AN ARCHITECT’S ROLE IN THE MODULATION OF HOME

Kavya S

Abstract
The intent of this research paper is to analyse the psychological factors behind the definition of a
home and associate these factors to the essential principles of homemaking.We also try to come
across the role of a designer,mainly an architect, in the fabrication of ideal living environments
and modulation of the optimal psychological comfort zones called home.

Keywords

Home,Habitat,Psychological comfort,Architect as a homeplanner

Introduction
A home has encountered numerous definitions in daily life.The notions of home vary within the
populace across numerous timespans.What was called as home a century ago may not suffice the
definitions of home for posterity.Similarly,the responsibility of creating a home has been passed
on to countless individuals who have taken on themselves to produce the ideal sanctuary for their
consumer.However,while anyone can attempt to build a residence,the project of creation of a
dwelling unit that one can ideally call ‘home’,the haven that he aspires, requires an intimate
understanding of the client’s needs.This is why,as architects, we need to consider numerous
factors,though subtle,which are important to ensure that the recipients are complacent with the
edifice they acquire rather than surrendering to merely survive within generic block dwellings.It
is to identify a common wireframe among all these derivative factors that we try to understand
the different terminologies that provoke the perception of home within the society,varying from
the needy to the affluent to create these dwelling spaces which assist in contented living of the
inhabitants.

It is to identify a common wireframe among all derivatives that we try to understand the different
terminologies that provoke the perception of home within the society,varying from the needy to
the affluent.

Human pursuit of comfort zones

Human beings always tend to establish certain characteristic circumstances within their
environment that enable to provoke a sense of home within any alien vicinty.This can be
anything ranging from negligible factors like relocation of self toward an corner of refuge in a
public transport to drastic circumstances of refurnishing any space meant for a brief stay to
ensure a sense of psychological comfort.This is conclusive evidence to show that human beings
would go to extents to ensure that they feel ‘homely’ within their surroundings, and that they
yearn for the emergence of premonitions of any feeling of comfort amongst all the ever
changing dynamic factors around their individualistic self.

In pursuit of the same aforementioned comfort, human beings also tend to prefer to remain
within recognised environments.Families consider various factors vis-a`-vis their proximity to
family relatives and acquaintances while pondering on the ideal location of their homes.They
also prefer to stay within spaces capable of quality community engagement like community
centres,parks and other recreational spaces.This allows for a better quality of life by ensuring
active social engagement and providing for recognition within their society through active
communication.This also corresponds to their social needs of being encompassed about
congenial company.
Human beings are thus in constant pursuit of being recognised and thrive amongst the
mechanism of recognised spaces.This is visible even in their tidying methods ie, the racking
procedure within their wardrobes and drawers where every article has its locus, to the assignment
of spaces in the form of rooms within any dwelling unit.All this creates a sense of belonging for
mankind towards any space, thus making any individual content in their assigned zones.

Material psychology also plays an important role regarding the creation of homely
spaces.Shapes,textures, colours and tones can result in subjective sensitivity toward any
space.Furthermore,certain characteristics of space can also trigger varied emotional
responses,either negative or positive. This might be a result of personal preferences,genetic
history,past experiences and/or emotional affinity toward any material.The same circumstances
can originate due to the presence of strong emotions towards personal effects.This is evident
when individuals clasp various articles that they feel is linked to their comfort spaces among
themselves to reassign attachments to their new habitats.The presence of certain such artefacts
can stimulate positive emotions of belonging and recognition toward a space,and can thus
contribute towards the making of a home. However, all this does not affirm the relationship
between luxury and elation in any manner.Though it is plausible to a large extent,it is still proven
in many circumstances that luxury alone cannot provide happiness for a prolonged periods.This
explains why even the affluent pursue methods of inner peace and self appreciation for
contentedness rather than relying on their opulent resources.

The Role of an architect in the making of a home

The role any architect plays in the modelling of a homely habitat is crucial.However,architects
generally fail to realise importance of creating such personalised dwellings.This is mainly due to
the existence of preconceived notions of architecture which reduce the subject of modelling of
dwelling units to mere architectural templates of building.The templates usually consist of
ground rules for placement of chambers among dwelling.These reusable templates are then
employed in most architectural projects with naught to minimal alterations,irrespective of the
client personae.It is owing to these state of affairs that Juhani Pallasima in his article entitled
“Identity, Intimacy and Domicile: Notes on the Phenomenology of Home,” quoted “Today's
architecture seems to have abandoned life entirely and turned into a pure architectural
fabrication.It is thought provoking that today's buildings appear empty,they do not seem to
represent any real and authentic way of life.”

