Why do some spaces feel like homes but not others? Scientists have thoroughly investigated the answer to this question and what they’ve learned should inform the work of designers developing not only homes, but also places such as dormitories, hotels, hospitals, and stores. Yes, stores.
Ideas for designing homes that promote wellbeing
Cox has investigated properties that people link to homier environments, and her findings are relevant to the full range of spaces where people will live, even temporarily.
Anyone designing spaces for people living with dementia will find the online materials and app available through the Dementia Enabling Environment Project (DEEP) Virtual Information Centre useful.
Confirmation: clutter is undesirable
Cervinka and colleagues studied the relative restorativeness of several spaces, and their findings have been published in Urban Forestry and Urban Greening.
Two important resources to review
Differentiating, as desired
Research by Finan, Quartana, and Smith confirms how important it is to design in safeguards that prevent sleep from being disrupted.
Evaluating working away from the corporate campus