that should be considered in designing a mindful space; the context of mindful space, with access to nature and how a site might impact the experience within a space, the architectural environment of mindfulness, including both natural and designed factors, and the humanity of mindful spaces, such as interpersonal relations and the individual’s experience within the space. When assessing public space for wellbeing, the environment of mindfulness must be considered. The physical attributes are sometimes a product of the context in which the space resides; if it has access to nature, light, air, and ambient noise. Design plays a vital role in embracing the natural factors surrounding the space, but must also go further in developing an aesthetically pleasing and soothing space.
Page 35
One of the most influential aspects of a mindful space is daylight, as the presence or lack of it can drastically alter the perception of any given space. Light has an overwhelming influence on mood, affecting those experiencing it in both positive and negative ways. Light serves as an activator and motivator for the mind, even working independently of the biological clock. It can increase work performance, “expressed by the reduced number of mistakes and an increased volume of work or better retentiveness.“87 Therefore light will be essential in creating a space designed for peaceful reflection and meditation. While phototherapy and chromotherapy, using light and color as therapies respectively, have been studied to alleviate stress over different time periods, an overall ambient light, preferably filtered daylight, is the ideal scenario for an exterior space. If the space is too dark, it immediately becomes constricting and uncomfortable, sometimes even seemingly unsafe. Opening space into the environment allows a natural balance of light, which the design can supplement on overcast days or after dark. Renzo Piano uses light in the Nasher Sculpture Center to provide a “peaceful retreat for reflection and contemplation of art and nature.”88 With the goal of a creating a museum without a roof, Piano created an innovative cast aluminum sunscreen device that “floats above the glass allowing controlled natural light to filter into the galleries, eliminating the need for artificial illumination much of the time.”89 Visitors can then focus on the art and their reactions to the pieces in a relaxing environment that helps them to be fully present in the moment. Natural daylight serves as the most beneficial condition to a mindful space.
87.
Schierz, Christoph, and Cornelia Vandahl. n.d. “Biological Effects
88.
“Nasher Sculpture Center.” 2012. Arcspace. 2012.
of Light – Literature Overview.” Technische Universität Ilmenau.
https://arcspace.com/feature/nasher-sculpture-center/.
Accessed March 25, 2018.
89.
Ibid.
http://www.m4ssl.npl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Protocol-on-Circadian-effective-radiation.pdf.
Page 36
Renzo Piano, Nasher Sculpture Center, 2003.
The Architecture of Mindfulness In considering other factors to allow for comfortable space, the environment must also be regulated in terms of temperature, airflow, and the presence of nature. Temperature is essential in providing homeostasis; therefore spaces should have shade to mitigate solar gain and adequate airflow that allows heat to escape. The presence of nature is known to affect the psychology of the users within a space. The Biophilia Hypothesis, introduced in 1984 by Edward O. Wilson, suggests that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life.90 This theory addresses more the physiological effects of nature, but overall the need for nature impacts health at a larger scale. Dak Kopec, an acclaimed environmental psychologist, argues that the increased presence of nature can in fact affect the development of an individual’s personality as a whole.91 To think that one’s exposure to natural elements helps to form character is quite alarming, as there is no standard of living in relation to the presence of nature or access to it. To keep the body comfortable, there are directly evident factors, yet for psychological well-being the factors become slightly more abstract.
Page 37
Perceived aspects of a space are not only from the physical environment, but also created through the users of the space and the interaction between them. The humanity of mindfulness must be considered which, in conjunction with the environment, provides the user with an overall sense of presence. The humanity of mindfulness would encompass the individual experience within a space, such as whether one can connect to his or her own sense of self, and the interpersonal factors of encountering others within the space. Privacy is an essential element in cultivating mindful architecture, as meditation and reflection of any kind require a level of intimacy influenced by the space in which the user is practicing. Psychological ownership is also an important factor in truly adopting space and feeling joy from it.92 Therefore the scale and amount of people within it accordingly will affect the personal experience of every user. As numerous people within a space often has an unspoken antisocial effect, privacy must be designed so as to make users willing to experience the current moment and the opportunities for peaceful reflection diminish.
In the Bruder Klaus Field Chapel, privacy is almost essential as Peter Zumthor designed the intimate space for reflection. “The very somber and reflective feelings that become inevitable in one’s encounter with the chapel”93 would be interrupted if there were multiple people in the chapel at once. As the space is small, privacy is essential to experience the “beautiful silence.”94 Privacy and social interaction within a space impacts how mindful individual users are willing to be.
90.
Grinde, Bjørn, and Grete Grindal Patil. 2009. “Biophilia: Does
92.
Matilainen, A., M. Pohja-Mykrä, M. Lähdesmäki, and S. Kurki.
Visual Contact with Nature Impact on Health and Well-Being?”
2017. “‘I Feel It Is Mine!’ – Psychological Ownership in Relation to
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Natural Resources.” Journal of Environmental Psychology 51
6 (9). Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI): 2332–43.
(August): 31–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.03.002.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph6092332.
93.
“Bruder Klaus Field Chapel / Peter Zumthor.” 2011. ArchDaily.
91.
“A Call for Increased Access to Unstructured Interactions with
ArchDaily. 2011. https://www.archdaily.com/106352/bruder-klaus-field-chapel-peter-zumthor.
Nature: Dak Kopec at TEDxSacramento.” n.d. TEDxTalks.
94.
Zilliacus, Ariana. 2016. “Peter Zumthor’s Bruder Klaus Field Chapel
Accessed March 29, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuuRNcNpzNM.
Through the Lens of Aldo Amoretti.” ArchDaily. ArchDaily. 2016.
https://www.archdaily.com/798340/peter-zumthors-bruder-klaus-field-chapel-through-the-lens-of-aldo-amoretti.
Page 38
Peter Zumthor, Bruder Klaus Field Chapel, 2007.
The Architecture of Mindfulness Ideally mindful space is experienced individually, or with few others that maintain respectful of each other’s desires for quiet and privacy. Every building should provide spaces aimed at seclusion, for relaxation, mindful meditation, or even to work or study. By providing smaller scaled spaces within larger buildings, individuals can start to feel a sense of ownership over a small corner that might have otherwise been uninhabited. Architects should be thoughtful to provide for both large gatherings and individual activity, no matter the designated program of the building. The environmental factors often determine the human factors of the space, as circulation and shade can impact how desirable of an experience the space cultivates. The circulation through the space often determines the size of crowds and the activities that can be done. If a space is mainly used as a throughway for large crowds, the trend is to move along rather than pause to spend time within the space. If the circulation is also shaded, the thoroughfare tends to be busier, at least in hotter climates. The relations between the natural and designed factors and the personal or social aspects of the space often go unnoticed, but must be more thoughtfully crafted to promote mindful experiences for the users.
Page 39
The physical and social elements combine to shape the perceived comfort level of a space and how much time the user desires to spend within it. If comfort does not exist, then there is no possibility for one to feel at ease and truly be mindful, as the tendency would be to think of ways to change location. The elements of mindful architecture form the basis to an ideal environment in which to practice mindfulness and self-reflection. At the basic level, if these elements are addressed, the users experiencing the space will be willing to pay attention to the present. Rather than search for distractions through connections to technology, people will start to evaluate the present moment and possibly form a relationship with the space they are experiencing and others doing the same. To have a calm experience, in a non-judgmental fashion with a focus on the present, architects must take an active role to provide the users with a corresponding environment. By addressing the context, physical environment and the social context of a space, designers can craft mindful architecture that allows for experiences beneficial to mental wellness.
Page 40
Architects Embracing Mindfulness The reputation of mindfulness is growing to be more widely accepted as science comes to reiterate the benefits of the practice in a substantial manner. While the design community does not always provide for such experiences, a number of international architectural firms are beginning to develop more human-based design initiatives. Combining science and design, these firms aim to improve user experience and develop new ways design can influence life. The Danish company “Design to Improve Life” has developed an education in “cooperation with teachers, didactic experts, facilitation experts and designers from Denmark and Sweden”95 to create innovative solutions to global problems through mindful observation. In collaboration with the Danish government, they have created a challenge to engage youth and challenge the role of design in crafting responsible and sustainable environments. Collaborating with the government ensures in some sense that large sale change is possible and that the mindfulness movement has merit. Schools should adopt this challenge in getting children to focus on creative problem solving and highlight the importance of design in everyday lives. Engaging children in mindfulness will help them to be more aware and thoughtful individuals as they grow up. As the children grow up to be mindful individuals, the community becomes mindful as a whole and the effects extend to the environment, the social behaviors, the economy and politics. The government should embrace mindfulness and use school programs to promote mindful activities that shape children and the
Page 41
In Australia, the Urban Behavior Lab is applying behavioral science to projects both conceptual and real. Studying human behavior and the relationship to the built environment helps to resolve problems and adjust to the users’ needs. They focus both on research and applications, including developing ‘The Huss Index,’ the goal of which is to “develop a methodology for measuring the psychological and physiological comfort of people in architectural and public spaces.”96 Studying both the built environment and urban design, the UB Lab focuses on a new approach to studying everyday urban life to evaluate and develop future interventions and a strategic policy. Through user research, concept testing, design evaluation, and space adaptation,97 the UB Lab implements a holistic approach to design that studies existing relationships as a basis for informing new architecture and urban design schemes. As the initial design phase is often focused on site research, architects should also look to the personal relationships to the site to better understand the appropriate design strategy. By observing the present, architects can better understand what design should accomplish. If the Urban Behavior Lab can develop patterns of what aspects of design most affect the users of a space, architects should use this information to develop a standard of design focused on psychological comfort.
