"See Me, Touch Me, Feel Me, Heal Me" ~ The Who
Our Week 3 blog topic is to discuss what role the sense of touch plays in interior design. Arguably a great deal. I have an older sister who was born prematurely and is totally blind as a result. Over the years I have asked her if she had to choose a sense to live without which one it would be. Now in her 60's she still affirms that her sense of touch (followed closely by the sense of smell) is the one she would find it difficult to live without.
In the realm of interior design we instinctively touch - drapery and upholstery fabrics, carpets, finishes like drapery rods and even decor. The nap of a fabric, the way it falls or stands against the skin plays a tremendous part in any design.
Imagine a room devoid of any texture - say, a white room in a laboratory. Smooth walls, floors and ceilings. Even if these surfaces were colored the room would still have no depth, no essence, no soul.
Now imagine your favorite room - perhaps a supple leather sofa, a plush throw on a nearby ottoman with artisan textiles and framed art adorning the walls. A structural ceiling fixture, deeply folded draperies on the windows and a soft, sculptured carpet underfoot complete the room. Some elements are in close proximity and can be experienced tacitly. Other elements (e.g. the ceiling fixture) are remote but the finish is visible and the sense of touch transmits from experience.
And while we most often think of interior design in terms of residential design the same principles apply to design for healthcare and commercial environments. Soft sheets and warm blankets are not the first thing one would think of in terms of design for a hospital setting and yet these are some of the most important elements patients will experience from the moment they arrive. Window treatments that softly diffuse light and glare are part of that touch experience peripherally.
BOKA Powell-Designed Forest Park Medical Center San Antonio Underway
The power of interior design to help clients see, feel, touch and be healed is undeniable and as the use of technology increases in the built environment it will be imperative for us to keep touch at the forefront of our designs.
In the realm of interior design we instinctively touch - drapery and upholstery fabrics, carpets, finishes like drapery rods and even decor. The nap of a fabric, the way it falls or stands against the skin plays a tremendous part in any design.
Imagine a room devoid of any texture - say, a white room in a laboratory. Smooth walls, floors and ceilings. Even if these surfaces were colored the room would still have no depth, no essence, no soul.
Now imagine your favorite room - perhaps a supple leather sofa, a plush throw on a nearby ottoman with artisan textiles and framed art adorning the walls. A structural ceiling fixture, deeply folded draperies on the windows and a soft, sculptured carpet underfoot complete the room. Some elements are in close proximity and can be experienced tacitly. Other elements (e.g. the ceiling fixture) are remote but the finish is visible and the sense of touch transmits from experience.
And while we most often think of interior design in terms of residential design the same principles apply to design for healthcare and commercial environments. Soft sheets and warm blankets are not the first thing one would think of in terms of design for a hospital setting and yet these are some of the most important elements patients will experience from the moment they arrive. Window treatments that softly diffuse light and glare are part of that touch experience peripherally.
BOKA Powell-Designed Forest Park Medical Center San Antonio Underway
The power of interior design to help clients see, feel, touch and be healed is undeniable and as the use of technology increases in the built environment it will be imperative for us to keep touch at the forefront of our designs.
Great title for this week's post! Creative to connect music with design.
ReplyDelete