Designing Spaces for Many Faces

Not everyone looks like us. They are shorter or taller. Younger or older. Wider or Slimmer. They may have better vision than we, or worse. They may be deaf. Or in a wheelchair. They all experience the world in a different way.

Today I read about DeafSpace Guidelines, which address those aspects of the urban environment that inhibit communication and mobility among those who communicate with their hands. In other words, deaf people need to ‘see’ better. And I suppose, there might be a similar need for blind people, who need to learn by touch and sound.

It would be easy to categorize these needs as in the minority, and only a consideration in special case design. But I think about the story of IDEO, who was asked to design kitchen utensils. Rather than test out the prototypes on average people, they deliberately selected young children and people with arthritics to test out the newly redesigned grip. And thus, OXO ‘ergonomic handles’ were invented.

Designing for the deaf actually helps to realize that “the essence of space and making connections leads you toward really good architecture, it’s the foundation of what makes architecture good and rich and sensual,” according to Studio Twenty Seven Principal Todd Ray. The irony is that DeafSpace design could compel people to look at each other eye-to-eye much more often, as compared to many of todays’ public spaces, where strangers can sit alongside each other on park benches and never speak…

Let’s play out the design of a kitchen with several scenarios of user groups. Cabinets, this might need to be varied heights, or variable (maybe mounted to a track on the wall, so they can be re-adjusted). Cabinet knobs should be comfortable for all age groups, and located in a predictable place, for the blind to be able to find… or for anyone who stumbled down in the middle of the night to sneak a sandwich and doesn’t want to turn on the light.

Kitchen seating is a big thing. Eye contact is good not only for deaf people, but for talks with your grandma, or listing to your teenagers. Oh – and forget those mid-height barstools. They propel kids off into outer space, and are not really comfortable for anyone. Who really wants their legs dangling, or tucked underneath them like a stork. Kitchen sink cabinets can be easily modified to be wheelchair ready. Just change out the hinges to be like stereo cabinet slide-away doors, and have the base cabinet be designed to be removable. This modification is easy to make on ready-built cabinets as well.What's accessible in a wheelchair is also more accessible for kids - which may be a good or bad thing.  And then there is faucet - a pull out handle can accommodate kids, wash dogs, fill tall pots….

The point is to experience the space with different eyes. Play out a “virtual” day as if you were somebody else. Better yet, have the someone else’s walk through a typical day on your plan. Have we accommodated for all the electronic plug-ins? Did we leave a regular wall jack, for one of the big button phones, or even a plain plug in phone to use when the power is out. This way of thinking will give us a ‘better grip’ on good design, and help make our spaces more adaptable to users – without a major remodel , and therefore a whole lot more sustainable.

Treetop Builders

Treehouse in France - for a family camping vacation!

There is something about living in a second story apartment. It almost feels like a cabin, looking out at the trees just starting to leaf out. Or perhaps a treehouse, perched in the greenery, safe from the predators down on ground level.

There are basically two perspectives on tree houses. One is that of a playhouse which landed in the trees, and the other a habitation which happens to be some feet off the ground. The difference could be based on size, though my current abode is only about 400 sf, and could quite easily be perched on a limb. But the real difference is the ‘habitable’ component, which includes water source and sewer connections, which signal the attention of the building code/ officials.

TreeTop Builders

For the habitable type, there is no finer than Dan Wright, author of the new Treehouse book. His company, Tree Top Builders, has built over 100 tree houses and tussled with many a local building department, with some mixed results. The lack of a foundation seems to be the major hang-up. Though I suppose one could get around this with structural piers, like in fire watch towers, with the tree attachments as secondary. But that rather defeats the point… Hard to feel like Robinson Crusoe.

The structural issue rocks the very foundation of our building principles. We believe in creating certainty, and like rigid, unflexible structures. But that is just our unyielding Western point of view. Trees bend and sway in the wind, absorbing some of the energy in movement. Why not allow built structures to do the same? This is what the new earthquake shock absorbers are all about. A tree house is just a bit higher in the air. Good for areas prone to flooding, or often overrun by herds of buffalos….

