Comfort, functionality and sense of security
No matter how the world situation changes, people and the environment will always be in interaction with each other. Everyone experiences and defines well-being from their own perspectives. No matter what the individual's perception of well-being and the issues affecting it is, it can be enhanced from the outside in many ways such as design. Good spatial design takes people and their functions into account and focuses on aspects such as ergonomics, environmental comfort and safety. Person, both as a user and as an experiencer, is at the core of everything in spatial design.
Creating spatial meanings together
Well-being being the point of view, I think that everything starts from the fact that a person him-/herself wants to be well: to take care of him-/herself, his/her circumstances and to make healthy choices for him-/herself and others. Already at the very beginning of each client project, we look at the fact whether the goals and values of the designer and the client meet. Whether the project team wants to do good together and whether it’s “a good idea” to start working together.
The environment experienced by a person, environment being "good or bad", is never constructed from mere physical elements. The experience consists of the perceived, remembered and imagined world, and social interactions between the other users of the space. Physical space creates a framework for the user, who continues to create the meanings of the space in his or her own way through actions and storytelling. This latter, i.e. the experiential qualities of the space for the user, is extremely important for me in projects, if not the most important.
The importance of self-awareness
I feel, from the perspective of both the designer and the client, that when people are aware of themselves and their stories, they think more carefully about what they want to create. I believe this is a question of who we are and what we want to represent.
I'm happy when I see design and the built environment merging into people's stories and the surrounding culture, whether it be a work community, village, family or other environment. In my own "perfect world", my design projects would always be tied to the place (site-specific), stories and the users of that place.
Physical qualities: always aiming for a healthy space
My basic assumption when designing is that the space is "healthy" in structure, i.e. various humidity and indoor air issues that have an impact on users' health, symptoms, comfort and productivity are in order. A healthy space is, and should always be, the aim of each construction project.
The physical characteristics of a space, such as structures, surfaces and materials, light, as well as the size and division of space, naturally play a strong role when experiencing the space. The sense of sight is the strongest human sense and it first observes the outline, the largest areas of color and the surfaces. Only then do we perceive the space itself and ultimately the meaning of it. The sense of hearing, smell and touch also contribute to our perception of the environment. With the help of touching we perceive materials and perceive our own presence and movement in space. A small child always gets to know the world around them first by touching.
Case: spatial and material requirements for children
What a pleasure it was recently to receive a brief from a client to design a specific space for children and the desire to focus on the haptic properties of materials specifically. Haptic is an observational psychological term that refers to the way a three-dimensional object is perceived physically by touching. I felt that our common goal was found already at the very beginning of the project. I would like to think that special additional attention to the acoustics, fire safety, reflectivity and possible volatile emissions of materials into indoor air would be key interests of spatial designers as a default.
The materials suitable for the space were carefully selected. How good it felt to choose materials that improve the quality of life, promote well-being and at the same time protect nature and the environment. When designing public spaces, the durability and cleanability of materials should also be carefully considered. COVID-19 has also challenged us Spatial Designers to define our own "new normal".
The floor for the space for children was chosen to be a cork that is fully recyclable and whose manufacturer has achieved a unique CO2-negative carbon footprint in its production. Cork was suitable for the floor also because it is naturally sound-absorbing and heat-promoting. The textiles selected for the space were noise-absorbing and antibacterial. Wood was also used in various places. Wood is our oldest building material and it communicates to us about time and life. Everything familiar and safe has a positive effect on a person’s psychological well-being. What is inspirational is to create something new from the familiar.
Balanced space
Spatial design is about balancing as everything in life seems to be. As an example, the negative impact of excessive noise and commotion. Too much silence, in turn, creates the feeling of emptiness. Without shadows, there is no light, and without light there are no colors. An environment that supports well-being should have a positive effect on the human experience.
Sense of belonging
The relationship between the environment and the person is always reciprocal. People operate differently in private and public spaces. A sense of belonging is a key factor in well-being and health. Involvement is joining, belonging to and influencing a community, such as work environment, school, or sports team. It is also an engagement arising from experience. In its simplicity, community means that the members of the community have something in common. Good human relations are very important for well-being, because no one here can manage alone.
Connection to nature
It is clear that nature has a big impact on the well-being of people, so it is definitely worth promoting naturalness and connection to nature in spatial design. Although sufficient natural light is not always available, the quality and quantity of artificial light is equally important. The amount of light affects, among other things, the secretion of the hormone melatonin and thereby our mental well-being. Lighting should always be as versatile as possible and offer options for working, general lighting and atmosphere. In public spaces, the importance of proper lighting is also emphasized in accident prevention. Special daylight lighting, which is controlled according to the day and use, can simulate natural light in the premises and improve well-being, comfort and work performance.
Understanding that people are at the core of spatial design
The purpose of service design is to enrich and develop services, products, facilities and processes to meet the needs of users and customers. These are also a prerequisite for the well-being of individuals using space.
At Pinto, our strength is our multidisciplinary and professional team that enables e.g. service design to go hand in hand with spatial design. The client is already involved in the early stages of a project in workshops, when the functions of the user groups are analyzed, wishes are mapped and common goals are created.
Investing in the well-being of the individual and the community, both through facilities and practices, is worthwhile at the end of the day. The fact is, however, that the client decides how the project will eventually materialize. If the client bases the project on a sustainable and health-promoting approach, it is possible for the designer to choose solutions, materials and products on this basis. Health and well-being are the foundation of everything, like a stone footing on which it is possible to build almost anything.
Inka Saini
LinkedInInka works at Pinto as a Spatial and Concept Designer. Inka is an Interior Architect SIO and has spent almost a decade abroad (London and Washington DC) exploring and enjoying projects. At work Inka has designed e.g. implementable spatial concepts, individual retail spaces, sacred pavilions and extensive regional development projects.
In her spare time, Inka loves the most to time with her 2-year-old daughter, getting excited about life and wondering about it. Teaching yoga, especially for children, Inka experiences as her heart’s job in addition.
Photo
Kalevalakehto, Seurasaari, Helsinki. Photo: Travis Price ArchitectsSources
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