Worlds top 50 thinkers ~ Marwa al-Sabouni

[Cooky]

I am having an epiphany as I write this... I was just considering writing a thread on how living in a flat or apartment differs from an actual house... About how living in my apartment here in Southern California, about how I view the world as my backyard, and how that differs from the isolationism of having a home, with a backyard, and how that would certainly have made my life different.

...Then I do a search for the world's top thinkers, and the first one I click on, through Prospect magazine is talking about EXACTLY THAT! In any case, regardless of whether epiphanies actually exist, let's get on with examining the ideas of Marwa al-Sabouni, of Syria.

...Does architecture, living conditions and city design influence human behavior?

How to rebuild Syria? - CNN Video




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[Cooky]

I think architecture, living conditions and city design do influence human behavior. I think it promotes overall intellectual health and does indeed invite enlightenment...

It 'lights the candle' of enlightenment. I would say.

...I would say that a lack of architecture, poor living conditions and a bad city design impede enlightenment.

What do you think about this revolutionary concept?

 

[Cooky]

Could it be we're like tropical fish, needing precise conditions in order to maintain our greatest health? Imagine building a zoo, where lions and tigers are kept in an alligator exhibit, and giraffes and elephants in bird cages...

...Do you think these animals will have a healthy state of mind? Perhaps they'll even die!

 

[Onoma]

I like the concepts.

I've always felt that a mental and physical disconnect from nature is unhealthy, but I also spent much time in the woods as a child, also in the ocean/s, so I'm probably a little biased there

Case in point - I like to make friends with wild squirrels, ( And other animals ) and have gotten them to the point where they sit on my desk watching videos and eating seeds while I brush their tails. I even screwed branches to the walls and made them their own entrance so they come and go as they like. The interactions I've had with them over the years have been extremely rewarding, and I firmly believe that having these experiences has contributed greatly in negating things like depression, sadness, etc

 

[Cooky]

I like the concepts.

I've always felt that a mental and physical disconnect from nature is unhealthy, but I also spent much time in the woods as a child, also in the ocean/s, so I'm probably a little biased there

Case in point - I like to make friends with wild squirrels, ( And other animals ) and have gotten them to the point where they sit on my desk watching videos and eating seeds while I brush their tails. I even screwed branches to the walls and made them their own entrance so they come and go as they like. The interactions I've had with them over the years have been extremely rewarding, and I firmly believe that having these experiences has contributed greatly in negating things like depression, sadness, etc

You're right. Natural preserves, as well, with wild grasses and designated trails for hiking are a major boon to self awareness, and a general sense of well being.

Quality of life matters!

 

[Cooky]

Can anyone ever imagine the ages of human advancements in ancient Greece, Rome or other enlightenment periods occurring in barren deserts, or areas of extreme poverty of dilapidated, uninspiring architecture..? Seriously!?

 

[Cooky]

Now we can even take this one step further, and understand that Syria was going through a stage of unprecedented poverty and delapitated living conditions before the war.

...Is it any wonder that Islamic extremism takes hold in areas where Mosques are the only beautiful area that one has to visit?

If the Mosque is viewed as sheer beauty, and the rest of your environment is dilapidated, will you not develop a heightened appreciation from that source of beauty?

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Interesting topic. Yes, I believe architecture and environment play substantial roles in mental as well as physical health. And, as you have flagged, they can have subtle impacts on how we even view the world around us.
It's hard to quantify, I would say, but that's my opinion.

When choosing a place to put down roots, my wife and I looked at things like proximity to shops and transport, activities for our (at the time) hypothetical kids, etc. But we also looked at a more natural and less sterile style of environment, with good parklands, walking tracks, wildlife, etc, and picked our living location very deliberately based on that because we think it impacts to some degree on how we feel and act.

(We are pretty much limited to city living, due to our jobs, but Melbourne has some very green suburbs)

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Can anyone ever imagine the ages of human advancements in ancient Greece, Rome or other enlightenment periods occurring in barren deserts, or areas of extreme poverty of dilapidated, uninspiring architecture..? Seriously!?

I think there is an element of chicken and egg, though. I know that Maslow's hierarchy isn't exactly up-to-date in it's thinking, but the basic premise that higher order thought occurs when lower level needs are met makes some sense to me.
In others words, it was the absence of poverty which allowed more inspiring architecture to be invested in, both in terms of thought/design/effort and material resources.
It's appearance is a symbol of the ability of that society to deal with basic needs effectively, rather than the root cause of advanced thought. (imho)