MINIMALIST ARCHITECTURE AS A FRAMEWORK FOR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, CULTURAL REFLECTION, AND SUSTAINABLE DESIGN: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY ANALYSIS
Abstract
Minimalist architecture has emerged not only as an aesthetic practice but also as a multidimensional response to the psychological, cultural, and environmental demands of contemporary society. This article investigates how minimalist design embodies more than simplicity—acting as a mediator between space and spirit, tradition and innovation, materiality and mindfulness. Through an analysis of historical movements, Eastern philosophy, semiotic theory, environmental sustainability, and architectural psychology, the research positions minimalism as a design language that emphasizes clarity, authenticity, and resilience. This study synthesizes perspectives from Japanese Zen aesthetics, modernist European architecture, and contemporary global minimalism to explore how reduction in form leads to expansion in meaning. The results show that minimalist architecture improves mental well-being, fosters sustainable practices, and reflects cultural continuity through spatial and material awareness. The paper concludes that minimalism is not a stylistic endpoint, but a process-oriented philosophy that can address evolving human and ecological needs.
Keywords
Minimalist architecture, Zen Buddhism, Wabi-sabi, Ma (meaningful emptiness), Architecture and psychology, Aesthetic restraint, Environmental sustainability, Cultural identity.How to Cite
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