Buffalo is a beautiful city. It might not be the most beautiful city in the world (beauty is in the eye of the beholder), but it certainly has its stunning attributes.
In recent years, we have seen a lot of buildings rise in various neighborhoods, some that are very appealing such as the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, and others that don’t look that appealing (there are a few of those).
Aside from buildings, we are seeing more public art installations being installed throughout the city. There are also public works projects underway in various parts of town.
All of these new buildings, public art installations and public works projects should allow us to demonstrate that this city is worthy of inspirational developments that rival the accomplishments of our forefathers. Why should all of the modern day creations that we build be beautiful and inspirational, as they have been in the past? Because, according to a recent study, living in pretty cities is good for your health.
This article, published in DailyMail, details the findings of the study which reveals that people who live in aesthetically pleasing everyday environments appear to be healthier. It makes sense. If you are surrounded by buildings that you respect and admire, they probably make you happy. In many circumstances, being happy can equate to being healthy (in mind, body and soul).
“The areas rated as most scenic were often not green areas. Instead, it is more dependent on the overall cohesion of architecture and design which boosts people’s health and happiness.” – Daily Mail
So the next time an urban planner, or developer, tells you that aesthetics aren’t important, you can tell him or her to consider the health of the people who must look at the development day in and day out. It might not work, but it’s worth a shot.