BP7, Kennedy, Blog Post #7, IARC 221

Architecture of Happiness through happy places and happy spaces.  An architecture of happiness is where light, sounds, materiality, air, and living all come together.  Light bright airy spaces make me happy.  I like fresh air too, so air quality is key for me being happy in an architectural space or place.

For my place I chose the glass and mirror sculpture in the sculpture garden at the Weatherspoon museum.  This is my favorite place because it brought out the child in all of us.  We all instantly became uninhibited and had fun.  We did not respect the rules and boundaries set fourth to us.  This garden is a place for inquisitive minds to learn and experience and explore and have fun.  We got in the sculpture, walked around it, took pictures of it.  Our minds were challenged when what we saw was not was not what we thought we were supposed to see. 

My favorite space is the Studio!!  I think that this space and how it is used relates directly to Debotton's article.  Architects created this space for us.  We are lucky enough to utilize this section of it for one year, then we move on to another space.  We have been given all the structure we need to start a new life here.  A group of 50 individuals have been put together and over the course of a few months have become very close to one another, like a big happy family.  We work with each other, help each other, learn from each other, and grow with each other.  Our "Space" allows us to create memories and a life around the space.  The space is light and bright, full of energy and happiness.  We have a great view of downtown and the changing sky around us.  We feel and hear the building as it breathes, providing us with shelter and comfort.  Really late at night the building goes to sleep.  Lights go off, systems shut down.  Then like clockwork the next morning about 7.30 the building reawakens.  Lights come back on and the air conditioning/heat comes back on.  You can hear the building start up and breathe every day. 

The places and spaces we have looked at create a framework from around which create our own version of happiness.  As we move on these spaces and places remain constant.  Opening up for a new group of individuals to create their own version of an architecture of happiness.

RR7, Power Axis

Personal Space (theory 3)

In reading Robert Sommer's article on Personal space many ideas about space were either re-confirmed or newly introduced to me.   For my dining space two principles stand out as most important.  First is the limit of comfortable conversation.  Second is the idea of psychological intimacy in regards to seating patterns.  

Comfortable conversation usually occurs within about 5 ft of any two individuals.  If in conversation typically they prefer to sit across from one another.  However, if given the option to sit next to someone to converse the distance should be less than a secondary location that is across from one another.  Basically, given two seating options, one across from each other and the other next to each other, the will sit next to each other only if the distance is shorter than the distance across from each other.  In designing a table for a dining space this would tell me that if a rectangular or oval table should not be any wider than 5 ft.  This would allow individuals sitting at the ends, or head, of the table to engage in conversation to those directly adjacent. 

The idea of psychological intimacy relates more to how people sit next to other individuals when given a choice.  His article speaks a lot about studies where individuals are told they are in competition, working with, or becoming friendly with another individual.  For me this information suggests that a round table is the most appropriate choice for all individuals.  Oval would be a good shape as well, especially if seating more than about 5 or 6 people.  This encourages conversation from everyone and leaves no one in a conversationally dead spot.

In my experience a round table that seats more than 6 starts to become to large for comfortable conversation.  The dining space that I am designing is for at least ten sot his would rule out a round table.  Oval seems a more pleasing shape and slightly less formal than a rectangular table.  This reduced intimacy would create a more relaxed dining environment and encourage a more friendly form of conversation.

The bookcase, from my friend Randi.

RR6, HYPOSTYLE