People + Program + Physical Setting = Model of Place

According to Gerald Weisman in his essay "The Program" the people in the place need attention. He asks... how do people fit into the programing of architecture, buildings and space. At one time the people were considered, however, we somehow have gotten away from the people and just build buildings. He suggests it is time to "address human needs and human uses of the environment".

To understand the concept of "The Model of Space", Dr. Chapin drew a wonderful illustration to help us see the connections. I have recreated this illustration as seen above. Looking at the drawing lets go through it.

First, let talk about the people. People could be organizations, groups or individuals. Withing this model this is where the Experiential Program exists. This is what we as designers/architects are wanting the "experience" for the people to be.

Next the program. This arena is where the function of the space resides or Functional Program. In other words, what the intentions and desires are and what we want or need to do in the space.

Finally, the physical setting. Or the Architectural/Design Program. This is where we are concerned about rooms, sizes, adjacencies, etc.

The Hidden Program is the unspoken understanding of who occupies the space, how we are expected to behave and the physical setting itself and it encapsulates all three areas of the Model of Place... the Experiential, Functional and Architectural/Design Programs. The Hidden Program is impacted by culture and our societal context. However, we all have an understanding on what is expected when I say library and baseball stadium. Quite different expected behaviors.

Image: Drawing by Heather Marcet

Do What? Phenomenology!!

As I tried to read the readings in preparation for class I was lost to say the least. I didn't even really try to read the word... I thought "WHAT?"... that's a big word. "Let me break out my dictionary again to read my assignments." The dictionary seems to be my friend these days.

What is "Phenomenology"?...

"a philosophy or method based on the premise that reality consists of objects and events as they are perceived or understood in human consciousness and not of anything independent of human consciousness" www.answers.com/topic/phenomenology

Again, I'm not sure if that really helped.

When we started discussing the topic of phenomenology in class our professor asked what we thought... I piped up... "I 'think' I like the idea... but just not sure why!". By the end of class I had a better understanding of the theory and why I "liked" it ... I think!

So lets break it down...

• Phenomenology is an observable event. It is something that can be perceived of sensed. For example, Dr. Chapin used an interesting example, she laid three markers on the table and asked "Are you experiencing the number three? No, the experience is the markers."
• According to phenomenology we only know things through our own experiences not anyone else's. In other words, it I have not had the experience of climbing a mountain... climbing a mountain does not exist for me. Even if my friend gives me a graphic account of her mountain climbing experience it is not real for me.
• Phenomenology seeks to describe events/experiences rather than explain them. This is somewhat comforting. It allows everybody's individual truths to be true without qualifying them in any way.

So what did I "like"? I liked that in order to study phenomenology you must assume you know nothing and that all your understanding is only what the person tells you abut their experiences. This approach has a term in phenomenology... epoche'. This is quite difficult for us to do... to put aside all of your judgements, opinions, thought desires, etc. in order to hear.

As it relates to interior design, we must always consider the desires, opinions and thoughts of our clients. We can no longer assume that an intimate romantic space means candles and flowers. We must take it another step and ask... "What does intimate and romantic mean to YOU?".

Space... a new frontier! Or is it?

I was intrigued to study what I think I have taken for granted for years... the "Behavioral Aspects of Space". In our reading and class discussion I found it interesting to learn that many design professionals look at design through a very sterile lens. They have the uncanny ability to separate people from the spaces they inhabit. I personally do not feel this is possible. I suppose the years of my practical design experience in dealing with people has required me to synthesize the two... people and place/space. Nevertheless, I enjoyed putting words, concepts and theories to my intrinsic knowledge and understanding.

The behavioral aspects of space are as follows:

Territoriality: This is as it sounds. We "lay claim" to a space. My 17 year old daughter's space is her room. Once I had to take the door off her room when she abused this fact, we've never had that problem again. When we enter a room we scope out "our" seat and put our stuff down. Everybody understands that space is ours.

• Defensible Space: This was an interesting concept to me. It occurs when people lay claim to a community space and defend it as if it were theirs. We see this in particular with a community park or courtyard.
• Proxemics: We all understand this one. Have you ever had someone "get in your space"? Well that is proxemics. It is the study of the distances people maintain in different situations.
• Behavior Mapping: I've never given this much thought but I see its applications. Behavior Mapping is the study of what people "do" in specific settings. For instances, you would never see someone dancing in the isles of the grocery store. If you did you would think it strange. But you do expect them to be pushing a buggy.
• Cultural Differences: I would love to study this in more depth. Different cultures use spaces in different ways. I know these differnces exist... I woudl like to be more educated.
• Environmental: We need to always consider the impact of the built environment has on the earth. This is evident in the emergence of "Green Design".

I excited to learn that design is moving to a more integrated practice of design and understanding the dynamics of people and their built environments.

Image: Robert Sommer Personal Space: The Behavoiral Basics of Design

Affordances!

An affordance is a use for a space or architectural detail that "affords" the inhabitants of that space to use it in a way that was not originally intended in the design. I thought this was an interesting way to look at things. So I started looking around my home to see what I could see.

