Sensory Oasis Emily Krogstad - Senior Capstone
How can sound and light be used as tools to influence mood?
Why sound? We use our senses to experience all aspects of life, yet design typically only aims to satisfy your sense of sight. The soundscape of a space is not frequently considered even though sound has been proven to have an impactful effect on your mood. Factors such as the nostalgia, tempo, tone, frequency and predictability of the sounds and songs we hear can all lead to the release of serotonin and overall better brain function.
Why light? Light is an element that we are already accustomed to considering in interior design, but I feel that if used tactfully light can aid in the way we experience sound. Light has many of the same properties as sound, such as being space consuming, traveling in waves, varying in intensity, and having the ability to coordinate with time. I theorize that if light is synchronized with sound in both time and aesthetic, then the lighting components would amplify the more subtle mood-altering effects of the sounds. The two elements in tandem would create a more total and all encompassing sensory experience.
Site
Chicago Tollway Oasis When deciding on a site for a sensory, mood-elevating project, I first considered what types of locations would benefit most. I settled on using a highway rest stop given the low spirits visitors are typically in when they decide they need to stop. Whether you are overwhelmed with your screaming kids, sleepy, hungry, achy, stressed about reaching a gas station in time or waiting impatiently for a bathroom break, you are probably not feeling your best. There are five tollway Oasis’ remaining in the Chicago area. The Oasis’ are uniquely designed to stretch over the highway, allowing the glass structure to be accessed from either direction of travel. To myself and many others, these rest stops along I-90 are clearly distinguishable landmarks that are a staple sight or stop in many different road trip routes. I looked specifically at the Southland Chicago Lincoln Oasis, which is located near the southern tip of Lake Michigan. Because of this relationship to the lake, this would be a very common pinch-point that many people would need to pass if they are traveling anywhere where they would need to navigate around the vertically stretched lake.
Road View The goal was to create a site that allowed the original rest stop to function undisturbed, but added two secondary zones where guests can relax. The additions would travel in a continuous loop where you could vary the length of your route. The first addition goes to a basement space, you could then take an elevator to the main level or go straight to the track on the top.
Entrance This view shows how you would enter the building from the parking lot. You could either enter the main entrance of the stop of you could enter the addition through the iridescent staircase seen on the right.
Staircase This view shows the staircase leading to the basement. This portion has iridescent glass so that the reflection of headlights cause interesting colored shadows and a reactive, light-catching effect. At this point you would begin to slowly hear some of the audio effects coming from the basement region.
Tunnel This portion of the building allows you to get a unique perspective of the highway. You can see the passing cars at eye level for a more energizing and exciting view of the same road you have been traveling on. The audio of the basement would now be audible, but not to its fullest potential.
Basement The basement features three dome-shaped furniture pieces as well as 3 concave domes on the ceiling. Music will play from the center ceiling dome and the sound would then bounce along the curves of the space and have an echo effect on the outside domes. The diagram on the right shows how these sound waves would travel. This effect creates a more interactive experience and also creates the illusion of a more active space. The songs playing would be nostalgic tunes to boost your mood. The tracks would be slower paces and acoustic so that the sounds do not clash too much when they echo. Lights shine onto the ceiling coordinated with music.
Elevator Lobby After you leave the basement you have the option of taking the elevator up to the top loop. When you get to the top you would enter the elevator lobby. This space is designed to encourage a more individual experience. The space is much quieter in this area.
Track This last space acts as a track where visitors can stretch this and enjoy another unique perspective. This top portion focuses on viewing the sky, but without being able to view anything else. The ceiling is made of glass in sunset colors, allowing you to pretend you are somewhere else looking at a more spectacular sky. The track has speakers at three different heights as shown on the right. The speakers would play nature sounds for a more serene experience. The sounds of squirrels and things down low would be played from the speakers by your feet, the bird sounds would come from the ones overhead, and so on.
Thank you