Nonetheless, there is a serious issue of structural attachment. One which is durable enough to outlast all of the wood in the structure, and any natural forces (ie – no rusting), AND which gives the tree space to increase in girth over years or decades, before the interface of the treehouse and the tree needs to be altered. Presto, the Treehouse Attachment Bolt and floating treehouse bracket is invented.

The Redwoods Restaurant in NZ

From an aesthetic perspective, there are the ‘classic’ house look - the basic shape kid’s draw with a little peaked roof, and the more organic shapes. Of course square is practical, for square furniture. But then, humans are really dimensioned in squares. Free from foundations, free the mind. Some of these structures stick to classic Bauhaus shapes, but others morph to the setting. The RedwoodsTree House is a working restaurant in New Zealand, there is a working office in the UK, a castle spire in Scotland, and a Jetson’s house in Japan. Some builders opt for wood to blend in, others use glass to admire the view.

There is also the sustainability argument,  that treehouses free up the ground space below to remain as open spaces.  And the lack of a foundation also means that the ground was not excavated, thus not damaging the roots of the tree, thus... saving a tree.   And upon the termination of service life, this house can be dissassembled and removed, with hardly a sign of its previous existence.






As a kid, I always wanted a tree house.. and I still do.  An office? A meditation room?  A great place to curl up and read a book?  Maybe I’ll doff a carpenter’s belt in the future and create my own. And in the meantime, maybe I'll take a quick vacation in Vanouver Island, where I can stay in the Free Spirit Sphere....  where 'the magical environment of the forest canopy conjures up thoughts of elves and fairies.'  Sounds inspiring.

‘Be the Change You Want to See in the World’ – Gandhi

Just a few thoughts today,as I am up to my eyeballs in alligators trying to work through some enormously complicated esoteric stuff, trying to get a dissertation out of it all. But my primary query is what it has always been - is there a construction process which can deliver a value of sustainable prosperity?  This is the term being used by Worldwatch, in preparation for the upcoming Rio+20 Conference. It  moves beyond the “do no further harm” approach of the original definition of sustainability (Brundtland report), and recognizes the need to actively restore the Earth’s systems to full health.The key difference in terminology is that this concept must, in toto, includes all of the world’s population, rich and poor.

WOW - that is a really tall order, considering that green building represented 25% of new construction activity in 2010, and a third of all new nonresidential construction. (McGraw-Hill Construction report, Green Outlook 2011). Those numbers are rising faster than expected – so that is all good. But…  it includes any shade of green , including the very light green LEED certified level. Few of these green projects have reached a net zero level, and probably only a handful are actively involved in restoring the natural resources.

So while I commend us all for getting on board, what will it take to get to sustainable prosperity? What does that future look like, and what might be the construction process which could accommodate this level 'beyond green?'  That folks, is the topic of my dissertation. I won’t give away any of my trade secrets (because I don’t have any yet...), but I can tell you that it is hopeful. There are little gems of ‘value enhancing’ construction which are popping up in our industry.

Boldt Constr. Sutter Health

For example, Boldt construction is fine-tuning the use of target value design with lean construction,  as an interactive, solutions-oriented, vision of way of designing to ideal state (link to a very clear description of IPD, GMP and TVD). There are wonderful stories of owners, like Gary Christensen, who were willing to explore the possibilities of sustainability and ended up with “a beautiful, high performance building that’s good for the environment and didn’t cost us any more to do.”  His project, the Banner Bank building collects storm water from its surrounding seven acres and reuses it in its sewage system, and uses a water capture on the roof to flush toilets. Could we also capture the steam from the HVAC, harvest the energy and the water? Or scrub carbon dioxide out of the air?

Can we help clean this up?

Mr. Watanabe, one of the past presidents of Toyota, offered his vision for a 'dream car' - a vehicle that cleans the air, prevents accidents, promotes health, evokes excitement, and can drive around the world on a single tank of gas. The technology parts are already being refined, and the Toyota Production System has developed the process and the people to handle the innovations.  What is the vision of a “dream building” – and how will we get there?

Hot and/or Cold: Dealing with Temperature Swings

Spring can be a lovely season. The flowers are starting to bloom, birds return to their nest, heavy coats can go to the back of the closet…. Not quite so fast, just a few days ago there was snow on the ground around here… And while the daffodils are able to cope with a sudden frost, the orchards and vineyards are in a bit more precarious situation with wildly fluctuating temperatures.

