Recently I was honored to participate in a fascinating panel discussion entitled “Designing Spaces that Draw us Together in a Post-Pandemic World”, hosted by the Boston Architectural College as part of “BAC Talks”. The discussion explored the positive impact that design can have in this unprecedented time, at all scales, from the urban context to the interior of a space. The panel included experts in the field of urban design, sustainability, architecture and engineering, including Alex Krieger, Arlen Stawasz and Mark Walsh-Cooke, PE LEED AP BD+C, and was moderated by Rand Lemley.
Following are my thoughts on how interior design can impact some of our new challenges related to the pandemic. See the full presentation here! https://lnkd.in/e5GuBsW
The role of interior design is equally important as all design disciplines, and a particularly complex one. Many of the challenges of protecting ourselves during the pandemic are on the inside of our spaces, and research shows that people spend about 90% of their time indoors. As designers, we are responsible for understanding the guidelines and requirements, as well as the data and research, and implementing them into our design solutions. But the basic premise of those regulations, is around separation, and isolation. It’s the absolute opposite of everything we typically strive for in the design of spaces for people– collaborative, engaging, welcoming, comforting spaces to work, gather, play, learn. While we don’t know how long this pandemic and the new requirements will go on, it’s already been long enough that we must use our creativity to bring great design solutions to these new complex problems.
Let’s take a look at some of the design responses to solving for pandemic driven social distancing in interiors today, in a few different settings. Honestly, they are a little scary.
In workplace, the tendency is to put people in individual spaces, high walled cubes and offices. We’ve come so far in understanding how people thrive in a collaborative setting, working together in open environments, creating chance encounters throughout the workspace, and giving people choice about how and where they work. Do we really want to see people in these individual cubes? This image is an exaggeration, but it is not far from what could happen. I know there is a more creative way to create the separation we need, and still have a collaborative environment.
Figure 1 
There’s also a new need to communicate how people circulate through space, where they can and can’t go, how to keep the separation. I’m sure you’ve seen floor signage with arrows and messages–is there a way that we can create the messaging without the words?
Childcare centers and schools are reopening in other parts of the world, and one approach I’ve seen is these little dividers at each child’s space. How can we better design safe children’s spaces that are still fun, engaging and educational?And perhaps creepiest of all, restaurants are solving the empty look of their spaces by adding mannequins at empty booths and tables…I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be in any of these spaces! I know we can do better.
As we return to our interior environments, it is so important that we consider how people feel, their comfort and their mindset in these newly transformed spaces. It is so important to create a space that meets all the requirements, without being a constant reminder that we are in a pandemic.
So how do we do this?
We have so much research, so much we have learned along the way, and so much in our design toolkits. The principles of biophilic design, incorporating nature into the design of space, have proven positive impacts on people. The LEED and the WELL Building standards define criteria for creating spaces that focus on the health and well-being of people, including their physical and mental health. Two of the WELL criteria that are so important for us to consider during pandemic design are Comfort and Mind.
There are many elements of pandemic / post pandemic regulations that we need to comply with, and you’ve heard about many today- air filtration, no touch surfaces, social distancing, wayfinding. I thought in the few minutes that I had I would take one of those elements, and explore it in three different context applications – the 6’ space requirement. We all understand the rationale behind the 6’ rule, but you can see how in my earlier examples, this could be a very limiting and rigid standard. Let’s take a look at the 6’ module in the 3 space types – workplace, child care and restaurant and see what we can do better.
As we saw in the first example, an obvious way to solve the 6’ separation is with 6×6’ high paneled workstations. But how can we create this same separation in a more comfortable, creative way? What if the forms and edges of a 6’ space were not straight, what if they were curved? Or if the path that they sit along meanders? The circles on this plan represent a 6’ spacing for each workspace, but in a meandering, organic form, mimicking a winding path.
What if the elements that separated one space from another were transparent, so that there is still an opportunity to engage with your colleague; and what if there were patterns, and maybe plantings that will bring delight to people. Elements like these screens and planters can be used as space definers without making it feel like a formal barrier. In the workstation image, I’m showing a concept for adding decorative screens that will create the edge, but encourage people to engage. And the organic floor pattern change is a way to create zones of space and wayfinding, rather than arrows on the floor.
At STA we’ve been designing spaces for children for a long time, and one of goals has always been to create nurturing, fun environments while meeting the strict regulations of child care. Those regulations have just become much more stringent, and incorporate rules around social distancing, no group activities unless there is a 6’ distance. Sadly, There is no more circle time!
Can we create a space that allows teachers to safely organize activities with appropriate distancing, but that is a fun learning experience for the kids? What if the flooring was made up of a variety of 6’ shapes and colors, teaching kids to learn about shapes, colors, maybe even letters, while creating an overall environment the children want to come to.
Creating the required distancing and barriers in restaurants is a particular challenge. Many restaurants get their vibe, their ambiance, with tight close quarters, squeezing up to the bar with people you don’t know, striking up a conversation. They also rely on that density to be profitable. We now need barriers, but maybe barriers and edges can be a design opportunity. Can they be more than a plexiglass screen, and become a part of the branding and vibe of the space, incorporating millwork, pattern, lighting, plantings. These images are of 2 recent restaurants that STA designed, showing concepts for ceiling hung screen elements that coordinate with the aesthetic and vibe of the spaces.
There’s so much for us to solve as interior designers, This is just one small example of how we might humanize the space one element at a time. Let’s rely on our knowledge of healthy spaces, biophilic design, to continue to create great spaces that make people happy, productive, collaborative; spaces that allow people to heal, flourish and engage; spaces that bring people comfort, pleasure and joy, especially in a difficult time.
-Felice
