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About me
Hello! My name is Puja Kotapati, and I am a senior in my final year at Rock Canyon High School. My interest in the built environment began long before this research project—ever since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by how spaces make us feel. During amily travels, I found myself paying more attention to buildings than anything else. Whether it was a historic temple, a modern museum, or a narrow street lined with colorful homes, I loved noticing how each architectural style shaped the culture around it. Over time, these experiences sparked a genuine passion for architecture, interior design, and urban landscaping.
As I continued traveling, I became more intentional about observing how cities were arranged—how parks opened up crowded districts, how color was used to brighten dense urban areas, and how simple design choices completely reshaped the mood of a space. This curiosity eventually blended with my academic interests in science and psychology. I began to wonder not just what buildings looked like, but why they made people feel a certain way. That question stayed with me for years.
Outside of my interest in design, I stay very involved in the school community. I am a member of the Science National Honor Society (SNHS), TSA, and HOSA. I serve as the President of Rock Canyon’s Operation Smile Club and as a peer leader for the Girls Persist Club, helping support younger girls in leadership and confidence. When I’m not at school, I volunteer at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, where I get to share my enthusiasm for science while continuing to learn from the world around me. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, painting, and exploring new places whenever I can.
My experiences with travel and observing architecture strongly influenced my decision to pursue a research topic involving the design of interior spaces. I’ve always believed that rooms carry emotional weight—that the shape of a ceiling or the color of a wall can completely shift how someone perceives a space. Through AP Research, I finally had the chance to explore this idea in depth.
My project examines how room shape and wall color influence human perception, specifically looking at how people interpret comfort, emotion, and spatial openness. While design and architecture have always inspired me creatively, this research allowed me to approach them through a scientific lens. It has given me the opportunity to blend my interests in psychology, design, and environmental science into one cohesive study.
Ultimately, I hope to continue exploring how design can improve people’s well-being—whether through architecture, urban planning, interior design, or environmental psychology. And as someone who dreams of visiting as many countries as possible, I look forward to learning from the world’s architectural styles and landscapes firsthand.
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