Summer blog series by Rachel Huff, entering freshman in the UGA College of Environment & Design and participant in Arcollab’s Foundations in Design after school program
Of the three main attributes of biophilic design, the experience of space and place is the most conceptual. This attribute focuses more on creating feeling in a space rather than using physical components to express nature. When you are in a space you want it to have a stimulating atmosphere and an easy to process layout. Transitional spaces, cultural embellishments, as well as the use of organized complexity are all tools used to create that type of environment.
Transitional spaces like hallways and entryways allow for each individual space to have a clear boundary without having to completely section off the space with a wall. Think about the entrance to your house, usually there is some type of room or hall that is visually separate from other areas like a den or a kitchen. This helps to create a feeling of order when you walk into a house because rather than immediately walking into a living room you are greeted with a space that can transition you into the house. One of the challenges in modern residential architecture is to create a feeling of comfort in generally more open floor plans. Entry areas and transition spaces between rooms can be designed to help convey this feeling, along with the use of biophilic materials and windows like I talked about in the previous blog posts.
People tend to feel more comfortable when surrounded by elements from their cultures. You can bring in cultural aspects to a space through decor. Having antique furniture, religious symbolism, or cultural art collections in a space can go a long way to making the space more pleasant to be in.
