Architecture vs. Bad Mood: The power of joy-lifting Design
As we navigate through ongoing political, health and economic crises, architecture's ability to inspire joy has never been more important. Whether it's vibrant squares, harmonious residential complexes or creative work spaces, architecture can influence not only our exterior but also our feelings.
After a century of modernism, our cities seem to be mostly covered with monotonous grids of offices and apartment blocks. Instead of streets full of colourful facades and warm materials, all too often we walk through monotonous, anonymous and cold-looking areas, at least according to Thomas Heatherwick. In 2023, the British designer and architect published the book 'Humanise', which aims to put an end to monotonous, grey - in other words, soulless - streetscapes. Heatherwick, who even calls Le Corbusier the 'king of boredom', calls for a new generation of 'visually complex' buildings in form and colour to feed our eyes and heal our souls. In other words: An emotional and visual 're-humanization' of buildings and streets.
Someone who would probably agree with Heatherwick is Yinka Ilori. The British-Nigerian architect and designer is often described as an 'architect of joy'. No wonder, with his work bursting with colour and wild patterns. Ilori often draws inspiration from his childhood, and his playful designs invite you to walk through his buildings and installations with the eyes of a child (see pictures below: © Andy Stagg).
Dutch architects MVRDV are also aware of the power of colour. Haus 1 (see below), a bright yellow office complex in Berlin, was designed in collaboration with HS Architects. The bold colour, which signals optimism and innovation, adorns both the exterior façade and the large zigzag staircase that leads to the roof of the building (see below Photo: © Schnepp Renou).
The "Luisenblock West" project, for example (see below), which won the IF DESIGN AWARD 2024 Gold, demonstrates a particularly beautiful use of colour. Sauerbruch Hutton Architects have built a new office building for the German Bundestag in prefabricated timber construction. The main feature is clearly the colourful façade. It refers to the seasonal colour changes of the surrounding trees and is also a metaphor for the growing diversity of the German population for whom the building was constructed.
But relying on colour or pattern alone would be too simplistic. It also requires an exchange between architecture and people. For example, the façade of the WZ Jardins Hotel in São Paulo (see below), which also received an IF DESIGN AWARD, actively involves the public. Designed by Estudio Guto Requena, the 30-storey façade, which functions as an urban art intervention, contains sensors that record sounds and air quality in real time and generate luminous movements, shapes and colours. A mobile phone app allows the public to interact directly with the work and change its appearance.
In contrast, 'Presence in Hormuz 2' by ZAV Architects (see below) has a social as well as a visual impact. It is a tourist development in the Persian Gulf in Iran that aims to strengthen the local economy and community on the island. Built from a series of domes - a construction method familiar to the locals - the complex consists of several holiday homes. Its small size made it compatible with the building capacity of local craftsmen and unskilled workers. The majority of the planned budget was used to pay local workers, rather than expensive imported materials, in order to give a large proportion back to the local community (see bloe Photo: Soroush Majidi).
The examples show that architecture can be used in many ways as a tool to create joy and improve the lives of people. However, it is necessary to think beyond aesthetics to achieve a lasting positive impact. Architecture should create spaces that appeal to emotions, foster community and focus on people's wellbeing. By encouraging social interaction and respecting cultural identity, architecture can be not only visually appealing but also life-affirming. It is this holistic approach where people feel connected and experience joy - a truly fulfilling goal for the architecture of the future.
By Stefanie Solèr, journalist and interior designer