I was looking for atypical "afforances" but I live in a very typical traditional home. A front foyer with the living and dining rooms to the right and left, the family room and kitchen ahead. I'm sure you can see it without even seeing it. Of course, there is the stair riser I can not only step up on but sit on and the niche that I have my wonderful Christmas village so beautifully displayed. No that's not it... to common.

Then on January 7th we had snow. Which meant the next day was going to be spent entertaining my 8 year old son. "Yeah", I had so many things to get done. Nevertheless, that morning I come downstairs to see him sitting on the center island doing his "projects". And there it was. He sat there for hours using the center island his personal play space. Not exactly what I had in mind... I had food to prepare, homework to do. But no, today this was were he was doing his "projects". For him it was the perfect spot.

The Hidden Program: I Will Never Look At The "Supermarket" The Same Way Again!

The article "Restructuring the Hidden Program: Toward an Architecture of Social Change" by Murray Silverstein and Max Jacobson explores "What is an architectural program?". They go much deeper than to just say it is a listing of spaces denoting size, function and their relationships to each other and to say it is a social-physical form that brings the space to life.

Interestingly enough, there is not sufficient time spent on this programing phase of design. The results are an intrinsic failure of the program most related to the "Hidden Program". The hidden program is the "system of relationships, usually taken for granted, that give the building its basic social-physical form and connect it to the rest of society". This hidden program does not take into account that the form of the building might be the problem. No matter how much we try to fix it, it still feels wrong. It is much easier to just accept the issues intrinsic in the building and try to improve the project. Ultimately, that perspective does not produce an environment that solves the problem but rather just glosses over it.

In their example "From Supermarket to Community Market" they discover the core destructive pattern in the design of our commonplace Supermarket. From the factory farm to the self-service artificial environment of the Supermarket they restructure the hidden program into the local farms, independent sellers and support system of the Community Market. Our current Supermarket society keeps us disassociated from people and produces mass-produced, bland food. "People begin to forget what a real tomato is like." In contrast, the shift to a Community Market connects people to people and the market as an important part of society. We begin to rediscover what "real" food is with all of its flavor, texture and uniqueness.

I am guilty of making my list, picking a time that I won't run into too many people and just getting my shopping DONE. It is as if I am on automatic pilot. Buying the same things in the same spot, checking it off and going home. Just to do the same monotonous chore next week. I resolve today to be more conscious of my surroundings and I WILL NEVER LOOK AT THE SUPERMARKET THE SAME AGAIN.

Theory and Criticism... What are they anyway?

When asked the question... What is Theory? My mind goes blank. I thought I knew. But in just the first few minutes of class I realize I only have a vague understanding. I can come up with some specific geometric theories like the Pythagorean Theory and The Golden Mean and others like Gravity and Relativity... but what is theory? So, I go to the dictionary. Merriam-Webster defines theory as "a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle offered to explain observed facts". Well that really helped.

In class we discussed the two types of theory, positive and normative. A positive theory describes behavior as it really. Positive theories are logical, testable and descriptive. On the other hand, normative theories describes a norm or standard of behavior. They are more about ways of doing things or convention then they are about absolutes. Additionally, theories can be categorized into Big "T" and little "t" theories. Big "T" theories are scientific and global in nature such as Color Theory where mixing two colors will always give you the same outcome. However, Color Theory can also be a little "t" theory as well. It is personal in nature when we talk about how a color makes us feel. This is subjective and can vary from person to person, across cultures and genders. Interior Design theories fall somewhere in between.So, what are the roles of theories in Interior Design? I believe, that theory helps the Interior Design practice to have generally accepted practices and ways of doing things that guide and aid the industry.

Going back to the dictionary, Merriam-Webster defines criticisms as " a judgement or review". I quickly learned what criticism was about in one of my Residential Design courses during my first design degree. While others cried over the harsh "critical" words my professor would use, I learned to not take it personal. I understood that design is very subjective and although there are design principles that aid in good design... criticism is an entirely different thing. Criticism should be an evaluation of the work that is delivered in a subjective and non-judgemental manner. It does not any personal or value judgements. This process is useful to the Interior Design industry in order to challenge us to think about other options and look at things we did not consider.

Lastly, what is environment? You would think this one would be easy; however, it encompasses many different things. In relation to Interior Design it refers to the surroundings and things within a space. It is about function of the space and how it is experienced by a person. It is about scale and proportions.

The Journey Begins Here

As I begin the process of obtaining my Master's of Arts Degree in Interior Design, I find myself both excited and scared. I look forward to looking at my profession in new and innovative ways and to challenge my assumptions, beliefs and ideas as never before. Additionally, I wonder if I am up to the task. I believe I am.

In "Interior Design Theory and Criticism" my professor, Dr. Meldrena Chapin, is having us write about our thoughts, questions, realizations and observations regarding our readings, lectures and field trips in a blog format. Something very new to me. In titling this blog I spent a considerable amount of time trying to find something creative and relevant... I hope the connection is apparent.

Walter Benjamin, a philosopher-sociologist, literary critic and essayist noted in his writings on interiors that "to live is to leave traces". Interior Design borrows theories from many different disciplines such as politics, technology and economics. In order to explore the ideas of theory and criticism as they apply to the practice of Interior Design, we must look across these disciplines and uncover how their theories and findings have left their "traces" on the area of Interior Design .

So, the journey begins here!