随身英语
How architecture makes us feel建筑设计对人心理健康的影响
研究发现糟糕的建筑设计更容易给人带来压力，从而影响人们的心理健康。世界上有些城市已经在城市规划中要求建筑周围要融入自然景观。一位英国设计师认为英国的建筑物过于乏味，希望建筑师们对此作出改变。然而，伦敦 “对讲机大楼” 的建筑经验证明，让建筑物变得有趣并非易事。本文讨论建筑设计对人心理健康的影响。
词汇：buildings建筑
More than half the world's population are city dwellers, and, by 2050, the United Nations predicts that seven in ten people will be. With that in mind, architects are having to consider how architecture influences our emotional wellbeing in urban settings.
According to Colin Ellard, a research psychologist at Waterloo University, Canada, there is a lot of evidence which shows "the profound impact that the design of buildings has on how we feel, how we treat one another, and our overall psychological well-being". A study from the University of Heidelberg concluded that people raised in the countryside are less likely to have mental disorders than those raised in the city. The city of Vancouver in Canada, which is surrounded by mountains and ocean, recognises this need to connect with nature. It has included protecting ocean and mountain views in its urban planning guidelines. For example, tall buildings are erected in strategic locations that don't block scenic views for downtown residents.
The British designer Thomas Heatherwick wants to make architecture less soulless and boring. He told the Guardian newspaper, "We need to fearlessly demand interestingness… and make buildings that nourish our senses." He has written a new book, Humanise, where he lists seven characteristics of a boring building. These include being too flat and straight. He says lack of depth means light and shadow cannot play on surfaces, while straight lines are at odds with nature and make buildings monotonous.
However, making buildings interesting is not always easy, as architect Rafael Vinoly found out in 2013 when he created the 37-storey skyscraper known as the Walkie Talkie in London. The building was admired for its curved exterior walls covered in reflective glass. However, it acted like a magnifying glass and reflected light which melted nearby cars and almost set fire to a carpet. A screen had to be added to prevent the building causing further damage.
So, for your own wellbeing, surround yourself with buildings that bring you joy, and ideally a view of nature.
词汇表
dweller 居民
architect 建筑师
architecture 建筑物
design 设计
urban planning 城市规划
erect 建造
strategic 有策略的，经过悉心规划的
downtown 市中心的
resident 居民
soulless 毫无生趣的
interestingness 有趣之处，趣味性
lack of depth 缺乏深度（此处指建筑表面缺乏起伏变化）
surface （建筑的）表面
line 线条
monotonous 一成不变的，单调乏味的
storey 楼层
skyscraper 摩天大楼
curved 曲面的，有弧线的
exterior wall 建筑外墙
screen 隔挡，挡板
测验与练习
阅读课文并回答问题。
1.What did the University of Heidelberg study conclude?
2.What has Vancouver included in its urban planning guidelines?
3.What does Heatherwick think buildings should do to our senses?
4.True or False? Heatherwick believes buildings should have a lack of depth.
5.What was the problem with the Walkie Talkie?
选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
1.In his studio, he's put a _______ up between the kitchen and bedroom.
nature dweller surface screen
2.I couldn't live in the countryside. I prefer _______ living.
curved soulless urban bland
3.Anna dislikes the architecture of the town. She says the buildings are _______.
exterior strategic monotonous downtown
4.Craig's been working as an _______ for many years now.
dweller architecture architect urban planning
5.The building has _______. It almost changes shape depending on the sunlight.
well-being depth skyscrapers line
答案
阅读课文并回答问题。
1.What did the University of Heidelberg study conclude?
People raised in the countryside are less likely to have mental disorders than those raised in the city.
2.What has Vancouver included in its urban planning guidelines?
Vancouver has included protecting ocean and mountain views in its urban planning guidelines.
3.What does Heatherwick think buildings should do to our sense?
He told the Guardian newspaper, "We need to … make buildings that nourish our senses."
4.True or False? Heatherwick believes buildings should have a lack of depth.
False. He says lack of depth means light and shadow cannot play on surfaces.
5.What was the problem with the Walkie Talkie?
It acted like a magnifying glass and reflected light which melted nearby cars and almost set fire to a carpet.
选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
1.In his studio, he's put a screen up between the kitchen and bedroom.
2.I couldn't live in the countryside. I prefer urban living.
3.Anna dislikes the architecture of the town. She says the buildings are monotonous.
4.Craig's been working as an architect for many years now.
5.The building has depth. It almost changes shape depending on the sunlight.