95.
“INDEX: Design to Improve Life®.” n.d. Accessed March 28, 2018.
96.
“Research & Academia.” n.d. UB-Lab. Accessed March 28,
https://designtoimprovelife.dk/education/education-about/.
2018. https://www.ub-lab.com/research-and-academia.
97.
“Urban.” n.d. UB Lab. Accessed March 28,
2018. https://www.ub-lab.com/research-and-academia.
Page 42
Sarika Bajoria is an architect based in New York City who created “Mindful Architect” to consult, hold workshops, and inform other designers about how to “deeply connect people experientially, emotionally, and socially and promote wellbeing.”98 Bajoria argues that architects should have a “deeper awareness, intention, and empathy to create an inspired and compassionate built world.”99 This practice will hopefully spread mindfulness as a design practice. As one of very few firms to establish the necessity of architects to be mindful, Sarika Bajoria is an innovator in the design field as mindfulness should be incorporated in a more universal manner. By practicing mindfulness in the projects, Bajoria accomplishes a new level of design focused on the abstract idea of how to make a user be present within a space. These firms are leaders in the movement towards more conscientious design practices and can bring about the methods for developing mindful architecture. As more architects implement elements driven by mental wellness and mindfulness, design can be used universally for therapeutic purposes.
98.
Bajoria, Sarika. n.d. “MINDFUL ARCHITECT TM.”
Accessed March 28, 2018. https://www.mindfularchitect.com/.
99.
Ibid.
Mindfulness should be adapted into design at all scales, no matter the project. No matter the program of the space, the architect makes decisions that influence how much the users will pay attention to the environment. Architects should take on an active role in researching the anthropological effects of their designs and shaping the user experience. Design has an unquantifiable effect on human experience and should be meticulously crafted to shape society. The role of architecture does not end with providing shelter, but rather a physiological and psychological response, a sense of enlightenment, wonder, or peace.
Case Studies of Mindful Spaces While most architects do not typically address mindfulness directly in their designs, some artists have taken it upon themselves to craft experiential spaces for users to actively engage in the present. Artists often have more freedom to explore psychological effects in their pieces, as the limitations imposed by building codes, budget, client desires, and formal program does not dictate as many decisions in their creative processes. Artists such as James Turrell and Yayoi Kusama use architectural art pieces to craft user experiences that make one think about the experience of the space rather than external factors. The point is the experience, forcing you to be present and appreciate the atmosphere of the space. The users who get the most out of the pieces put their phones away, disconnect from the incessant notifications, relax, and have a moment to breathe and reflect on how such places can make them feel. The spaces are often un-programmed spaces, but one could argue the program is to make you think, experience emotions, daydream, wallow, or anything to fulfill emotional or intellectual needs. There should be more architecture that does not necessarily fulfill a function, but rather allows the user the freedom to engage the space as they desire. There is limited architecture aimed at simply providing a sense of relief from the surrounding world and enjoying the present. These artists accomplish beautiful places to have a mental reprieve without explicit direction to do such.
Page 43
In a sense, Turrell captures an experience focused on the individual rather than the outside world. His exhibitions are highly acclaimed, yet not so pretentious that the average passerby would feel uncomfortable. With limited intricate details to distract the eye, each design is typically a small-scale space that plays with an enclosure that is defined without being rigid, almost as finite a space as the individual desires, as his or her place in the world is reflected. Turrell is interested in portraying and creating “place where you feel a presence, almost an entity, that physical feeling and power that space can give.”101 He designs for the emotional and cerebral response to the space rather than for a programmed function. The power of architecture is explored through curiosity and contemplation, providing the background for a mindful experience.
James Turrell so carefully balances defined structure and intentional voids, appreciating nature and influencing the user and infusing serenity, interest, and significance to personal experience of the space. The ‘Skyspace’ pieces he creates are “a specifically proportioned chamber with an aperture in the ceiling open to the sky,”100 creating an ethereal modern effect.
Turrell pieces offer a moment for selfreflection and invite users to question the purpose of his pieces and create their own meanings. This notion of public space providing for the mental wellness of the community should be implemented more commonly, as Turrell’s pieces are often within collegiate or artistic communities. In his Skyspace piece “Dividing the Light,” Turrell uses contrast between the sky at sunrise and sunset as the centerpiece to a border of gradually changing color. This piece is open to the public but also is contained to a private college campus in an affluent town. Though it is not easily accessible to people outside of the community, it should and could be available to all. Turrell’s pieces should serve as a model for future implementations focused on mental health, as purposefully simple design does not intimidate users, rather inviting them to spend a moment in mindful self-reflection. Overall, the desired experience of a Turrell piece is that of harmony with the environment as its powerful simplicity leads to thought and plays with the psychology of users in the space.
100.
James Turrell. n.d. “Skyspace.” Accessed March 29, 2018.
101.
James Turrell. n.d. “Introduction.” Accessed March 29, 2018.
http://jamesturrell.com/.
http://jamesturrell.com/.
Page 44
James Turrell, ASU Skyspace, ‘Air Apparent,’ 2012.
Case Studies of Mindful Spaces
Page 45
Turrell also uses his art to explore the Ganzfeld Effect, a “disorienting perceptual experiment that consists of filling the entire field of vision with a solid, undifferentiated color that becomes like sensory deprivation as result of lack of contrast.”102 His pieces often play with sensory experience in order to trick the brain. Turrell’s background in psychology helps him to explore the blurred effect between perception and reality that design can influence. His exhibit Afrum I, in which light is reflected onto a corner so that the brain perceives it as both a corner and a three dimensional object - a game between the brain’s interpretation and reality.103 Simple, elegantly designed actions can lead to transcendent effects on a user-experience.
Another artist who addresses mindfulness in her ‘Infinity Mirror Rooms,’ Yayoi Kusama harnesses the power of her art to alter the viewers’ emotions. The series “address life, love, human connectivity, mortality and the afterlife, not to mention identity and the infinitely reflected — or ‘obliterated,’ as Kusama calls it — self.”104 Visitors enter the room completely alone and have approzimately thirty seconds to fully immerse themselves and attempt to understand the physics behind what they are seeing. It is a “refreshing, immersive experience”105 that the user wants to capture with a picture, but it will never to the reality of the piece. With this intentionally short viewing time, Kusama designs these pieces to make visitors be fully present in the experience.
While Turrell is aware of the effect he is creating, the average user would not necessarily point to the definitive aspects that make them feel a certain way, but rather leave in a trance of puzzled enlightenment. This emotional effect on users in public space is unique in that each individual will leave with similar experiences, independent of other users. Although Turrell pieces cannot be installed in every community, the mindful design can be. Architects should take on the role of creating mindful design in public spaces to address the emotional needs of the communities that could benefit from them.
Artists should adopt Kusama’s model of making experiential pieces rather than passive attractions. Not every museum or community has access to art that cultivates a sense of mindfulness and wonder, but artists should apply these concepts to pieces and design the human experience. The idea of fully immersing the viewers in the artist’s vision would then translate the emotional experience of the artist and create a connection between artist and audience. Art plays a role in how one experiences the world. Cultivating a sense of mindfulness in art then transforms the interactions between artist and viewer as well as how the viewer sees his or herself.
102.
Ferro, Shaunacy. 2013. “The Mind-Bending Science Of James
104.
Vankin, Deborah. 2017. “Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms at
Turrell’s Art.” Popular Science, September 2013.
the Broad: A First Look inside the ‘Infinite Mysterious Beauty.’”
103.
Ibid.
The LA Times, October 18, 2017.
105.
Ibid.
