The Owner Built Home & Homestead
(Page 8 of 15)
Let us recognize, first of all, the animal nature of man;
we design to satisfy needs or, more simply, we
design to secure comfort. Heretofore, this book
has been devoted to aspects of achieving physical
comfort; something needs to be said for the even more
important concept of psychological comfort. The overall
effect upon one's senses and consciousness by interior
spaces defies definition, but it can be partially analyzed.
Sensory reactions to a room environment can be relaxing and
invigorating, or it can be disturbing.
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The Owner-Builder who expects to attaina pleasing interior
environment should first of all not take himself too
seriously. His tone should be o ne of relaxed informality;
he should keep experimental and loose and, above all, the
creating (living) experience should be fun.
Architect Venturi goes even further; he claims that the
best architecture is not symmetrical or balanced; nor is it
clean and simple, logical and formalized. According to
Venturi, to achieve a vital and timely reality, the
architecture must contain what traditionalists would call
confusions and distortions; it must be complex,
"contradictory," ambiguous and contain downright "error" in
concept and execution!
Our reaction to an enclosed space is a reaction to size,
shape, light, color, openness, etc. To a space-sensitive
person a long and seemingly endless corridor is disturbing:
Anxiety is created because this type of space encourages
distortions of preception. Also, a space that does not have
a clearly defined size or shape can produce a feeling of
insecurity. A space should be immediately comprehensible.
The new look in building interiors is one of
boldness with lighting in design and color.
Lighting is no longer thought of in reference to mere
illumination. Rather, psychological relief and atmosphere
are prime concerns. Spots are employed to highlight or
wash; recessed "down-lights" create smug and sophisticated
qualities; table and floor lamps are works of sculpture.
On the one hand, we seek to create a psychologically
stimulating environment—yet on the other hand, the
space must not draw too much attention to itself
apart from its function in our home-life. It should
complement, not compete with, social contact. We all know
the hassel of personally competing with many so-called
"conversation pieces."
The need for genuine social contact, and also for privacy,
in our living environment is of uppermost importance. In
each case, a satisfactory experience is possible only by
freeing our environment of all barriers. Alienation is
aggravated by a bad spatial environment, and relieved by a
good spatial environment. Circulation paths should be laid
out so as to provide people with contact to all activities.
An immediate work space should have a visual relation to
the total space. A face-to-face personal contact can
sometimes be furthered by the simple use of adjustable
furniture.
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