PROSPECT & REFUGE

26 Jun

Why we need to 'design in' a view and a solid wall to feel safe.

Banquette seating at home with best and worst seats for prospect and refuge — image found on Pinterest. Table is from Pottery Barn

We humans have a biological need to feel safe and environmental psychologists have a term for the arrangement of built space that we prefer, calling it ‘prospect and refuge’. Here is a quote from Dr Sally Augustin in her book Place Advantage: Applied Psychology for Interior Architecture;

“We like sitting in places that seem like refuges, spaces in which the ceilings are lower and the light is dimmer, which are physically adjacent to an area which is brighter and has higher ceilings (Hildebrand 1999). This attraction to spaces that offer refuge and prospect makes good sense evolutionarily. It explains why we like to live in sheltered spots on the edges of parks, golf courses, and lakes. Having a connection with a brighter and more expansive surrounding area also explains why we like to be able to open the windows.”

It occurs to me that this is very similar to a core principle of the Land Form School in classical feng shui theory. The principle of Si Xiang in the landscape means that the ideal formation around a town or site has a dark Tortoise (strong mountain or wall) behind you and a Ming Tang or lower area at the front. There is also a red Phoenix (lower hill or object to view) at the front of you.

In our interiors a good example of this design principle in action is in the design of breakfast nooks, alcoves, bay windows and banquette built-in seating in corners.

You can apply this principle throughout your home. Think of how you are setting up dining tables (there will be the most psychologically desirable chair as well as the chair where the person feels at the edge of things).

This is also a good principle to remember for headboards and beds too, especially if your child isn’t sleeping well.

Reach out to me for a consultation if you need help with your home.

Next up on the blog I’ll be looking at the decor style and architectural genre known as Minimalism.

See you Thursday.

Áine Atara