Page 46
James Turrell, Ganzfelds, ‘Breathing Light,’ 2013. Yayoi Kusama, Infinity Mirror Room, ‘Souls of Millions of Light Years Away,’ 2013.
The Architecture of Happiness Mindfulness should be cultivated in all architecture, as the focus is on the present. Happiness, or rather a guaranteed positive experience, is slightly more difficult to design for, as there is not a recipe or checklist to accomplish a specific result. While attempting to narrow down the aspects of architecture that should be considered when crafting mindful experiences, numerous assumptions must be made. In his book The Architecture of Happiness, architect Alain de Botton most eloquently established a list of virtues of buildings, which “at congruous moments, and in particular combinations”106 create beautiful experiences that translate into happiness. As the 19th century French author Stendhal offered a vivid relationship between aesthetics and values, writing “beauty is the promise of happiness”107 and the desire to achieve happiness is a constant source of motivation. If happiness and beauty is not available, then it must be sought after. Just as good design would have beneficial qualities, Botton also states “bad architecture is in the end as much a failure of psychology as of design.”108 By neglecting design, the user wellness is compromised, as the innate desire to experience the space vanishes. Therefore the power of architecture is not to be understated, as the emotional response is real and impactful.
Page 47
Botton’s list of virtues of spaces begins with order, as “geometry represents a victory over nature”109 and chaos poses a natural threat to the manner in which we can live. Modernist architect Le Corbusier emphasized symmetry and orthogonal drawings as “beautiful, because in the middle of the apparent incoherence of nature or the cities of men, they are places of geometry… and is not geometry pure joy?”110 The appeal of architecture that seems organized and logical resides in the comfort that we feel from repetition and underlying complexity. Louis Kahn uses geometry as a means to express “the thoughtful making of spaces.”111 In the Phillips Exeter Library, Kahn expresses his “love of all that is logical and beautiful in building”112 and creates “a box”113 celebrating the power of simplicity. Using a circle within a square, the relatively simple parti is easily understandable to the user, but the complexity hides in the structural accomplishments. As the rational mind is soothed and interest is still maintained, the architecture accomplishes a positive emotional response and therefore promotes a sense of happiness or wellness.
106.
Botton, Alain de. 2006. The Architecture of Happiness. New York
111.
Curtis, William J. 2012. “Louis Kahn: The Space of Ideas.” The
City: Vintage Books. Page 174.
Architectural Review. 2012.
107.
Ibid. Page 98.
https://www.architectural-review.com/rethink/viewpoints/louis-kahn-the-space-of-ideas/8637503.article.
108.
Ibid. Page 248.
112.
Huxtable, Ada Louise. 1972. “An Appraisal.” The New York Times,
109.
Ibid. Page 178.
October 23, 1972.
110.
Ibid.
www.nytimes.com/1972/10/23/archives/new-exeter-library-stunning-paean-to-books-new-exeter-library-a.html.
113.
Ibid.
Page 48
Louis Kahn, Phillips Exeter Library, 1972.
The Architecture of Happiness The next trait that Botton considers a virtue is balance. As the underlying theme in all pleasurable design, architects must seek balance by juxtaposing different elements of age, luxury, material, and overall style.114 And while these elements may appear high-end, accommodation for balance allows beauty to be achieved in a more realistic fashion. Though “attempts to harmonize different aspects [are not] generally helped by the world,”115 design can fill the void of logical balance by serving as a certain idealized vision of the world, or rather improve the surrounding environment. Alberto Campo Baeza capitalizes on the effect of balance in his project for the offices in Zamora. Playing with “the synchronicity and unity of heavy and light, earth and air,”116 Campo Baeza placed a glass box within a massive stone walled courtyard. Without the surrounding wall, the glass box would not have nearly the same effect. The courtyard wall is a stone box reflecting the historic context of the neighboring church, “made from Memory, with its Cornerstone deeply rooted in the soil.”117 The glass box inside is “made for the Future, with its Glass Corner blending into the sky.”118 Campo Baeza exhibits how the virtue of balance in architecture translates to an emotional experience. With thoughtful mediation between different elements, balanced buildings provide for a positive emotional reaction as they “stand as exemplars of how we might adjudicate between the conflicting aspects of our character.”119 The balance achieved in certain designs is then sought out by our subconscious as a way to rationalize opposing aspects of one’s personality. Simplicity and harmony in design is then directly reflected in the user’s experience and emotional response.
Page 49
One of Alain de Botton’s more inexplicable virtues of buildings is elegance, a concept that alludes many. This quality is achieved “whenever a work of architecture succeeds in carrying out an act of resistance… with grace and economy as well as strength.”120 Rather than ostentatiously displaying the effort that is required to accomplish the difficult structural task at hand is faced with, “it has the modesty not to draw attention to the difficulties it has surmounted.”121 This elegance is most easily achieved through simplicity, as the tendency for overcompensation translates more into a perception of redundant effort. Marcel Breuer and Walter Gropius embraced the elegance that derives from simplicity in Chamberlain Cottage. Cantilevering a wooden box over a stone base anchored to the ground,122 the complexity of the structure is completely hidden, creating the effect of a gracefully floating building. The size of the project is small, but the elegance of the design is more impactful for the experience of the users. With refinement comes a “complexity to which genius has lent an air of simplicity.”123 Design requires more calculation and consideration in order to be perceived as elegant; therefore it is more appreciated when architecture is perceived as such. The nature of happiness also requires more effort than it may appear, and to reflect this simple beauty in architecture is to admire the craft and thought that has gone into such design.
114.
Botton, Alain de. The Architecture of Happiness. Page 195.
118.
“2012 Offices in Zamora.” n.d. Alberto Campo Baeza.
115.
Ibid. Page 200.
119.
Botton, Alain de. The Architecture of Happiness. Page 200.
116.
Hudson, Danny. 2012. “Alberto Campo Baeza: Offices in Zamora.”
120.
Ibid. Page 207.
Designboom. 2012.
121.
Ibid. Page 218.
https://www.designboom.com/architecture/alberto-campo-baeza-offices-in-zamora/.
122.
“Chamberlain Cottage.” 2016. Hidden Architecture. 2016.
117.
“2012 Offices in Zamora.” n.d. Alberto Campo Baeza. Accessed
http://www.hiddenarchitecture.net/2016/10/chamberlain-cottage.html.
April 22, 2018. http://www.campobaeza.com/offices-zamora/.
123.
Botton, Alain de. The Architecture of Happiness. Page 229.
Page 50
Alberto Campo Baeza, Offices in Zamora, 2012. Marcel Breuer & Walter Gropius, Chamberlain Cottage, 1941.
The Architecture of Happiness Botton also finds virtue in the perception of coherence within an architectural language. He theorizes that perhaps “nothing in architecture is ever ugly in itself… while beauty is the child of the coherent relationship between parts.”124 Design is as much about relationships between different objects and space as it is the object itself. The building is never isolated, neither in geographical context nor cultural or historical. The holistic approach to architecture examines the building on numerous scales and interpretations in order to design fully the desired experience. RCR Arquitectes embraced the geographical context entirely when designing Rural House in Spain. The house lies “between two fields, between two views, between two aspects, two levels: on the edge of an embankment,”125 and the design embraces the relationship to the site to shape the experience of the building. The building seems to fit so naturally within the context that it is almost as if the landscape benefits equally from the relationship, as if one would not feel complete without the other. Creating a successful coherent relationship happens as architects “coax us into seeing the environment through their eyes, and so made their achievements appear inevitable.”126 To design in such a purposeful way is to establish a relationship that as a whole is greater than its individual parts. As coherence is a virtue, the effort required to establish such graceful relationships is not often taken. The harmony established with graceful relations establishes the environment with a sense of purpose that is seamlessly transferred into one’s sense of being within such a space, creating a foundation for mental wellness.
Page 51
For Alain de Botton’s final virtue of buildings, he discusses self-knowledge as a reaction to architecture. He infers that man and environment have such symbiosis that with the addition of active architecture, “contact, even of the most casual kind, with commercial enterprises gives us a transfusion of an energy we are not always capable of producing ourselves.”127 Most other stationary objects cannot imitate the vibrancy found in architecture. Though the building is not moving, the inhabitants of the space, the atmosphere created through lighting, music, activity, and community makes the building come alive. In the Therme Vals, Peter Zumthor designs the building to serve as an experience, as the architecture serves to shape the emotions of those who visit. Zumthor designed for the individual, “to give it space…room in which to be.”128 With a carefully modeled path of circulation, he invites the users to explore “the meander, ... a designed negative space between the blocks, a space that connects everything as it flows throughout the entire building, creating a peacefully pulsating rhythm.”129 The architecture shapes a complete sensory experience and cultivates a sense of presence, discovery and peace. With a dramatic mountain background and a beautifully crafted building, users can then evaluate how they are reacting to their surroundings. Evaluating personal reactions to architecture also implies a sense of self-evaluation and makes for a more mindful experience.
