flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Study explores why high ceilings are popular

Architects

Study explores why high ceilings are popular

High ceilings give us a sense of freedom, new research finds


By BD+C Staff | March 9, 2015
Study finds out why most people like high ceilings

Interior view of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Photo courtesy Jean_Christophe Benoist/Wikimedia Commons

Real-estate listings usually include high ceilings as an amenity. This makes sense, as research has shown that home buyers tend to prefer homes above the standard eight-foot ceiling.

A recent study done by a team from the University of Toronto-Scarborough (UTS), who revealed to us recently why the human brain prefers curvy buildings, also explored why high ceilings are desirable.

Led by psychologist Oshin Vartanian of the UTS found that our brains tie high ceilings to a psychological sense of freedom, Fast Company reports.

In addition, the team also looked at the brain activity of research subjects who were placed under a neuroimaging scanner as they reviewed pictures of interiors. They found that the majority of respondents labeled a space with high ceilings as “beautiful.”

“Such rooms promote visuospatial exploration,” Vartanian told Fast Company. “At the same time they prompt us to think more freely. This could be a rather potent combination for inducing positive feelings.”

Fast Company has the full report.

Related Stories

Healthcare Facilities | Aug 24, 2017

7 design elements for creating timeless pediatric health environments

A recently published report by Shepley Bulfinch presents pediatric healthcare environments as “incubators for hospital design innovation.”

BD+C University Course | Aug 23, 2017

AIA course: New steel systems add strength and beauty

Advances in R&D are fostering new forms of structural and aesthetic steel.

Market Data | Aug 23, 2017

Architecture Billings Index growth moderates

“The July figures show the continuation of healthy trends in the construction sector of our economy,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker.

Architects | Aug 21, 2017

AIA: Architectural salaries exceed gains in the broader economy

AIA’s latest compensation report finds average compensation for staff positions up 2.8% from early 2015.

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Aug 18, 2017

Video: Designing the ideal rugby stadium

HOK invited four world-class rugby players into its London studio to discuss what they would like to see in the rugby stadiums of the future.

Architects | Aug 16, 2017

Staffelbach joins DLR Group

The firm will be merging operations immediately with full integration and the name change to DLR Group| Staffelbach effective October 2.

Multifamily Housing | Aug 9, 2017

Related Companies unveils plans for One Hudson Yards luxury rental residences

The 33-story tower will be positioned on the High Line with views of the Hudson River and downtown Manhattan.

Multifamily Housing | Aug 9, 2017

Multifamily developers, designers cater to occupants’ need for mobility

Bike storage facilities and “bicycle kitchens” are among the most popular mobility amenities in multifamily developments, according to a new survey by Multifamily Design + Construction magazine.

Giants 400 | Aug 9, 2017

Innovation at 72 design firms

The following is a list of advancements architecture and A/E firms underwent in 2016, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2017 Giants 300 Report.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category



Urban Planning

The magic of L.A.’s Melrose Mile

Great streets are generally not initially curated or willed into being. Rather, they emerge organically from unintentional synergies of commercial, business, cultural and economic drivers. L.A.’s Melrose Avenue is a prime example. 


Curtain Wall

7 steps to investigating curtain wall leaks

It is common for significant curtain wall leakage to involve multiple variables. Therefore, a comprehensive multi-faceted investigation is required to determine the origin of leakage, according to building enclosure consultants Richard Aeck and John A. Rudisill with Rimkus. 

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021