Monthly weather charts give the impression that temperatures rise at a nice gradual pace to reach the summer peak. But that isn’t really the case. Last night it hit 20 degrees - and today is supposed to reach almost 60.   Of course, the actual temperature in my apartment has risen another 15 degrees, thanks to full sun exposure and a delayed heat from the radiators. And herein lies the rub.

In the winter, I love the crackle of the hot water moving through the massive cast iron radiators. The heat they radiate wraps me like a warm blanket. But a simple, old-fashioned gravity fed boiler system has a time delay from the trigger on the thermostat to the delivery of the heat. They also have one mode: ON, at a given water temperature. In a previous house, I researched all sorts of possible system improvements, including thermostats with larger setbacks and a boiler temperature regulator which would adjust based on outdoor temps. But even then, it would be hard for the system to overcome a 40 degree temperature swing in one day.

And then you get into the heating and cooling season. You know, heat in the morning and the cool at night. You can just open up the window, and let out all that hot air (which you just paid to heat…). But that isn’t possible in many commercial buildings, so on comes the A/C. It is at this point that you can forget about all of the efficiency ratings on the HVAC equipment - for you are constantly battling the effects of one with the other. My air source heat pump bills often shoot through the roof in the fall and spring, because it is basically a cooling compressor system, with an electric coil resistance heater. And in areas with high electric power costs, these are expensive to use. These in-between months also generate the largest number of complaints, which can turn into very real labor expenses for property maintenance personnel.

Are there good solutions? Well, one way is to build a super insulated thermal envelop, which can stabilze the indoor temperature, regardless of what is going on outside. It reduces the peaks and valleys of the HVAC demand. This is one of the principles behind insulating concrete form (ICF) walls. With the heat absorption of the concrete mass, these are also very effective in modulating temperature swings around the interior set-point. It would also get rid of those nasty drafts that makes you feel uncomfortable, even if the average temperature is o.k. Of course, this insulated house approach presumes that the windows stay shut in all but temperatures which are equal to your interior desired temp. But given the increase in allergies, having windows closed during high spring pollen counts is perhaps not altogether a bad thing.

What about HVAC solutions? Both air and water are good transfer mediums, as they can provide a gradation of temperature. But they need mechanisms to cool and heat the medium, either active or passive… So I go back to the #3 on my Top Wish List. This would combine a passive thermal system to collect and transfer heat to storage tanks with a small geothermal system to provide the cool water.   Or the city water might come in cold enough.  Then, mix the right temperature water, deliver via radiant cooling/ heating in ceiling panels.... or similar.  You get the idea - simple, efficient, lowest tech for greatest passive survivability.

There are many innovative solutions, but the point is to recognize the reality of short cycle temperature swings. I'm not a HVAC designer, but would encourage considering not not just average daily temperature, but also the hourly the actual temperature highs and lows.  Not just in the sizing of th equipment, but in it's ability to accommodate rapid temperature demands.   These may be small enough to be resolved with the adding on and removing layers of personal insulation – ie sweaters. But the need is real, and one which I suspect is often overlooked both by HVAC equipment manufacturers and system designers.

Remodeling: Reclaim Your Creativity

There are two basic types of remodels. The first is the one you see on the commercials. You know, yuppie couples go to their favorite Home Depot/Lowes to buy all the kit of parts and put it together just like the picture in the brochure. Gee, honey - now it looks just like the neighbors. Then there is the second kind of remodel – maybe inspired by an architectural feature, or by a salvaged door, or an innovation sparked by demand. These folks are also down at the Depot - looking for just the right complement piece, the tools, the paint.

Clearly, my vote is for creativity. There is the “green” argument for reducing waste, and capturing the embodied energy in salvaged materials, but there is also another very compelling reason. It
is the act of breaking loose of the shackles of remodeling for resale, allowing some personality to shine through, and putting a little character into the neighborhood.

I grew up in a suburb of Dallas, but had it not been for learning about the Alamo in school, it could have been anywhere in the USA. Every other house the same, community pool down the street. A few years ago, I had a chance to go back to the old neighborhood. The trees had grown and softened the landscape – but the houses had all taken on personalities. New porches were added, brickwork filled in some drive areas, bay windows had been popped out. And even more personal touches - a unique paint color, ironwork fences. A visit to some old neighbors uncovered changes in walls, pass-through windows added. And the most memorable were the mosaic countertops of broken tile, the grape arbor made of old radiator pipe, and the walls finished in old plaster.