124.
Botton, Alain de. The Architecture of Happiness. Page 218.
127.
Botton, Alain de. The Architecture of Happiness. Page 246.
125.
“Rural House / RCR Arquitectes.” 2017. ArchDaily. 2017.
128.
Souza, Eduardo. 2016. “Peter Zumthor’s Therme Vals Through
https://www.archdaily.com/635710/rural-house-rcr-arquitectes.
the Lens of Fernando Guerra.” ArchDaily. 2016.
126.
Botton, Alain de. The Architecture of Happiness. Page 229.
https://www.archdaily.com/798360/peter-zumthors-therme-vals-through-the-lens-of-fernando-guerra.
129.
“The Therme Vals / Peter Zumthor.” 2009.
https://www.archdaily.com/13358/the-therme-vals.
Page 52
Casa Rural, RCR Arquitectes, 2007. Peter Zumthor, The Thereme Vals, 1996.
The Architecture of Happiness A good design will provide for subtle features that are difficult “to convert this intuitive sense of well-being into a logical understanding of the reasons for it.”130 Emotional response to physical space is not an exact science, as personal preferences and experiences will always affect the users’ perceptions of the space. Even when designed identically on paper, two spaces can yield different reactions as they can “go wrong because our feelings of contentment are woven from fine and unexpected filaments.”131 It has not traditionally been a requirement for architecture to provide for the happiness of its users. Yet if architecture maximizes on its power over users, it can then be used in a more meaningful way to create true purpose for the buildings rather than just fulfilling a function. Botton boldly states “the failure of architects to create congenial environments mirrors our inability to find happiness in other areas of our lives.”132 Architects are not at fault for their inability to create happiness when they themselves or even solely the users of their buildings may not feel joy typically. While it is not the inherent job of every architect to dictate the emotional response of users of their spaces, designers should recognize the power they wield over the psychological response of the users and utilize it accordingly. If architects designed mindful experiences in every project, perhaps that would be the foundation to build happiness. Architecture has a direct influence on the mental state of those who experience it and should be treated accordingly. Architects need to take an active role in shaping the environment to provide for mindfulness and mental well-being as the community will feel the effect.
130.
Botton, Alain de. The Architecture of Happiness. Page 247.
131.
Ibid.
132.
Ibid. Page 248.
Page 53
Page 54
ASU Tempe Campus Research
As the University expands and grows more diverse each year, it is vital that the needs of the students are met not only within the classroom, but also through the daily experiences of being on campus. Providing for the mental wellness needs of the students will improve individual health as well as strengthen the student body and university as a whole. The university should take a stand not only on battling mental health issues, but also go further in addressing the role that technology and social media has on the stress of students. Using architecture and public space around campus to create mindful spaces, mental wellness can be addressed in a more subtle, less stigmatized fashion. Creating spaces focused more on positive experience and stress relief could be an asset to the plethora of resources currently being utilized to help students suffering with a range of mental wellness concerns.
Page 56
ASU Tempe Campus Map 1:10,000
Mental Wellness on Campus As one of the largest universities in the United States, Arizona State University has an enormous responsibility to provide its students with adequate resources for mental health. A National College Health Assessment done at ASU in 2017 reported only 48% of students rated their own general health as good or excellent, down from 60.6% in 2012.133 In the same study, a multitude of health factors were measured, ranging from physical to sexual to psychological wellness. The study examined healthy lifestyles as well as different barriers to wellness and stressors for students. When compared to the national average for stress levels, ASU ranked slightly higher as 60% of students reported high stress levels in the last year.134 Academics, as well as the feeling of being over-committed proved to be the biggest sources of stress for students, with 47.5% and 42.2% of students affected respectively.135 Closely following these top stressors were ‘personal emotional issues,’ with 39.9% of students impacted136 by personal interferences with their schoolwork. In addition to these stressors acting as barriers to students’ performance, 22.4% of students reported that anxiety acted as a barrier, resulting in lower grades, disruption of their coursework or in some cases failing to complete a class.137 The stress levels then take a toll on mental health and overall wellness, taking away from the students’ potential for success both in school and their future careers.
Page 57
The mental wellness on campus must be addressed in more widespread efforts, as the proportion of students that seek help for their struggles is relatively small compared to the number of those affected. The 2017 National College Health Assessment, surveying ASU students, found that 84.7% of students felt overwhelmed, 83.1% felt exhausted, and 60.5% felt anxious.138 As the number of factors for these statistics range from schoolwork to personal life to pre-existing issues, there is not a broad stroke solution. However, with such a large percentage of the student body affected, it begs the question how to address such a broad-sweeping problem. There are multiple resources on campus aimed at providing mental health services, yet as the relationship between emotional state and physical environment is so important, the design of campus should be shaped in a manner also aimed at promoting mental wellness.
133.
American College Health Association. ”2017 National College
136.
Ibid.
Health Assessment.” 2017.
137.
Ibid.
134.
Ibid.
138.
Ibid.
135.
Ibid.
Page 58
84.7% of students feel overwhelmed 83.1% of students feel exhausted
60.5% of students feel anxious 57% of students report high levels of stress
Only 38% of students did a good or outstanding job managing stress
Strategies students used to manage stress: Sleeping:
Alcohol:
79.4%
24.9%
Talking to Somebody:
Sex:
74.8%
23.6%
Exercising:
Illegal or Unprescribed Drugs:
68.1%
8.7%
Healthy Eating: 61.2% Journaling:
Mindfulness:
23.0%
50.3%
American College Health Association. �2017 National College Health Assessment.�
Identifying Spaces on Campus In the search to provide for mental wellness throughout campus, one possible solution is to create a network of mindful spaces in which students can spend time meditating or reflecting. Creating spaces throughout campus would allow for more students to have access to mindful experiences in their daily routines. The “in-between” spaces on campus are often more important than individual buildings for the experience of students, faculty and visitors, and yet they are usually the least designed. Utilizing the outdoor public spaces as a background for mindful architecture, students could experience mental reprieve just through walking on campus. Examining a map of campus, it is clear that there is an abundant amount of underutilized space that could be transformed to spaces that encourage mindfulness. Looking at the list of “most beautiful campuses” they all have plenty of nature, consistent architecture, and typically some sort of public art or private spaces that students can retreat to. If ASU provides more design interventions in the outdoor spaces and designate mindful spaces, the overall atmosphere of campus can provide for the mental wellness of all visitors and users.
139.
“Council of Religious Advisors | Arizona State University.” n.d.
Accessed March 29, 2018. https://eoss.asu.edu/cora.
Page 59
Using a list provided by the Council of Religious Advisors139 initially crafted with unique meditations in mind, there are a number of outdoor spaces around campus that could potentially prove beneficial to mindful experiences. The intention behind this list was to craft a series of meditations specific to each place that could be used to reduce stress for students in a more approachable and secular way. The list provided was extensive and some of the spaces were arguably not conducive to the act of meditation, or even being present and enjoying the space. In order to edit this list, there needed to be a way to judge how space could provide for the well being of its users.
Page 60
Spaces for mindfulness on campus 1:5,000
The Mindful Matrix
Page 61
When providing architecture that users can be present within, one should create a version of an optimal environment for individuals to exist within. The objective qualities may be initially designed, but the personal preference towards or against a space will always vary. For the purpose of this research, I have crafted a matrix against which spaces can be judged for certain qualities as beneficial or harmful to the users mental wellness. Using the ideas of the environment of mindfulness and the humanity of mindfulness, the matrix tackles comfort through observing light, air, privacy, beauty, and overall connection to self, environment, and community.
By judging these factors for different spaces on the ASU campus, a pattern emerges that quiet spaces with even daylighting, small crowds and a nice breeze are most beneficial to the mental wellness of those experiencing them. These spaces are typically smaller in scale with a sense of intimacy as they are not main circulation corridors on campus. Views are not as necessary, but an access to nature is essential for a connection to the environment and wellness. Although half of the initial options for spaces were not evaluated, the six remaining spaces were overwhelmingly deemed to fall along the presumed ideal conditions for mindfulness.
