Design for spatial well-being

My kids are intrigued by how passionate I am about modern architecture and design — especially buildings and interiors that create a sense of calmness. I always seem to either be on a mission to discover thought-provoking interior architecture, or be deep in thought about what I just saw. Questions constantly flood my mind: What is the essence of meaningful, well designed spaces? Why do simple forms and structures often leave us in a tranquil state of mind? How does one translate this calmness into spatial well-being? 

I needed to find answers.

My raison d'être

What is well-being anyway? I had heard so much about its positive impact on human health and wanted to unpack the idea for myself.

“Well-being has been defined as the combination of feeling good and functioning well; the experience of positive emotions such as happiness and contentment as well as the development of one’s potential, having some control over one’s life, having a sense of purpose, and experiencing positive relationships. It is a sustainable condition that allows the individual or population to develop and thrive”

In simpler terms, well-being encompasses health, happiness and a meaningful life.

How about spatial well-being? How do we design interior environments that foster a sense of comfort, peace, and connection, while also providing meaningful and virtuous experiences?

Here’s how I describe it:

Spatial well-being is a way of thoughtfully crafting our interior environments to positively impact our internal environment.

During my family’s search for affordable homes within the cities we wanted to visit, I noticed a pattern: we all seemed to prefer less cluttered environments with good lighting and access to nature. 

Staying in a modern interior was a given, but being surrounded by less stuff seemed to benefit our mental health. It also didn’t matter if lighting was natural light streaming in from windows, or strategically positioned indoor ambient lighting, or if nature was plants on the inside or a park close by — these spaces made us all feel better. 

It seems clearer to me that less stuff, good lighting, and access to nature all have some sort of positive impact on the human spirit  — an overall effect that can only be described as transcendental. 

Could a connection between design for spatial well-being and the transcendental aspects of lighting, simplicity and nature be the raison d'être I’d been searching for?

I believe so.