The effect of the interaction of architecture, culture, and nature on well-being and spirituality

The research examines the effect of architectural and landscape spaces on physical, mental-emotional and spiritual well-being. Existing theory suggests that different types of spaces are meaningful to people through their perception of aspects of the spaces. Aspects of the spaces include culture, history, and nature.; The central argument embraces, expands and proves, and will also challenge the ideas and concepts of Christopher Alexander and Keith Critchlow. They challenge the modernist notion that nature exists to be dominated by technology and technological expression believing instead that the bi-partite relationship between structure and nature, or culture and architecture, contribute to and/or determine the meaning of space including nature, symbolism, and geometry and cultural patterns of their use. Critchlow suggests that further statistical research including inherent cultural norms would allow the determination of the precise relationship between culture, nature and space. This is what the dissertation undertakes.; Worship spaces were selected in which to study participants' perceptions since they were designed to connect people with their own spirituality. The spaces differed in religious type, history, and design. The participants were of different age groups and genders. A questionnaire was used to gather information about their backgrounds, attitudes to nature, and rating of their own physical and mental-emotional health. The questions pertained to their own perception of their own physical, mental-emotional, and spiritual state. Their reactions were measured before, during, and after having been in the respective worship spaces. The variables from the data were tested to determine what aspects of the experience affected their well-being.; It was anticipated that the participants would have an increased sense of well-being as a result of the design of the space. However, not only aspects of space were tested. Other variables such as culture, history, age, gender, attitudes to nature, and building type were tested. It was predicted that people would have an increased sense of well-being with exposure to aspects of spaces designed to reflect a sense of spirituality. It was anticipated the results would determine what aspects of space universally contributed to that sense. The findings indicated that culture, history, attitudes towards nature, and traditional as well as non-religious buildings have an effect on well-being and spirituality, while modern buildings have physical as opposed to spiritual impact.