Using the matrix, I then judged the spaces on the list from CORA140 and eliminated a handful for landing at too extreme of an end on the spectrum. Overall the spaces were narrowed down to a list of twelve that could provide potentially beneficial experiences for students who visit these spaces. From this list, I then crafted a survey aimed at gathering data from a larger number of students to confirm my hypothesis that these spaces provided positive experiences. Formatting the questions of the matrix into an online survey, I was able to circulate the data retrieve affirmative responses.
Hayden Lawn, NEEB Plaza, the ASU Arboretum, and the Farmer Building courtyard all received positive reviews, but two frontrunners emerged, both in terms of popularity and quality of responses. The James Turrell “Skyspace” and The Secret Garden, one purposefully designed for mindful experiences and the other an incidental space created from the courtyard of a historic building, both mostly aligned with the presumed ideal conditions for mindfulness. While these two spaces already provide for mostly mindful experiences, the other spaces potential must not go ignored, as these spaces could expand into a fabric of mindful spaces on campus.
140.
“Council of Religious Advisors | Arizona State University.”
Page 62
THE ARCHITECTURE OF MINDFULNESS: THE MATRIX OF SPACE
A qualitative test evaluating public space and architecture for different features that prove necessary to the practice of mindfulness meditation.
SPACE BEING EVALUATED: Noise Levels within the space currently: VERY LOUD difficult to hear another person
LOUD able to carry on conversation, some interruptions
Desired Noise Level: NORMAL consistent ambient noise of conversation or music
QUIET can easily listen to people or be alone
VERY QUIET minimum background noise
Privacy Levels within the space currently: HYPER-PUBLIC lots of users at most times, never alone
PUBLIC constant crowd of users, the number of people fluctuates
Desired Privacy Level: SEMI-PUBLIC consistent crowd but can lessen at “off” hours
SEMI-PRIVATE sometimes crowded but can still feel alone there
PRIVATE rarely more than 10 others in the space at once
Circulation Levels within the space currently: BIKES & CROWDS OF PEDESTRIANS
WALK-ONLY, LOTS OF PEDESTRIANS
Desired Circulation Level: MIX OF BOTH, BUT NOT CONGESTED
SMALL PEDESTRIAN CROWDS
CAN NOT BE USED FOR CIRCULATION
Air Levels within the space currently: STUFFY & HUMID, UNPLEASANT
Desired Air Level:
AIR IS STILL, BUT NOT UNCOMFORTABLE
GOOD CIRCULATION, PLEASANT
LIGHT BREEZE, GENERALLY PLEASANT
TOO WINDY, UNPLEASANT
Temperature Levels within the space currently: TOO HOT, UNPLEASANT
HOT, BUT NOT UNCOMFORTABLE
Desired Temperature Level: TYPICALLY WARM, PLEASANT
SOMETIMES COLD, GENERALLY PLEASANT
TOO COLD, UNPLEASANT
Light Levels within the space currently:
Desired Light Level:
THE ARCHITECTURE TOO DARK, SHADED, SHADED EVEN DAYLIGHT, SHADOWS VARY, TOO BRIGHT, OF UNPLEASANT MINDFULNESS: BUT NOT UNCOMFORTABLE PLEASANT GENERALLY PLEASANT UNPLEASANT THE MATRIX OF SPACE A qualitative test evaluating public space and architecture for different features that prove necessary to the practice of mindfulness meditation. SPACE BEING EVALUATED: Comfort Levels within the space currently: UNCOMFORTABLE, don’t like being there
SOMEWHAT COMFORTABLE pass through occassionally
What would make you more comfortable? COMFORTABLE choose to go there when given opportunity
VERY COMFORTABLE go out of your way to spend time there What would make you spend more time there?
Time spent within the space currently: NONE
<2 HOURS PER WEEK
2-5 HOURS PER WEEK
>5 HOURS PER WEEK
What other activities would you like to do there?
Acitivity done within the space currently: PURELY CIRCULATION
SOCIALIZING
STUDYING
RELAXING
Stress level after experiencing space?
Stress level before experiencing space? HIGH
NORMAL
HIGH
RELAXED
Would you say this space provides for your mental wellness?
Do you have suggestions for improving this space?
Matrix used to assess potentially mindful spaces Survey sent to ASU students
NORMAL
THANK YOU
RELAXED
Mindful Implementations After crafting a study that was circulated among students, an overwhelming majority of responses received the spaces chosen in a positive light, affirming my hypothesis that these spaces would provide for mindful experiences. From these results, these spaces should be tackled with more emphasis on increasing design that promotes a sense of presence. As user preferences shift, the design should reflect a simplicity that can be universally calming and positive. The prescription for each space can shift as the position on the spectrum of each element evaluated in the matrix changes. Hence, the design should accommodate what users sense it lacks presently; for example, add vegetation and trees where it is too hot or sunny. By reacting to user evaluations, space can be crafted to reflect the needs of those who inhabit them, therefore making the experience more enjoyable and the users more likely to pay attention to the present moment. As the James Turrell “Skyspace” and the “Secret Garden” both achieve positive reviews, the focus is then turned to the spaces which show potential to become more powerful spaces. Perhaps the spaces are not as popular for mindfulness as they appear too public and do not allow for individual experience, yet design interventions can help mitigate this sense of overexposure. For example, in NEEB Plaza and on the Hayden Lawn, pop-up meditation spaces or largescale public art could provide more of a sense of shelter in which to exist without feeling on display. For these more public spaces, open space is almost unusable for individual experience as the scale is too vast.
Page 63
The Hayden lawn is rarely walked on but rather used for larger events of club fairs and extracurricular activities. Claiming even a corner of the lawn to be used for meditation, building a dynamic shade structure along the walking path, or even allowing large scale art exhibits could prove a useful resource for the students who use cross this area of campus daily. Using design and changing the environment of campus on a semiregular basis can help students be present even in their walks to and from class, distracting them from the temptation of their phones and encouraging more casual personal connections to their fellow students. NEEB Plaza has the potential to capitalize on the skills that students in the neighboring buildings already have. Allowing the students to create their own environment would let them have a sense of ownership and explore the creative potential that lies in an otherwise underutilized space. Design students could be challenged to create a life-size intervention for a mindful space on campus, a temporary structure that focuses on perhaps a particular sense and craft an experience focused on being fully aware of the chosen aspect. These designs could be scattered throughout campus in order to reach as many students as possible across all majors. The students that frequent the same areas of campus could then begin to discover that there is a network of similar spaces. If each has its own identity, the aspect of exploration encourages the user to be even more present in the experience, as novelty forces the user to evaluate what is different and how the difference affects him or her, whether he or she enjoys the experience. Mindfulness could be cultivated through a network of spaces as they force the user to be present and open-minded.
Page 64
Hayden Lawn and NEEB Plaza
Mindful Implementations While temporary structures would provide an artistic solution, the university should also consider commissioning artists to do larger scale pieces to activate spaces that are currently underutilized. As with the James Turrell piece, the space created should not necessarily be built to serve an explicitly stated purpose, but rather provide a blank canvas for the user to utilize as he or she sees fit. If even two more could be created, the investment in mental wellness could pay off as more students would benefit from the spaces. With the ASU Arboretum, the privacy levels that currently exist are desirable, yet most students fail to realize that such a space even exists. Perhaps if an installation such as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Skyspaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; piece were built, more students would be inclined to discover the space as they walked past it from the parking lot. What if curiosity was cultivated in order to interrupt the monotony of everyday life that many students face, traveling from class to work to home, only to repeat the same schedule every week? Activating this space could provide a welcome reprieve from a mundane schedule as well as a place to evaluate oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s individual sense of stress and well-being.
Page 65
The space in between the music building and Farmer could also serve as a good site for a more permanent installation. It is currently filled with gravel and used as a wash for when there is heavy rain, yet in the other months it is completely unused. Creating an installation would prove slightly more challenging as the practicality of its current function could not be completely sacrificed, but an innovative design could allow for both function and a more meaningful experience. The site also lends itself to a unique experience because there are often musicians practicing outside in the courtyard, so the ambient noise could change throughout the course of the day as a range of instruments echo through the space. An installation in this area would balance the Turrell piece on the opposite side of campus, engaging a different portion of the student body. Creating new or improving existing spaces around campus to foster mindfulness will benefit the sense of mental wellness among students, faculty, and visitors alike. By activating outdoor space through design installations, the campus starts to encompass wellness in an everyday and easily accessible way. As these mindful spaces provide for positive experiences and connections, the sense of community can be reinforced through the architecture of the environment.
