4. Atmosphere inclusivity in Institutional Space

From Phase 2, the interaction between the user and building element in an institutional generated experiences both positive and negative. These interactions, especially the negative ones, produced several strategies showing how users deal with the controlled situation. In the designer’s view, this is an opportunity to create a mindful moment to increase interaction between people and places. After exploring the spatial iterations in the previous phase, this project had a goal to test spatial affordance, the occupants of the space, and the atmosphere created. These several strategies were supposed to create a mindful institutional space supporting users’ wellness and wellbeing.

The introduction of Appropriate Interior written by Karin Tehve explained that interiors exist within and without the domain of designed environments and are thus more able to reflect and support a broader and more inclusive set of values.32

Therefore, when this project began to deal with the atmosphere and user, it was needed to have a perspective on the diversity aspect of the user. This was important as aiming to the respected environment which is part of wellbeing33 In this phase, the strategies focused on the transitional space: the corridor and waiting space. As these areas are mentioned and highlighted in Montgomery and Kearns’s writings as a space that is full of potential34.

Even though it was a continuation of the previous phase, the methods of approach consist of studying literature about what is the meaning of Atmosphere Inclusivity. The targeted space to be explored was a transitional space such as a corridor. Therefore, it began with studying literature on the history of a corridor in order to extend an understanding of a corridor. After gaining the concept, I created some sketches. Firstly, I used the previous alteration modelling to produce the corridor scenario. After some first sketches, I divided the experience of a corridor into three categories, consisting of the beginning, the middle, and approaching the end.

- What is atmosphere inclusivity?

In the writing of Rebecca McLaughlan and Julie Willis,“Atmospheric inclusiveness: creating a coherent and relatable sense of place for a children’s hospital”, they gave a short explanation of atmosphere inclusivity. Atmosphere inclusivity was a quality that been perceived from a combination of building elements to the user without giving any exclusion feeling. The building should bring a user feel respected regardless of their background and condition. This relates to what space can afford to facilitate this. McLaughlan and Julie Willis35 highlighted several strategies indicated as a factor in building the atmosphere of inclusivity in The RCH case study. Some of these were connected to nature and social connections. Another thing was visual cues of turning distraction into an attraction.

- The history of corridor

Mark Jarzombek wrote a history of corridor36. Corridors since the 14 century used to connect one building to another building and are located in an outdoor setting. With the development of the complexity of the building, the corridor then connected one room to another. However, these were closely related to the sense of hierarchy, different access for servants, and dealing with speed of movement. The function of corridors began to develop after post-world war II when there was a movement against corridor. It shifted the function as a gallery and have a sense of interaction in the middle of a corridor.

What was interesting for me from these two aspects (the case study of RCH and the history of the corridor) was the element of attraction and pace of movement. I thought that this can be a possibility to be explored more with the two keywords I found previously. I decided to approach the in-between space of a corridor and analysed the strategy waiting space using this perspective. In this project, I explored the corridor using the previous keywords and analysed the waiting area from the strategy found by the other group member.

I found that a corridor and waiting area had different characters to the speed. The waiting area is a place to pause. Some people found that they were caught in-between of activities37. What happen in the waiting area was a static activity where users would sit still or stand. They were longing for the next move. While the corridor was a fast pace environment. It gave the feeling to move fast and hurriedly. However, both are discussing the same variable time and pace, slower or faster. This could be integrated with the placement position of the attraction to distract the movement.

- The waiting area strategy: Enjoy the time that slowly passes.

Users always had a phone to find something interesting while waiting. From this point of view, a user (adults and children) got bored easily during waiting. It gave an idea to develop the area of waiting with a different level of experience and added different activities to fill the long waiting duration. The activity to be added as a test were book browsing, book reading, and interactive digital art. The activities chosen are activities that can be both enjoyed by different age groups, gender-neutral and general activities that everyone can enjoy.

The adult experience was to enjoy a digital interactive display and a distraction near the ceiling. This encourages to have a relaxed waiting with a supportive/comfortable lounge chair. This would be different for a targeted group of children. It had a side goal of education. For example, an introduction to color or animal.