A good habitat solution should always evolve from a detailed understanding of the client’s
notions and interests.It is an established fact that spatial relationships are subjective amongst
different entities and thus it is important to identify how any individual would succumb to these
fabricated environments.The result can be in the form of a successful execution like the Villa
Mairea, which became a significant dwelling built for rural retreat by Alvar Aalto. As we
advance from the front door to the inside of the house, the materiality of the floor also changes as
it becomes progressively more domestic and intimate, from stone to tiles to timber boarding and
rugs. This resulted in what was an encouraging example of design, which has a great aesthetic
tolerance and yet it is artistically uncompromising.Contrasting cases included the Farnsworth
House by Mies van der Rohe Mies,where he had designed one of the most important and
aesthetically appealing houses of our century, but his client did not find it satisfactory and could
not recognise himself within its environment.This is evidence to affirm that architects or
designers should always follow an emotional design approach where all decisions pertaining to
that of the habitat is undertaken purely on the basis of the users’ needs and responses to the
design factors.Only then can the design allow the user to breathe freely within the environment
he seeks.The detachment that any client experiences around the fabricated environment
revolving him can be mitigated if the architect attempts to appreciate the aspirations and
memoirs of his client and ensures to undertake appropriate provisions in the initial planning
stages of the project.

It is important,however, to understand where one can implement such level of personalisation in

their design process.The main factor in play is the level of comfort the user seeks.For this,we
understand how the user defines his comfort zones.A prominent example I would quote is from a
Ted talk I recently came across,wherein the speaker brought up a scenario which pushed him to
become an architect.He vividly remembered the uncomfortable situations he encountered when
he had to walk all across the living room to reach his room after he took a shower in his
bathroom which was situated on the end of their guest room.The psychological impact of the
incident he encountered is etched deep within him to the extent that he pushes himself to aspire
toward finer architecture.Some users usually prefer privacy of rooms with respect to their
common gather arena.Others would aspire for an ease of navigation between the public spaces
and private.In certain cases,it would also be desired to buffer private spaces through the creation
of semi private spaces within a dwelling.Every material,colour and texture used within these
dwellings also result in subjective psychological impacts.Each entity would have varying levels
of association to its user. While some prefer wooden textures for their allaying warmths,others
prefer the authentic raw finish of concrete.However this does not imply that the architect acts
timelessly on all the mundane needs of the client.It is about functioning rationally while
continuously working toward the creation of these intangible links for the user to his
environment.Thus,by understanding the needs of the user,the architect can preserve and link the
identity of the client towards the edifice,which can go a long way in making the client feel
associated within his vicinity.

The location of an edifice also plays a noticeable role in user satisfaction.Highly dense,urbanised
locations can be opposing to some,while others may invest ample amount of resources just to
acquire regions in a distant proximity to urban hotspots.In the era of changing times,all
individuals no longer prefer retreat spaces isolated from the urban metropolis.A lot of factors
come into play - ease of access to public infrastructure,platforms for social interactions,presence
of recreational spaces,regional safety and security etc.If these factors manage to provide the
client a sense of recognition and content within their environment,it is only natural that designers
prioritise the same.However,an insignificant location does not necessarily imply that it is
impossible to satisfy the client’s habitat needs.A starking example would be Ricardo Bofill’s
Cement factory,where the architect has converted an existing cement factory into a living
habitat. The factory, abandoned and partially in ruins, was a compendium of surrealist elements:
stairs that climbed up to nowhere, mighty reinforced concrete structures that sustained nothing,
pieces of iron hanging in the air, huge empty spaces filled nonetheless with
magic.Nonetheless,the stark juxtapositioning of elements during its renovation has seldom
inhibited the living capacity of the space.

Hence,there are numerous factors that come into play whilst the modulation of a living
habitat.The article hardly covers countable factors which take part in the design process.It is
important to ensure that architects modulate an ideal emulsion which overly cover most of the
major factors involved in the process habitat fabrication to ensure client contentment

Conclusion
Home is layered within multiple notions of ones self.The creation of home is more subjective
than objective due to the vast multitude of psychological factors influencing one’s comfort
zone.Designers in general and architects in particular have to constantly address and evoke these
factors while modulating design solutions to ensure that individuals do not feel alienated toward
their own habitats.Only this can ensure healthy and content mannerisms of living for the present
and posterity.

Bibiliography
 www.archdaily.com
 Juhani Pallasima - Identity, Intimacy and Domicile: Notes on the Phenomenology of Home
 Thesis projects -An Architectural Inquiry into the Significance of Home by Justin Perdue