Page 66
Walkway next to Old Main and The Secret Garden
Significance Mental Wellness is an emerging crisis that should be universally addressed in order to benefit both individuals and community interactions. The data exists to support a 4:1 return on investment for every dollar spent on depression and anxiety related treatment.141 Small interventions and unconventional methods can be even cheaper and more effective. A holistic approach to mental health will be more effective as a combination of factors can influence behavior and mindset. There is no direct equation for happiness, yet there are definite relationships between physical environment and peace of mind. By investing in design that accounts for a desired psychological response, architecture could start to be considered as a type of everyday therapy as everyone deserves space that makes him or her feel at ease, a mental refuge. The perception of good quality of life is reliant on relative factors that are not universally insured. Access to basic services, security, and shelter are seen as a baseline from which one can build from to feel fulfilled, however the psychological needs are not directly considered. As happiness differs from contentment, the marker for happiness in a given environment seems somewhat undetermined in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s culture of content passivity and over-exposure to technology. Design for health and safety is monitored by multiple agencies, but mental health is not addressed in any building codes. There should be a standard of design for mental health just as there is for physical safety. In the absence of a uniform standard, architects should then begin to tackle the issue themselves and begin to incorporate mental wellness into their designs, no matter the program, budget or constraints.
141.
WHO. 2016. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Investing in Treatment for Depression and Anxiety
Leads to Fourfold Return,â&#x20AC;? 2016.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2016/depression-anxiety-treatment/en/.
Page 67
There is a gaping void in our society as access to good design is often limited to those who can afford to experience it. Design can play a role in universal mental health care by tackling the current environments in mindful ways to address the psychological needs of its users. By adopting the practice of mindfulness and incorporating it into their designs, architects have the power to promote mental wellness on a larger and more accessible scale. By shaping the environment to encourage mental wellness and positive experiences, architects have the power to influence the trajectory of a community as a whole. Designing for positive experiences and reactions will lead to more content individuals and foster stronger community connections. The anthropology of architecture should be more carefully considered as a means to tackle global issues, as the environment in which society functions dictates human behavior. The architecture of mindfulness is a way to evaluate and design spaces at a small scale that have a more widespread effect on the users. By tackling how individuals experience a space, architects can shift the mentality of an entire community. Creating a series of small spaces that each have a meaningful impact on individuals will have a greater effect on the communities in which they are built. Mindful design should be implemented at all scales to have the strongest social impact. Starting at a smaller scale will have a greater visible effect on a community, and therefore must be implemented first. Architects should argue for more unprogrammed commissions and get involved in projects that engage the community to be mindful. Public art should be encouraged and widespread to engage the community in the present. Mindful design is important in shaping the communities in which we live.
Page 68
There is ample evidence as argued in this that Arizona State Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus would greatly benefit from a direct commitment to an architecture of mindfulness.It would address issues of mental wellness and would foster a sense of community on campus. By assessing the environmental and human factors of mindfulness, the public space on campus can then shape the daily experiences of the student body, provide for mental wellness, and encourage personal connections. The sheer number of students does not make a community strong, but rather how the individuals can relate to one another. In order to have the strongest community and be a leader among student satisfaction, ASU should evaluate how the campus fosters interactions and affects the students. Using architecture to promote mindfulness, students, faculty, and visitors will be more present within the space they are interacting, consequently forming connections that could have otherwise been missed. ASU should utilize the power of architecture to promote experiences that make individuals more mindful so as to connect to the present moment and each other. If the underutilized public spaces throughout campus could become mindful experiences, the community would benefit immensely, not just in terms of mental wellness, but also social interaction. Implementing the architecture of mindfulness is the first step to shaping a more mindful, healthier, stronger community. Architecture has an immeasurable influence over the human experience and should be utilized as a means to address more than just function, and instead work to create spaces that strengthen community and identity.
Gratitude
Page 70
Professor Philip Horton
Dr. William Heywood
Dr. Renata Hejduk
Trisha Eardley
The Center for Mindfulness, Compassion and Resilience
Barrett, The Honors College
The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
Arizona State University
The Class of 2018 Architecture Students
Barb & Tom Dickson
Chelsea Dickson
Claire Hinchman
Anthony Modyman
Savannah Greenough
Leia Dickson
Thank you.
Bibliography Abrahamson, Lawrence. 2013. “The Potential of Nothing.” MAS CONTEXT. 2013. http://www. mascontext.com/issues/17-boundary-spring-13/ the-potential-in-nothing/. Babadi-Akashe, Zahra, Bibi Eshrat Zamani, Yasamin Abedini, Hojaetolah Akbari, and Nasim Hedayati. 2014. “The Relationship between Mental Health and Addiction to Mobile Phones among University Students of Shahrekord, Iran.” Addiction & Health 6 (3–4). Farzanegan Radandish Co.: 93–99. http:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25984275.
Page 71
Black, David S, Joel Milam, and Steve Sussman. 2009. “Sitting-Meditation Interventions among Youth: A Review of Treatment Efficacy.” Pediatrics 124 (3). NIH Public Access: e532-41. https://doi. org/10.1542/peds.2008-3434. Botton, Alain de. 2006. The Architecture of Happiness. New York City: Vintage Books. Boyce, Barry. 2018. “Mental Health for All.” Mindful, January 2018. www.mindful.org/mental-health-forall/.
Bachelard, Gaston. 2014. The Poetics of Space. New York City: Penguin Books.
Boyce, Barry. 2018. “Mental Health for All.” Mindful, January 2018. www.mindful.org/mentalhealth-for-all/.
Bajoria, Sarika. n.d. “MINDFUL ARCHITECT TM.” Accessed March 28, 2018. https://www. mindfularchitect.com/.
Boyce, Barry. 2018. “Why Mindfulness Is for Everyone.” Mindful, March 2018. https://www. mindful.org/why-mindfulness-is-for-everyone/.
Bein, Eben. n.d. “A New Study Explains Proprioception, the Sense of Knowing Where Your Body Parts Are.” The Atlantic. Accessed April 4, 2018. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/ archive/2015/12/propioception-body-parts-senseresearch/420765/.
Center for Collegiate Mental Health. 2015. “Annual Report.” https://sites.psu.edu/ccmh/ files/2017/10/2015_CCMH_Report_1-18-2015yq3vik.pdf.
Berezin, Robert. 2015. “Psychiatric Drugs Are False Prophets With Big Profits.” Psychology Today. 2015. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ the-theater-the-brain/201507/psychiatric-drugsare-false-prophets-big-profits. Bienvenu, O. Joseph, Jack F. Samuels, Paul T. Costa, Irving M. Reti, William W. Eaton, and Gerald Nestadt. 2004. “Anxiety and Depressive Disorders and the Five-Factor Model of Personality: A Higherand Lower-Order Personality Trait Investigation in a Community Sample.” Depression and Anxiety 20 (2): 92–97. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20026.
Clark, Roger H., and Michael Pause. 1996. Precedents in Architecture. Edited by Jane Degenhardt. 2nded. New York City: Van Nostrand Reinhold. Curtis, William J. 2012. “Louis Kahn: The Space of Ideas.” The Architectural Review. 2012. https:// www.architectural-review.com/rethink/viewpoints/ louis-kahn-the-space-of-ideas/8637503.article. Bruin, Esther I. de, Bonne J.H. Zijlstra, Eva van de Weijer-Bergsma, and Susan M. Bögels. 2011. “The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale for Adolescents (MAAS-A): Psychometric Properties in a Dutch Sample.” Mindfulness. https://doi.org/10.1007/ s12671-011-0061-6.
Page 72
Edwards, Jim. 2011. “The 10 Key Turning Points in the History of Social Media” CBS MoneyWatch. 2011. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-10-keyturning-points-in-the-history-of-social-media/2/.
Greenberg, Gary. 2013. “The Psychiatric Drug Crisis.” The New Yorker. 2013. https://www. newyorker.com/tech/elements/the-psychiatricdrug-crisis.
Evans, Susan, Stephen Ferrando, Marianne Findler, Charles Stowell, Colette Smart, and Dean Haglin. 2008. “Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder.” Journal of Anxiety Disorders 22 (4). Pergamon: 716–21. https://doi. org/10.1016/J.JANXDIS.2007.07.005.
Gregoire, Carolyn. 2015. “What Constant Exposure To Negative News Is Doing To Our Mental Health.” The Huffington Post, February 2015. https://www. huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/19/violent-mediaanxiety_n_6671732.html.
