Blog

The Architect’s New Normal

Designing and engineering a home is already a massive undertaking, especially on a commission basis, in which the client has specific needs and wants. Under normal circumstances, producing something both aesthetically striking and livable can be a difficult medium to reach. So without a doubt, this tumultuous year of 2020 has been no friend of the modern architect. Building for clients with the pandemic in mind, the modern architect must address the client’s potential need for extra rooms, larger spaces, and flexibility like it’s never been done before. With new guidelines being adopted almost every week, people seek homes that they can easily transform and alter to suit needs by the day, even by the hour.

As a modern architect, engineer, or space designer, how can you offer smart solutions for the current struggles of life during COVID-19? One thing is for sure, people will be craving larger spaces (so much time spent indoors these days), more rooms if possible, and helpful flexibility so entire rooms can be transformed within seconds. Staying on budget and maintaining a modern aesthetic can be hard enough, so how can you successfully integrate these novel design considerations into your blueprints?

Indoor/Outdoor Living

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, people were starting to design homes to achieve a fantastic medium of indoor/outdoor living. Bringing in natural elements like plants and water features is something that has been adopted by the interior design industry for decades. But even more than that, we were just beginning to notice flexible living spaces integrating into new interior architecture.

Flexible living spaces? What does that mean?

Examples of this would be floor-to-ceiling sliding glass walls that the homeowner could easily slide opener closed within seconds to create a through-line to other rooms in the home, as well as to the outdoors. And now more than ever (as most of our day is spent indoors) people are craving nature within their living environments. So design that brings the outside in will become vital within the coming months and years.

Larger Shared Spaces

Another design aspect to keep in mind is the need for larger shared spaces within the home. With more people indoors during the day, there is a need for more space and cozy family areas for the whole family to enjoy, and be able to comfortably sprawl. In years past, children would be at school, parents would be at work, so there was lesser need to share spaces or consider our living environs so carefully. But this year, the entire family (or roommates) are home, sharing the same space and it can quickly become cramped and cumbersome. So, in order to retain the same square footage, consider downsizing bedrooms and upsizing living rooms and TV rooms. Again, Sliding Glass Wall Partitions come in handy for creating a flexible living space.

The Ultimate Space Savers

As previously mentioned, the main design take away from this year is the need for flexibility. As an architect or a space designer, you’ll be tasked with creating options and flexible environments within your client’s interiors. For example, a great way to achieve a malliable living room is to install large glass sliding room dividers that can be opened and closed within seconds, enabling the homeowners to enlarge or reduce their shared living spaces.

For example, if the kids have a tutor or a Skype session and want privacy, free from distractions this is a great way to instantaneously create a second or even a third room within a matter of minutes!

Space Plus expertly crafts modern, durable, sliding glass doors and floor-to-ceiling glass wall partitions in a range of different styles and customizable options. For the living room, Sliding Glass Barn Doors complement the space beautifully with a stylish aesthetic with a nod to rustic times of the past. The best part? The company will even send their team of installation experts to swiftly install these space dividers within less than a day! As an architect or engineer, you can even afford to integrate these special solutions all the way at the end of your design process, allowing you to flawlessly integrate these solutions into near-completed homes!

Using these pointers and keeping the pandemic close in mind while designing, you can create well-functioning spaces your clients will love and value. For more inspiration and spatial solutions, don’t hesitate to check out the best space-optimizing sliding glass doors, Sliding Closet Doors, and sliding room dividers offered at Space Plus, a division of The Sliding Door Company. Visit Us online to browse our viewing catalog and enjoy a free Consultation from one of our team members to actualize your vision today!

SP 1040 – A

Blog

The Science of Plants: Why Integrating These Leafy Greens into Our Interiors Could Change Lives

In the past couple of years, there has been a trending resurgence within the interior design world to bring plants and other natural elements indoors in order to create a sanctuary within living spaces. As humans, we sometimes fail to recognize how impactful the natural world has on our daily lives. Neglecting this very basic human need can result in disharmony from being so disconnected from nature. We truly need a healthy dose of greenery each day in order to feel wholesome, renewed, and healthy.

Now more so than ever, the need for plants, trees, and other natural elements in our living spaces has become invaluable for our collective well being during a worldwide health crisis. With an unprecedented amount of time spent indoors this year, we must recognize the need for nature indoors, and begin to design our interiors with this in mind. Not just in our personal homes, but also in our places of work, hospitals, medical centers, and educational institutions. By integrating the outside indoors, we can provide health sanctuaries for our clients, customers, and patients and help everyone remain as healthy as possible.

So why plants?

Many of the invaluable health effects of plants and the environmental benefits of these leafy greens are lost on the general population. Most of us are not educated on the importance of plants and what they provide for our planet, what they do for our indoor and outdoor air quality, and their ability to enhance human moods. Countless studies have shown that the integration of indoor plants into an interior space has improved the indoor air quality and become a natural system of filtration that keeps everyone breathing healthy air and getting the oxygen we need.

“Studies have proven that house plants improve concentration and productivity (by up to 15%), reduce stress levels, and boost your mood. To create your perfect green haven, it’s worthwhile spending a little bit of time researching the plants that are best suited for each room and what kind of environment.” -Sophie Lee, NBC News

In addition to the elemental benefits that plants provide, they also have shown to be mood-enhancers and concentration boosters through scientific studies. Whether our human needs show that we truly feel happier and more comfortable in an environment that mimics the outdoors, or if there is actually some chemical benefit that increases our serotonin, the emotional effects on our health are unquestionable.

Plants in Our Interiors

Where are plants best used?

Of course, it’s wonderful to surround yourself with plants in your own home, but even better is integrating these beautiful beings into otherwise sterile environments that could be elevated to enhance the occupant’s experience. Hospitals are one of the best places that we should begin to integrate more plants and greenery into. The invaluable asset of good interior design on one’s ability to heal and recover is huge. Not only do plants freshen the air, but they also create harmony within an indoor environment that is otherwise devoid of life. Artificial lighting, little visibility to the outdoors, and in general, a meek surrounding can oftentimes lead to patients’ dissatisfaction, length recovery times, and general sadness while in medical facilities.

“Not only do plants enhance oxygen levels but some studies indicate a plant nearby can lower blood pressure, reduce the need for painkillers, and enhance the overall mood of a patient. Incorporating indoor and outdoor viewing gardens into hospital plans has been undertaken for several years now, and the evidence is clear regarding healing plants and their uses.” -Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist, Gardening Know-How

How can plants thrive indoors?

Most interior house plants are not exactly designed to survive in completely dark, shaded indoor environments. Indoor plants still need plenty of secondhand indoor light, which is easily provided through light-allowing windows and full-sized Glass Wall Partitions, for example. If you have a medical facility and would like to begin integrating more greenery into your interiors, you also must take into account the available light you’re working with. Installing easy to clean, medical-grade Sliding Glass Wall Partitions and floor to sliding glass room dividers will help to bring in tons of natural light that will excite not only the plants but also your patients.

By providing a more health-centered medical facility complete with beautiful greenery and increased natural light, you can improve the quality of life and health for your patients and staff. Make your wellness facility as safe as possible for everyone involved. With full hospitals and medical facilities due to COVID 19, ensure your facility a safe place by integrating glass room dividers and glass partitions. Visit Space Plus, A Division of the Sliding Door Company online to view our online catalog, and Get a quote from one of our professionals today.

SP 1013