Thinking About How Buildings Make Us Feel

I’ve been thinking about how buildings make us feel. Not in a dramatic, life-changing sense; more in the quiet, everyday way that spaces affect our comfort, mood, or focus without us even realising.

On a recent school project, I found myself thinking a lot about circulation and how pupils will move through the building at different times. I wondered how small changes like corridor widths, natural light, or clearer sightlines might help make the space easier to navigate or feel less crowded. These were questions I kept coming back to, even if the final design didn’t always reflect every idea.

There are several design elements that quietly influence how people experience a space:

Light

Natural light can change the mood of a room, helping to make people feel more alert, calm, or comfortable. Bright, well-lit areas often feel welcoming and safe, while dim or uneven lighting can create confusion or discomfort.

Circulation and layout

How people move through a building matters. Clear pathways, well-placed entrances, and open corridors help reduce stress by making wayfinding easier. Narrow or cluttered routes can feel confining and make movement more difficult, especially in busy spaces like schools.

Sightlines

Being able to see where you’re going and understand the space around you can reduce anxiety. Clear views to exits, classrooms, or communal areas help people orient themselves and feel more secure.

Materials and textures

The choice of materials; wood, concrete, glass, and their textures affect how a space feels on a tactile and visual level. Warm, natural materials can feel inviting, while hard, cold surfaces might feel less comfortable but may suit functional areas.

Acoustics

Noise levels influence concentration and wellbeing. Good acoustic design helps control echoes and background noise, making spaces easier to use and more pleasant to be in.

These factors may not always be visible in technical drawings, but they shape how people live, learn, and interact within a building every day.

A lot of time in practice is spent on delivery drawings, coordination, solving technical problems. It’s easy to lose sight of what the building will feel like once it’s in use. I’m trying to keep that in focus more often, even during the fast-paced stages of a project.

This isn’t about perfect designs or grand ideas. It’s about paying attention to the small things that make a difference to the people using the space every day.

What small design details have you noticed that change how a building feels? I’d love to hear your thoughts!