A Model for the Development of Architectural Psychology Formation in Architectural Education

This article examines the purpose, method, and outcomes of an “Architectural Psychology” program, developed to introduce new architecture students to the subject. A combination of the architectural concepts of Social Psychology, Environmental Psychology and Psychology of Perception were used in the program. Psychology of Architecture will be taught simultaneously with the Introduction to Architecture program in a student-based educational system to help students understand psychology with its definitions, and implement it throughout their architecture education. This method was implemented in one class of 140 students of interior design, and another of 80 students of architecture. In this article, the latter is explained. The duration of the program was fourteen weeks and, in total, nine activities and a final study were assigned. The outcomes of the assigned activities indicated that the “Architectural Psychology” program enhanced the architecture curriculum by adding the elements lacking in the “architecture – psychology relationship” and its usage in architectural design. Therefore, it is concluded that the addition of the program to the curriculum was apt and beneficial