Some areas of the country are more supportive of an “individualist” culture to home design. I remember a trip to Las Vegas, New Mexico (yes, NM) where the houses seem to all be their own distinct personas, with a respectful nod to the neighborhood culture. It was refreshing, since at the time I was in Salt Lake City, where conformity is key.

Re-use of an old church

So while I understand the economic need for new housing subdivisions to have some level of sameness, must we remain bound by this forever? And so I celebrated books such as Jessica Kellner’s Housing Reclaimed, reusing old buildings, Building with Second Hand Stuff. Why build or re-build the same as everyone else – and then rely on a real estate agent to stage with unique stuff. Re-claim your Creativity! Be a Proud Dumpster Diver (aka “green remodeler”)! Learn to Re-Purpose materials for new uses! There is a wonderful world of remodel waiting – for our human consciousness to resurface.

Perspectives: Seeing the Whole Elephant

The story about the blind men and the elephant is one of perspective. In fact, each one quite clearly can ‘see’ the elephant, or object, through the filter of their own experiences, or expertise. Similarly, a contractor sees a building as a kit of parts, and architect as a three dimensional design, and a building scientist as a living breathing space.

But the truth is actually a bit more complicated. We actually only share a concept of a building with these blind men, who then translate that concept into a physical object. This works reasonably well when the concept is described in an easily objectified way, such as in quantities of square feet, specific materials, or even design styles. But what if the concept is more abstract - such as build a space which facilitates interdepartmental learning, or a dining space which promotes a healthy dietary habit. Then what?

Mood-Enhanced Lighting-
Sunflower Markets

This is the challenge posed to a group of students as part of a design class. While I eagerly await their interpretation, there are several possible ways to tackle this problem. One might be for each team member to take on the perspective of one of the variables. Perhaps even become the “voice” of that variable. For example, the ‘lighting’ persona might say: “I want to create an atmosphere which helps calm the diner, brings their focus on the food, and highlights all the richness of colors in the food. I might do this through the lumens of the ambient light, a spot light on the dinner plate, and the color rendering of the bulbs. I might also want to go talk to the acoustics folks, and see if they can help create the right mood for a quiet, but uplifting environment.” The mode of communication with the design team might be mock-ups which compare different lighting scenarios – either on a computer or in simple model with several types of lights.

Of course, another set of perspectives is from the stakeholder. A food handler might have the perspective of presenting food in attractive ‘right-sized’ portions, perhaps labeled with nutritional information. A nutritional counselor might develop an “app” which could read a posted QR codes that could automatically calculate the total calories, and integrate into one of the many total fitness software tools, or maybe into a competition which rings a lottery sounding bell when a goal is achieved. Sample groups of students might be asked to participate in mock-up exercises, providing a more authentic experience which might prompt more accurate feedback.

An interesting approach might be the one taken by Michael Pollan in the Botany of Desire, which takes on the view of the plant itself, and how it might change human behavior. For example, the poor beleaguered broccoli might decide to give away samples of prepared broccoli - a ‘try-before-you-buy’ approach which has worked well in grocery stores. Or it might market itself with its more exotic cousins, such as broccolini or broccoflower, much like a display window in a retail store. Or experiment with the order in which it is placed within the food serving lineup. Maybe it tests out a few recipes to determine the best response from the humanoids, or slips in an ingredient which makes them come back for more. Maybe it sets up aromatherapy in the entry hall, luring the diners through their tastebuds.

Just this process of brainstorming has unleashed a host of other ideas, none of them yet involving the traditional drafting of space, nor specification of materials. However, I might next explore the the optimal clustering of people at a table, which still allows the diners to stay mindful of the food they are eating, while encouraging socializing. In any case, these interpretations of abstract to ideation call for expression beyond that of a specification book, or even architectural drawings. Such a collaboration of ideas calls for mock-ups, story boards, samples, sound and light.

And that is how the blind men would come to understand the elephant from all perspectives, and collectively come to “see” the rich potential of their creation.