Illustration 1: Various forms of Built Environment; Oreskovic et al., 2014

variation in building height, variation in building plane, presence of a street focal point, and presence of windows or transparent glass. (Oreskovic et al., 2014)

Illustration 1: Various forms of Built Environment; Oreskovic et al., 2014

Building's physical volume comprises of the building‘s massing, it‘s height, the plane, and general shape of a it. The aggregation of building masses, at the urban scale, defines the form of urban blocks and streetscapes and allows for the emergence of different patterns. Variations in the facade plane and building heights (skyline treatment) lead to the form variations within an urban environment. These variations in the form are expected to reduce apparent mass; provide visual interest; and create a local, pedestrian-friendly character. (Oreskovic et al., 2014)

3.3.3 Material and Texture

Senses help people to interact with their built environment. Architecture behaves as a social art shaping the world around us. Architecture is a function between context, functionality and sensations. Our well-being, aptitudes, productivity and responses is directly related to the built environment. Materials are the ‗sculptors‘ of the built environment. Materials bring character and originality to the spaces. Therefore, it is important to be aware how the human mind reacts to a certain material before using it. They are also necessary to establish a relationship of visual quality and structural

stability. Certain materials trigger certain part of brain. The greatest architects of all times have selected considerately with the type of material they chose for their buildings to support their purpose, philosophy, and responsibility as the pioneer of building society or a nation. Careful selection of materials encourages buildings that have a natural resonance with their environment and that can be easily repaired.(―How do materials affect human psychology - RTF | Rethinking The Future,‖ n.d.)

It is known that the materials which shape the built form can play a key role in determining how pleasing or displeasing a space can be. The function of space can also be defined by the material used. For instance, concrete can be used to give a overpowering bold impression. It evokes uniformity, consistency, focus and unidirectionality. It is usually used in institutional buildings for a work environment as it needs no distraction and slight maintenance. In contrast, wood gives the feeling of coziness providing ease and comfort.

Materials and textures go hand in hand. Textures provoke how a person senses touch and comprehends it. There are more than a hundred species of wood in construction industry, each creating a different experience. The emotions and productivity levels are manipulated by the variety in wood grains, tones and textures. They can be used in aromatic spaces which soothe and welcomes you like spas and treatment centers and also in the offices where the efficiency levels are increased. The different experiences are created by using different type of wood.

The designer should consider it their obligation to pick-out the material which relaxes, soothes and re- energizes the human mind. They should consider the demand to practice such materials in a design that encourages constructive social and personal attitude as the mental health of the society is now at the brink of stability.

3.3.4 Scale and Proportion

Scale is size corresponding to ourselves and the world around us. A person feels more comfortable to human. Our homes are commonly built to this natural scale. A man feels comfortable walking through the doorways where the ceiling neither 19 | P a g e

knocks the head, nor is lost in the shadows. We normally measure things against ourselves. Scale and proportion encourage a relationship between the community and the built environment. The monumental scale is impressive. This is a statement of hierarchy. Our mind assesses the human scale and monumental scale in an unlike manner. The buildings made on the human scale give the feeling of comfort, coziness, and relief. It soothes the human mind. On the contrary, the buildings made on the monumental scale display power or fear. These structures are usually aweevoking. The different emotions created by the scale of the built structures are also responsible for how we react to these buildings.(―Placemaking and the Human Scale City,‖ n.d.)

The perception of space depends upon the built environment that surrounds it. The height, opacity, and transparency create the scale and emotion of the spaces. By and large, a space with greater vertical proportion gives a more serious urban feel as compared to a space with greater horizontal proportion which gives a more relaxed feel.

For example, a street corridor with tall structures along with it, a narrower path, a trifling pavement, and a little private space will give the feeling of higher intensity. On the other hand, a street corridor with lower buildings along the sides and a relatively broader pathway will be a less intense neighborhood business district.(―Streets Scale and Proportion — CUDA Studio,‖ n.d.)

If the human scale is about perception, then it cannot be applied in a single objective definition; every individual sees the world from a different angle. This implies that the human scale in any given community depends upon what the particular community perceives as human scale.