Emotional Architecture Strategies for Interior Spaces

Abstract

In fast-paced urban environments, interior spaces are increasingly expected to serve more than functional or aesthetic roles, they must also support emotional and psychological wellbeing. This thesis explores the concept of Emotional Architecture within interior design, investigating how spatial strategies, particularly through the use of color and form, can be employed to shape perception, enhance emotional connection and create different atmospheres. Building on the foundational ideas of Mathias Goeritz and Luis Barragán and informed by interdisciplinary research in environmental psychology, phenomenology, neuroscience and interior design, this work reframes emotion not as an afterthought in design but as a central, measurable and embodied component of spatial experience. Key contributors such as Pallasmaa, Zumthor and Bachelard are placed in dialogue with scientific studies and design practitioners to develop a nuanced understanding of how space interacts with the body and mind. The thesis proposes a flexible design framework rooted in sensory engagement, spatial rhythm, cultural awareness and empathic mapping. It explores how material presence and spatial voids can affect mood, behavior and memory, and emphasizes the intersection of color and form as means of emotional communication. With its theoretical foundation and practical application, this study provides interior designers with practical methods for designing emotionally resonant interiors that capture the complexity of the human experience.