Ferro, Shaunacy. 2013. “The Mind-Bending Science Of James Turrell’s Art.” Popular Science, September 2013. Francis, Jacinta, Billie Giles-Corti, Lisa Wood, and Matthew Knuiman. 2012. “Creating Sense of Community: The Role of Public Space.” Journal of Environmental Psychology 32 (4). Academic Press: 401–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/J. JENVP.2012.07.002. Gillin, J. C. 1998. “Are Sleep Disturbances Risk Factors for Anxiety, Depressive and Addictive Disorders?” Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 98 (s393): 39–43. https://doi. org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1998.tb05965.x. Gimian, James. 2018. “Not Your Standard Media Projects.” Mindful, March 2018.
Grinde, Bjørn, and Grete Grindal Patil. 2009. “Biophilia: Does Visual Contact with Nature Impact on Health and Well-Being?” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 6 (9). Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI): 2332–43. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph6092332. Harvard Medical School, 2007. National Comorbidity Survey (NCS). (2017, August 21). Retrieved from https://www.hcp.med.harvard.edu/ ncs/index.php. Data Table 1: Lifetime prevalence DSM-IV/WMH-CIDI disorders by sex and cohort. Hennessy, Michael B., Sylvia Kaiser, and Norbert Sachser. 2009. “Social Buffering of the Stress Response: Diversity, Mechanisms, and Functions.” Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology 30 (4): 470–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2009.06.001.
Gimian, James. 2018. “Not Your Standard Media Projects.” Mindful, March 2018. https://www. mindful.org/not-standard-media-projects/.
Hsu, Kean J. n.d. “Rumination Is a Risk Factor for Anxiety.” Anxiety.org. Accessed March 28, 2018. https://www.anxiety.org/what-is-rumination.
Golembiewski, Jan. 2014. “Building a Better World: Can Architecture Shape Behaviour?” The Conversation. 2014. http://theconversation.com/ building-a-better-world-can-architecture-shapebehaviour-21541.
Hudson, Danny. 2012. “Alberto Campo Baeza: Offices in Zamora.” Designboom. 2012. https:// www.designboom.com/architecture/albertocampo-baeza-offices-in-zamora/.
Bibliography Huxtable, Ada Louise. 1972. “An Appraisal.” The New York Times, October 23, 1972. www.nytimes. com/1972/10/23/archives/new-exeter-librarystunning-paean-to-books-new-exeter-library-a. html. ICMPA, and Phillip Merrill College of Journalism. 2010. “Study Conclusions.” The World UNPLUGGED. 2010. https://theworldunplugged. wordpress.com/addictions/conclusions/. Jha, Amishi P., Jason Krompinger, and Michael J. Baime. 2007. “Mindfulness Training Modifies Subsystems of Attention.” Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience 7 (2): 109–19. https://link.springer.com/content/ pdf/10.3758%2FCABN.7.2.109.pdf. Kabat-Zinn, Jon. 2013. Full Catastrophe Living. New York City: Bantam Books. Kessler, Ronald C, Shelli Avenevoli, E Jane Costello, Jennifer Greif Green, Michael J Gruber, Steven Heeringa, Kathleen R Merikangas, BethEllen Pennell, Nancy A Sampson, and Alan M Zaslavsky. 2009. “Design and Field Procedures in the US National Comorbidity Survey Replication Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A).” International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research 18 (2): 69–83. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.279. Kessler, Ronald C, Patricia Berglund, Wai Tat Chiu, Olga Demler, Steven Heeringa, Eva Hiripi, Robert Jin, et al. 2004. “The US National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R): Design and Field Procedures.” International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research 13 (2): 69–92. http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15297905.
Page 73
Kessler, Ronald C, Wai Tat Chiu, Olga Demler, Kathleen R Merikangas, and Ellen E Walters. 2005. “Prevalence, Severity, and Comorbidity of 12-Month DSM-IV Disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication.” Archives of General Psychiatry 62 (6): 617–27. https://doi. org/10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.617. Kessler, Ronald C. 2008. “National Comorbidity Survey: Baseline (NCS-1), 1990-1992.” InterUniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research. 2008. https://doi.org/https://doi. org/10.3886/ICPSR06693.v6. Kikusui, T., J. T Winslow, and Y. Mori. 2006. “Social Buffering: Relief from Stress and Anxiety.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 361 (1476): 2215–28. https:// doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2006.1941. Kuznetsov, D., and N. Kostinska. 2017. “The Role of Alternative Medicine in Modern Healthcare.” http://eztuir.ztu.edu.ua/jspui/ bitstream/123456789/6527/1/254.pdf. Lawrence, Jonathan. 1996. “A Student-Created Company Is the Talk of the Web | Cornell Chronicle.” Cornell Chronicle. 1996. http://news. cornell.edu/stories/1996/04/student-createdcompany-talk-web. Loizzo, Joseph. 2014. “Meditation Research, Past, Present, and Future: Perspectives from the Nalanda Contemplative Science Tradition.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1307 (1). Wiley-Blackwell: 43–54. https://doi.org/10.1111/ nyas.12273. Lutz, A., L. L. Greischar, N. B. Rawlings, M. Ricard, and R. J. Davidson. 2004. “Long-Term Meditators Self-Induce High-Amplitude Gamma Synchrony during Mental Practice.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 101 (46): 16369–73. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0407401101.
Page 74
Lyubomirsky, Sonja, Kennon M. Sheldon, and David Schkade. 2005. “Pursuing Happiness: The Architecture of Sustainable Change.” Review of General Psychology 9 (2): 111–31. https://doi. org/10.1037/1089-2680.9.2.111. Maples-Keller, Jessica, and Vasiliki Michopoulos. n.d. “Causes and Risk Factors.” Anxiety.org. https://www.anxiety.org/what-is-anxiety#. Matilainen, A., M. Pohja-Mykrä, M. Lähdesmäki, and S. Kurki. 2017. “‘I Feel It Is Mine!’ – Psychological Ownership in Relation to Natural Resources.” Journal of Environmental Psychology 51 (August): 31–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. jenvp.2017.03.002. McLeod, Saul. 2017. “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.” Simply Psychology. 2017. https://www. simplypsychology.org/maslow.html Merikangas, Kathleen Ries, Jian-Ping He, Marcy Burstein, Sonja A Swanson, Shelli Avenevoli, Lihong Cui, Corina Benjet, Katholiki Georgiades, and Joel Swendsen. 2010. “Lifetime Prevalence of Mental Disorders in U.S. Adolescents: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication--Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A).” Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 49 (10): 980–89. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.jaac.2010.05.017. Milun, Kathryn. 2013. Pathologies of Modern Space: Empty Space, Urban Anxiety, and the Recovery of the Public Self. Routledge. https:// books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=PXKM AQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=anxiety+and +space&ots=Nl6Z9Hf3Nb&sig=0np2C3-SNhZ4 ZuZ6Cxc8nRIXQy0#v=onepage&q=anxiety and space&f=false.
Minguillon, Jesus, Miguel Angel Lopez-Gordo, Diego A. Renedo-Criado, Maria Jose SanchezCarrion, and Francisco Pelayo. 2017. “Blue Lighting Accelerates Post-Stress Relaxation: Results of a Preliminary Study.” Edited by Hengyi Rao. PLOS ONE 12 (10). Public Library of Science: e0186399. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0186399. Pells, Rachael. 2017. “Giving Your Child a Smartphone Is like Giving Them a Gram of Cocaine, Says Top Addiction Expert.” The Independent, June 7, 2017. Perrin, Andrew. 2015. “Social Media Usage: 2005-2015 | Pew Research Center.” Pew Research Center Center. 2015. http://www. pewinternet.org/2015/10/08/social-networkingusage-2005-2015/. Philip Merrill College of Journalism. 2011. “New Study by Merrill Prof Finds Students Everywhere Addicted to Media.” Accessed March 24, 2018. https://merrill.umd.edu/2011/04/new-merrill-studyfinds-students-everywhere-addicted-to-media/. Pickert, Kate. 2014. “The Mindful Revolution.” TIME, January 2014. http://time.com/1556/themindful-revolution/. Pinquart, Martin, and Silvia Sörensen. 2003. “Associations of Stressors and Uplifts of Caregiving With Caregiver Burden and Depressive Mood: A Meta-Analysis.” The Journals of Gerontology: Series B 58 (2): P112–28. https://doi.org/10.1093/ geronb/58.2.P112. Powers Lott, Abigail, and Anaïs Stenson. n.d. “Types of Anxiety.” Anxiety.org. https://www. anxiety.org/what-is-anxiety#.
