CONCEPTUAL // living in proportion
An eight foot diameter rose window inside of a living room… what an incredible feature and an utter surprise element to be found in a home. A few years back a friend of mine was living in an old church that had been divvied up and converted into a handful of unique apartments. One night she had few of us over for some cocktails, and while the company and libations were lovely, the backdrop certainly stole the show. I left the soiree with a space hangover that I will never forget.
Photo by Michael D Beckwith on Unsplash
The experience had me considering proportions and how we live within them. Imagine being in an old cathedral. The grandeur and openness evoke feelings of celebration or something greater than ourselves. Now imagine trying to make that space your home. How would living in such a vast space actually feel? Would the the tall ceilings make you feel like floating away instead of giving you a sense of coziness?
In the case of my friend's apartment, the renovation took advantage of dimension by dividing the height of the space up into three levels - yep that's right - three levels. This demonstrates the concept of living in proportions. That is to say, the proportion of tall ceilings to small floor area works for a church or a cathedral. A home calls for a less lofty, more cozy feel. Shallow ceiling heights are more appropriate for residential living.
Why is this important? It is important to consider proportions in design because the dimensions of a room (height to length to width and every combination in between) directly correlates to how someone will feel in the space. This may seem obvious, but often forgotten in the complex process of design.
Here are some takeaways for correlating proportions with spatial feels:
lower ceilings make for cozy spaces
the more private the room, the shorter the ceilings tend to be. Bedroom and bathroom ceilings are generally lower than living and dining rooms
reading and sitting nooks are often tucked into shallow depth areas such as dormers or alcoves
think about cabins and yurts… low canopies provide a sense of intimacy and grounding
TIP: Create the perception of low ceilings in lofty spaces by using pendant lighting, CONTRASTING PAINT TRANSITIONS, or DRAPING fabric from above.
proportions of at least 3:1 (length:width) are appropriate for transition and circulation spaces
a focal point is created at the end of a long space. this pulls attention away from doors flanking the path which allows closets and storage to fall away from the guest’s attention
transitional spaces should have some inherent energy to them which brings people in toward the living or gathering spaces
TIP: PLACING REPEATED ELEMENTS - PLANTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, WINDOWS, COLUMNS - ALONG A HALLWAY SERVES TO DRAW OR PROPEL A USER THROUGH THE SPACE
public GATHERING spaces call for high ceilings
Heat rises. When you have a number of people in one space there can be lots of body heat! Taller ceilings allow for that warm layer of air to rise to the top of the room and out of the way from the visitors
Public gathering places generally accommodate movement - people dancing and visiting and simply getting from one place to the next. High ceilings create the perception of space which keeps people from feeling constricted from motion
TIP: INTRICATE CEILINGS - COFFERS, EXPOSED BEAMS, DETAILED CROWN MOULDING - DRAW THE EYES UPWARD MAKING THE SPACE FEEL LIFTED
To tune into the concept of living in proportions, notice how you feel when you walk into a space - then consider its dimensional relationships. Can you recognize the correlation?
Saturday, February 9, 2019
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