We live in physical, mental, and digital worlds. Our mental world spans both the physical world and the digital world. We often get confused about what reality is, and about who we are. Beyond the mere society of the spectacle, we believe that how we text, how we present ourselves on social media, and what we think when we consume media constitutes who we are; but it is not. Only action in the physical world contributes to the growth of our character. Who we think we are in the digital world is not necessarily who we are in reality. Further yet, whatever we learn, be it in a book or scrolling media, is not truly learned until we apply it, or least rephrase it in our own words, and thus bring it into physical existence.

We know intuitively that all good thoughts must be brought into the physical world, and all bad thoughts left behind. It is important that we work to bring the good from out of our mental and digital worlds into the light of day.

One way we can be helped to achieve this is through spatial design. Whether it be buildings, landscapes, or the places in between, the spaces we pass through have the ability to pull us out into real existence, if only they strike the right chord and startle us into reality. A great tragedy in our lives can have this effect, throwing us into sudden mindful awareness, as can a great moment of joy. While we need not tamper with the inherent beauty of our natural environments, we should erect buildings within view of these phenomena, and where proximity is not possible, architecture must speak with power. Timid architecture recedes from our view, and allows us to delve deeper into our interiority. Bold, bright, colorful, and unusual spaces draw us out into reality. But too much can blind our sensitive souls and cause a retreat into the depths of interiority. The proper balance of boldness and subtlety is what we refer to as “good taste”.

What are the principles of good taste as it relates to an architecture that draws people out into reality? How does this work for the three types of spaces organized by frequency? These three spatial types are: places we go once or several times in our lives, places we go several times a year or more, and places we go every day. This last category is the most challenging to design for, as the daily can often become the mundane.

Below are some principles of an architecture against interiority:

Feng shui – ease of mind in a space

Contemplative arrangements – spaces that one can sit, look around, and think in

Social hubs – gathering places that encourage triangulated interactions

Free spaces – activity centers with flexible uses

Metaphoric content – relationships that are only noticed by careful observers

. . .

“Brain Rot” was the 2024 Oxford Word of the Year.  The term refers to the overconsumption of low-quality online content. 

‘Brain rot’ named Oxford Word of the Year 2024

We often find ourselves instinctively scrolling on our phones in moments of boredom, anxiety, or when feeling other unpleasant emotions.  Instead, we could be looking out at the world around us, engaging with friends and family, or taking a moment out of our busy days to let our minds wander.  Doom scrolling curbs our curiosity, our connectedness, and our creativity by filling our leisure time with meaningless online content.

Before concluding, let us expand the five principles of an architecture against brain rot. 

Feng shui is how space is designed for the comfort of the human mind.  Feng shui allows us to feel at ease in a space, and thus reduces the negative emotions which would ordinarily cause us to reach for our phones.  Some aspects of feng shui include the layout and flow of space, proper lighting design, selection of colors and their proportions, visual balance, incorporation of natural elements, and location of furniture.

Contemplative arrangements give us something to look at and thus stave off boredom.  Windows with a view of the outside, sitting areas for people-watching, or a well-populated bookshelf give us plenty of stimulus to entertain our modern hyperactive brains.  Our minds are allowed to wander in these arrangements, and are also nourished with food for thought.

Social hubs encourage interaction by providing a focus in the space.  A fire pit, a vivid painting on a wall, or a kitchen island where dinner is being prepared are all examples of social triangulation.  These sorts of spaces encourage us to gather together around something and participate in real world interactions.

Free spaces are places that can be used in countless different ways.  Whether it is a room that has been designed to convert between functions or an exterior space that can be used as the imagination sees fit, free spaces invite inhabitants to use space as their current mood strikes them.  Through this increased engagement, free spaces pull people into the real world.

Metaphoric content refers to any relation that a space makes to something beyond itself.  Hidden symbols, dates on cornerstones, motifs that repeat, and personal objects all have the ability to make people more observant by showing them the rewards of paying attention.  Adolf Loos was wrong; ornament is not a crime, it is a good use of our down time.

Spaces designed with these principles pull us away from our phone and into reality by making us feel comfortable in the world, giving us food for thought, encouraging socialization, allowing us the freedom to do what we want, and rewarding us with meaning.  Our physical environments should be designed as an antidote to the interiority of the mental and digital worlds which we fall so easily into.  Architecture is real, and it has the potential to bring us all back into reality.