Bibliography Reilly, Katie. 2018. “Anxiety and Depression: More College Students Seeking Help.” TIME, March 2018. http://time.com/5190291/anxietydepression-college-university-students/. Saatcioglu, Fahri. 2013. “Regulation of Gene Expression by Yoga, Meditation and Related Practices: A Review of Recent Studies.” Asian Journal of Psychiatry 6 (1): 74–77. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.ajp.2012.10.002. Safi, Omid. 2014. “The Disease of Being Busy.” On Being. 2014. https://onbeing.org/blog/thedisease-of-being-busy. Schierz, Christoph, and Cornelia Vandahl. n.d. “Biological Effects of Light – Literature Overview.” Technische Universität Ilmenau. Accessed March 25, 2018. http://www.m4ssl.npl.co.uk/wp-content/ uploads/2012/02/Protocol-on-Circadian-effectiveradiation.pdf. Schure, Marc B., John Christopher, and Suzanne Christopher. 2008. “Mind-Body Medicine and the Art of Self-Care: Teaching Mindfulness to Counseling Students Through Yoga, Meditation, and Qigong.” Journal of Counseling & Development 86 (1). Wiley-Blackwell: 47–56. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2008. tb00625.x. Smith, Aaron, and Monica Anderson. 2018. “Social Media Use 2018: Demographics and Statistics.” Pew Research Center. 2018. http://www. pewinternet.org/2018/03/01/social-media-usein-2018/. Snyderman, Ralph, and Andrew T. Weil. 2002. “Integrative Medicine.” Archives of Internal Medicine 162 (4). American Medical Association: 395. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.162.4.395.
Page 75
Souza, Eduardo. 2016. “Peter Zumthor’s Therme Vals Through the Lens of Fernando Guerra.” ArchDaily. 2016. https://www.archdaily. com/798360/peter-zumthors-therme-vals-throughthe-lens-of-fernando-guerra. Stender, Marie. 2017. “Towards an Architectural Anthropology—What Architects Can Learn from Anthropology and Vice Versa.” Architectural Theory Review 21 (1): 27–43. https://doi.org/10.10 80/13264826.2016.1256333. Stringer, Leigh. 2015. “We Shape Our Buildings.” LeighStringer.com. 2015. http://www.leighstringer. com/we-shape-our-buildings/. Taylor, Emily. 2018. “ASU Promotes Mental Health and Wellness through Unplugging.” The State Press, February 7, 2018. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and National Institute of Mental Health. 2016. “Generalized Anxiety Disorder: When Worry Gets Out of Control.” National Institute of Health. 2016. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/ generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad/index.shtml. Rooij, Sanne van, and Anaïs Stenson. n.d. “An Introduction to Anxiety.” Anxiety.org. https://www. anxiety.org/what-is-anxiety#. Vankin, Deborah. 2017. “Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms at the Broad: A First Look inside the ‘Infinite Mysterious Beauty.’” The LA Times, October 18, 2017. Wamsler, Christine. 2018. “Mind the Gap: The Role of Mindfulness in Adapting to Increasing Risk and Climate Change.” Sustainability Science, January. Springer Japan, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/ s11625-017-0524-3.
Page 76
Warren Brown, Kirk, Richard M Ryan, J David Creswell, Kirk Warren, and J David. n.d. “Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for Its Salutary Effects.” Accessed March 29, 2018. https://doi. org/10.1080/10478400701598298. WHO. 2016. “Investing in Treatment for Depression and Anxiety Leads to Fourfold Return,” 2016. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/ releases/2016/depression-anxiety-treatment/en/. Yamashita, Miyako, Ryuichiro Yagi, and Hideo Furukawa. 2001. “The Structure of Yutori and Its Functions.” Japanese Psychological Research 43 (4): 225–34. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/ pdf/10.1111/1468-5884.00180. Zeidan, Fadel, Katherine T. Martucci, Robert A. Kraft, John G. McHaffie, and Robert C. Coghill. 2014. “Neural Correlates of Mindfulness Meditation-Related Anxiety Relief.” Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 9 (6). Oxford University Press: 751–59. https://doi.org/10.1093/ scan/nst041. Zilliacus, Ariana. 2016. “Peter Zumthor’s Bruder Klaus Field Chapel Through the Lens of Aldo Amoretti.” ArchDaily. ArchDaily. 2016. https:// www.archdaily.com/798340/peter-zumthorsbruder-klaus-field-chapel-through-the-lens-of-aldoamoretti.
“Bruder Klaus Field Chapel / Peter Zumthor.” 2011. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/106352/ bruder-klaus-field-chapel-peter-zumthor. “Nasher Sculpture Center.” 2012. Arcspace. https://arcspace.com/feature/nasher-sculpturecenter/.
“The Therme Vals / Peter Zumthor.” 2009. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/13358/thetherme-vals . “Rural House / RCR Arquitectes.” 2017. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/635710/rural-house-rcrarquitectes. “Chamberlain Cottage.” 2016. Hidden Architecture. http://www.hiddenarchitecture. net/2016/10/chamberlain-cottage.html. “Offices in Zamora.” 2012. Alberto Campo Baeza. Accessed April 22, 2018. http://www.campobaeza. com/offices-zamora/. “Explore the Standard.” n.d. International WELL Building Institute. Accessed April 21, 2018. https:// www.wellcertified.com/en/explore-standard. “Urban.” n.d. UB Lab. Accessed April 20, 2018. https://www.ub-lab.com/urban/. “Mindfulness Could Improve College Students’ Testing Ability, Study Finds.” 2013. The Huffington Post. 2013. https://www.huffingtonpost. com/2013/03/27/mindfulness-testing-focusreading-comprehension_n_2957146.html. “What Is Emotional Design?” n.d. Interaction Design Foundation. Accessed April 20, 2018. https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/ topics/emotional-design. “Mindfulness Meditation Linked With Positive Brain Changes, Study Suggests.” 2013. The Huffington Post. 2013. https://www.huffingtonpost. com/2012/06/15/mindfulness-meditation-brainintegrative-body-mind-training_n_1594803.html. “Semester Stress and Anxiety.” n.d. Asu.edu. Accessed April 4, 2018. https://eoss.asu.edu/ counseling/concerned/stress_anxiety.
Bibliography “2017 National College Health Assessm.“ 2017. American College Health Association. “Council of Religious Advisors | Arizona State University.” n.d. Accessed March 29, 2018. https:// eoss.asu.edu/cora. “James Turrell.” n.d. Accessed March 29, 2018. http://jamesturrell.com/. “A Call for Increased Access to Unstructured Interactions with Nature: Dak Kopec at TEDxSacramento.” n.d. TEDx Talks. Accessed March 29, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ZuuRNcNpzNM. “STEP 4: Practice Your Breathing Skills.” n.d. Anxieties.com. Accessed March 29, 2018. https:// www.anxieties.com/57/panic-step4. “INDEX: Design to Improve Life®.” n.d. Accessed March 28, 2018. https://designtoimprovelife.dk/ education/education-about/. “UB-Lab — Research & Academia.” n.d. Accessed March 28, 2018. https://www.ub-lab.com/researchand-academia. “Health & Education Statistics: Any Anxiety Disorder.” 2017. National Institute of Mental Health. 2017. www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/ any-anxiety-disorder.shtml#part_155095. “Facts & Statistics.” n.d. Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. Accessed March 25, 2018. https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/ facts-statistics#. “National College Health Assessment.” 2017. http://www.acha-ncha.org/docs/NCHA-II_ SPRING_2017_REFERENCE_GROUP_EXECUTIVE_ SUMMARY.pdf.
Page 77
“New Studies Compare Smartphones to Cocaine Addiction | Elements.” 2017. Elements Behavioral Health . 2017. https://www. elementsbehavioralhealth.com/addiction/newstudies-compare-smartphones-cocaine-addiction/. “The World UNPLUGGED.” n.d. Accessed March 24, 2018. https://theworldunplugged.wordpress. com/. “National Survey Confirms That Youth Are Disproportionately Affected by Mental Disorders.” 2010. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/sciencenews/2010/national-survey-confirms-that-youthare-disproportionately-affected-by-mentaldisorders.shtml. “Anxiety Disorders.” 2016. National Institute of Mental Health. 2016. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml. “Smartphone Addiction a Ticking Time Bomb.” 2015. Elements Behavioral Health. 2015. https:// www.elementsbehavioralhealth.com/behavioralprocess-addictions/smartphone-addiction-aticking-time-bomb/. “New Studies Compare Smartphones to Cocaine Addiction.” 2017. Elements Behavioral Health. 2017. https://www.elementsbehavioralhealth.com/ addiction/new-studies-compare-smartphonescocaine-addiction/. “Then and Now: A History of Social Networking Sites.” n.d. CBS News. Accessed March 24, 2018. https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/then-and-nowa-history-of-social-networking-sites/2/.
Page 78
Thank you.