The corridor strategy:

Reducing the pace, encourages a walk and conversation. The corridor was located between two functional spaces. It connected one activity to another activity. However, during this transition, did actually people need to be hurried every time? One user might need to catch their breath first. Other, might be the clinical staff who need to run errands and move directly from one clinical space to other. Therefore, it came to the question does it support the pause or support the continuation?

Here, the expansion keyword is applied. The expansion space of the corridor can be utilized as a waiting area, or conversational space near the clinical area such as a consultation room, or just a place to take a breath. This aim was to reduce the pace but actually not try to eliminate the main function of the corridor to connect the access from one place to other places.

This corridor can also be blended with the waiting area and the most encouraging one is to place near the courtyard. The space expansion for the conversational space can activate the courtyard, not only for sightseeing but also for the happening of the conversation. The corridor treatment was generated into 3 types.

1. The attractive start

The starting point of a corridor was a transition from the previous space. At this point, I tried to expand some parts of the corridor to be an attraction point. This would become the first view for the user as an invitation and gave an atmosphere of friendliness. It aimed to build a positive experience from the beginning of the journey along the corridor. The strategies found for this were making a different material from the previous room and positioning a visual connection to nature or attraction from the first glance. The visual treatment was used to eliminate the unfriendliness of the corridor. This attraction in the beginning also aimed to give a momentary pause. It would reduce the feeling of anxiety to move in a hurry. Therefore, a user would be able to have a sense of place.

Image :

Exploration drawing of spatial strategy in corridor setting.

Top : Expansion in general corridor area, Middle : Position of entrance, circukation, and expansion point as attaction, Bottom : expansion in the middle part of corridor.

2. The middle curiosity

After building the experience from the beginning, I tried to maintain the curiosity of the user. Therefore, I decided to segment the corridor into several parts with the division of expansion space. I tried several strategies to expand the space.

The strategies : a. This expansion created a bigger corridor space. I applied a transparency material to the ceiling and the wall of the expansion space. I also tried to have a floating bench. Given the idea of expansion not only from the corridor side but also the visual connection expanded from the outside to inside. These afforded a slightly paused when walking down the aisle. The expansion from the outside, into the bottom of the benches, became a surprise detail that might attract people to come and have a more detail look. b. I expand the space as a stage to observe the nature or courtyard. This will be located near a consultation room. So that, a user can take a rest after an intense discussion in the consultation room. I also connect the expansion space to the courtyard and arrange some furniture. The furniture and view could afford a medium of conversation, building connections among the users. c. I found a strategy to expand with a tilted angle to create a continuous journey but have a different experience. It also played with the boundary of inside and outside. So, I tried to apply the alteration to a circulation. The corridor were connected with a tilted opening.

The material on the expansion space should use a warm and different material from the general corridor as indicate the different pace. I tried to use the warm timber flooring to afford comfort and close with the natural element.

When the user came out of the opening, they would walking to the different side of the space. I used a small garden as a surprise element differentiating more one space to the other space.

3. The Ending Frame

Just like in the beginning, I would like to shape the experience for people to have a sense of achievement to reach the very end of the corridor. Therefore, I tried to attract with a full-frame expanded view from the outside. From far away it would look like a painting, framing nature. However, if a user came close, they could expand the view into the ceiling.

The idea to slow down the pace did not mean to slow the movement in general. It was to calm down the anxiety to take a momentarily pause for looking at the surrounding. The application to this must be reflected on the user’s needs. Like what I identified before, clinical staff needs to move faster therefore the fast pace corridor had still been there.

Moreover, I found that the idea of connectivity and expansion can be combined with the treatment material. To slow down the pace of movement could also use the differentiation of texture and pattern of the material. For instance, an old brick pedestrian path would slow down the user’s movement. A tactile material could also attract the sensory to feel and touch the material.

Another thing that I reflected on in this project was the use of only one sensory, visual. However, the input from BLP pointed out using a smell or maybe a hearing to build another experience. I thought this was a really good idea. The writing from the Phillips about building the curiosity with the sensory of visual and touch. It would make the user think more about their past memories. If the design can stimulate a happiness memory for the user, it would be a great support for wellness and wellbeing.

37Martin, Daryl, Sarah Nettleton, and Christina Buse. “Affecting Care: Maggie’s Centres and the Orchestration of Architectural Atmospheres.” Social science & medicine (1982) 240 (2019): 112563–112563.