Glossary of Terms
Constructing Health and the Knowledge Hub are explorations of neuroscience, public health frameworks, and architectural pedagogy that aim to provoke the design of health enhancing architecture. Terminology from across this broad field of research is often employed throughout Farrow Partners’ body of work to help support our pursuit of a wellness centred built environment. The following glossary of terms is offered to deepen the understanding of relevant terminology, key concepts, and theories to support our mission to construct health.
Affordances
Coined by environmental psychologist James J. Gibson, the opportunities provided by the environment and its furnishings to the individual
Architectural
In the architectural determinants of health theory, architectural is used as an umbrella term for all intentionally designed environments that surround people, including buildings, interiors, urban design, city planning, landscape architecture, infrastructure, and relevant industrial design. It signals that health is shaped by this entire nested system of spatial design—rooms, buildings, streets, public spaces, and networks—rather than by isolated structures, positioning the designed environment as a coherent, modifiable health determinant in its own right.
Biophilia
The innate human affinity for nature; expressed through direct experiences of the natural world and the use of natural analogies in materials and forms
Constructed Theory of Emotion
Developed by psychology professor Lisa Feldman Barrett, emotions are constructed using past experience, bodily sensation, and cultural background.
Determinants
In the architectural determinants of health theory, determinants refers to the specific, repeatable features of designed environments that reliably shape health outcomes over time. In other words, they are the modifiable spatial conditions in buildings, interiors, landscapes, infrastructures, and urban form that make certain patterns of wellbeing or illness more likely, and can therefore be deliberately designed as health-causing factors rather than treated as neutral background.
Environmental Enrichment
Derived from experiments by neuroscientists Donald O. Hebb and later Marian Cleeves Diamond, the enhancement of human neurological health, such as neurogenesis (the formation of neurons), through environmental, spatial, or architectural properties
Generalized Resistance Resources
Coined by medical sociologist Aaron Antonovsky, the resources that a person has that facilitates their ability to cope with stressors
Health
Defined by the WHO as a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Hope Theory
Developed by psychology professor Rick Snyder, the perceived capacity to create paths towards goals through self-motivation and agency
Place Attachment Theory
The theory that emotional bonds exist between people and place
Salutogenesis
Coined by medical sociologist Aaron Antonovsky, derived from salus (Latin word for health) and genesis (Greek word for origin), is the study of the causes of human health and wellbeing, as opposed to the origins of disease (pathogenesis).
Sense of Coherence
Defined by medical sociologist Aaron Antonovsky, the accumulation of the biological and psychosocial factors used to perceive life as comprehensive, manageable, and meaningful.
Shikake
Deliberately designed environments that aim to trigger or gently nudge individuals towards healthful behaviours
Stimmung
The atmosphere of place, the emotive phenomenon impressed upon one through experience of an architectural space, including memory, emotion, and mood
Wellbeing
Emphasises a positive state of life satisfaction, functioning, and flourishing across dimensions such as physical, mental, social, and spiritual life.