Beauty in the built environment
By : J. David Chapman/September 26, 2024
On Friday, October 25 the UCO Real Estate Program will host a symposium from 2 to 4pm called “Innovations in Construction” on the UCO campus. While this seminar will likely be highly technical in nature, real estate is not always technical, and sometimes we consider emotions and feelings. Last week I wrote about neuro-architecture asking if buildings could alter a human’s mood. Today, I want to consider the term “beautiful” in relations to the built environment and buildings.
We are starting to use the term beautiful in housing policy discussions. As we learned in last week’s article, a beautiful building can bring joy and contentment in everyday life. Beautiful, well-designed homes can significantly enhance the mental health of the inhabitants. Attractive, well-built surroundings can reduce stress, increase feelings of happiness, and contribute to a sense of peace and contentment.
A beautiful building means that someone, somewhere, cared enough to do a little extra. It may even mean that a child growing up in something beautiful develops a sense of pride and belonging. Aesthetic appeal in housing and neighborhoods may lead to civic pride, where residents take collective responsibility for maintaining and improving their environment.
Charles Mulford Robinson, a leading theorist in the “city beautiful movement” in the late 1800’s wrote “Mean streets make mean people,” and concluded that pride led to stronger, more vibrant communities. Beauty in real estate can also coincide with functionality. Good design considers the usability and comfort of spaces, ensuring that they are both beautiful and practical. This balance can improve the quality of life for residents by making spaces more efficient and pleasant to live in.
The term “Beautiful” might be subjective, but it does mean something. Even if each of us has a unique perspective, as in the case of housing and real estate, in the end, it means investing in the human experience in a positive manner. I would argue that beauty in the built environment plays a critical role in our psychological well-being, social cohesion, and even economic value of our communities.
So, while we consider innovation in construction next month, let’s keep the human experience in mind, remembering the immense impact that something well designed and decorated is a worthwhile investment in humanity. We might even consider bringing a little Victorian Architecture back and their unapologetic devotion to ornament and flourish.
J. David Chapman is a professor of finance & real estate at The University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu).