PLANNING THE LIFE SPACE

UNIT – 1

CONCEPT OF LIFE SPACE –

It is a term introduced by American psychologist Kurt Lewin to describe simultaneous influences that may affect individual behavior. The totality of the influences makes up the life space.

MICRO LEVEL:

As the name suggests this is the smallest of the levels of society. Micro level groupings are more intimate societies that many humans will automatically identify with first. Micro level societies are families, church groups, schools and the like. However, the complexity of this small group is that within the larger levels of society there are still smaller micro levels that make them up.

The micro level deals with the daily actions and interactions of people in society. It examines the social roles that we take on within society as well as how we react to society and understand it. At this more intimate level the focus is on how people think within society opposed to their behavior.

Micro level study of society hones in on the smallest elements that create the idea of what a society is, the norms and behaviors that make it recognizable as its own society. Ritual, socialization, segregation of activities and sanctions are all indicators as to how one should interact within a society. They are the guidelines that mentally tip us off as to the type of micro level society we are in.

MESO LEVEL:

Meso level is the lesser known of the society groupings as they aren’t dealing with huge societies of the macro level that affect many or the intriguing smaller, micro levels that deals with day to day human interaction. The Meso level is the middle ground of the organizations that are on a mid-scale, like communities or neighborhoods compared to the macro structure of an entire city.

The meso level also deals with the divisions within societies, how they are broken apart by income, ethnicity and the like. It’s the marriage between the micro and macro level studies, analyzing how these medium-sized groups form within the larger ones. These meso societies include institutions such as jail as well, smaller systems of people with a different set of guidelines for societal organization. This are also referred to as total institutions.

MACRO LEVEL:

The Macro level is the largest of the society groupings. Macrosociology is a term describing the study of our largest societies and populations. In actuality the macro level doesn’t just study the largest of societies but also society as a whole. Globalization has aided in expanding the extent of study at the macro level to encompass more and more of the world.

The macro level looks at how the institutions within a large population affect the masses. Things like the economy, government structure, religion and more are all their own smaller groupings but together they form the boundaries of the macro level society. These institutions are interrelated and tend to be closely linked in their values giving off an overall feel of the culture that the society sprang from.

It’s at the macro level of a society in these larger institutions that the root of society’s problems begins and therefore makes them of great interest. Problems at this larger level tend to have a trickle down affect into the smaller scaled level of societies making it that much more important to address the problems here as soon as they’re found. From the macro level the internal structure of a society can begin to be rearranged to meet the needs of the growing, changing population.

PROXEOMICS –

Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins, particularly their structures and functions. The word proteome is a blend of protein and genome. Proxeomics -- the study of an organism's complete complement of proteins –has a great impact in all areas of the life sciences. And the reason is clear, to really understand biological processes; we need to understand how proteins function in and around cells since they are the functioning units.

When mutations occur in the DNA, it is the proteins that are ultimately affected. Drugs, when they have beneficial effects, do so by interacting with proteins. Proxeomics therefore covers a number of different aspects of protein function, including the following:

Structural proxeomics - The large-scale analysis of protein structures.

Protein structure comparisons can help to identify the functions of newly discovered genes. Structural analysis can also show where drugs bind to proteins and where proteins interact with each other.

Expression proxeomics - The large-scale analysis of protein expression.

This can help to identify the main proteins found in a particular sample and proteins differentially expressed in related samples, such as diseased vs healthy tissue. A protein found only in a diseased sample may represent a useful drug target or diagnostic marker. Proteins with similar expression profiles may also be functionally related.

Interaction proxeomics - The large-scale analysis of protein interactions.

The characterization of protein-protein interactions helps to determine protein functions and can also show how proteins assemble in larger complexes. Technologies such as affinity purification, mass spectrometry and the yeast two-hybrid system are particularly useful.

PERSONAL SPACE –

The concept of personal space is similar to the concept of territory as both the concepts were first described in the context of studying the behavior patterns of animals. According to the article Personal Space (2004) the concept describes “the emotionally tinged zone around the human body that people feel is 'their space'. The area which defines an individual's personal space is relative to familiarity with others, the individual's age and the individual's cultural background.

In general children do not feel the need for as much personal space as adults do. Strangers feel the need for a greater amount of personal space than people who are friends or family. People who are in intimate relationships feel the least need for personal space between each other. People from different cultures may feel different requirements for personal space.

TERRITORIALITY –

Territoriality is a phenomenon and a word that describes an animal or human selecting and defining its own area or property in some way.

Though the concept of territory began with the study of animal behavior there are myriad differences between the way that animals control and use territory and the way that people do. People use symbolic markers, often use territory in a temporary or transient manner, often live in territory that is owned or defended by other people and may use territory for reasons that are “less rooted in survival needs than in a desire for status, privacy, and solitude”.

Human territoriality can conveniently be characterized as a set of behaviors that a person displays in relation to a physical environment that he terms 'his,' and that he uses more or less exclusively over time. A person's territory is the space that he controls. This may be the place semi-permanent or temporary residence or it may be an area that is only meant to be occupied for a few hours. In addition, it is not just the male of the human species who is the only organism to mark a territory. The female of some species also have methods of marking their space.

Territoriality is not a word which should be thought of in negative terms. However, defining one's own territory is important for the protection of personal space and privacy. Territoriality can have little or nothing to do with land, structures, vehicles, or any other material possession, but everything to do with one's need for safety and security, regardless of the environment.

CLAUSTROPHOBIA –

The word claustrophobia comes from the Latin word claustrum which means "a shut in place" and Greek phobos meaning "fear".Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder in which the sufferer has an irrational fear of having no escape or being closed-in. It frequently results in a panic attack and can be triggered by certain stimuli or situations, such as being in a crowded elevator, a small room without any windows, or being in an airplane.

Symptoms:

An afflicted person has symptoms of anxiety that are triggered by being in a confined space, or the thought of it. The sufferer dreads not being able to breathe properly, running out of oxygen, along with distress at being restricted. When anxiety levels reach a certain level, the following physical signs are possible:

·         Sweating

·         Accelerated heart rate

·         Increased blood pressure

·         Hyperventilation or 'over-breathing'

·         Hot flashes

·         Shaking or trembling

·         Nausea

·         Fainting

·         Fear of actual harm or illness

·         Chocking sensation

·         Tightness in the chest, sometimes chest pain

·         Confusion and/or disorientation

Examples of small spaces that could trigger anxiety are:

·         Elevators/lifts

·         Shop changing rooms

·         Basements/cellars

·         Subway trains

·         Hotel rooms with windows that do not open

·         Revolving doors

·         Airplanes

·         Cars - especially if they have central locking

·         Some medical devices, such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanners

Causes:

Claustrophobia is generally the result of an experience in the person's past (usually in their childhood) that has led them to associate small spaces with the feeling of panic or being in imminent danger. Examples of these kinds of past experiences are:

·         falling into a deep pool and not being able to swim

·         being in a crowded area and getting separated from parents/group

·         crawling into a hole and getting lost/stuck

As the experience will have dealt some kind of trauma to the person, it will affect their ability to cope with a similar situation rationally.

Treatment:

·         CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

·         Drug Therapy

·         Relaxation Exercises

·         Alternative/Natural medicine.

AGORAPHOBIA –

A person with agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder, may find it hard to feel safe in any type of public place, especially where large numbers of people gather. Some people may have it so severely that the only place they feel really safe in is their home, and rarely ever go outside.

Agoraphobia is not the opposite of claustrophobia (fear of closed spaces, such as elevators) - it is not simply a fear of open spaces. Agoraphobia may result in a fear of being outdoors, a kind of open space - but it is not a fear of there being too much openness and no walls, ceilings or boundaries, etc.

Symptoms:

Sufferers will usually only experience the symptoms when they find themselves in a situation or environment that causes them anxiety. Physical symptoms are rare because most people with agoraphobia avoid situations that they believe will trigger panic. When symptoms do occur, they may include:

·         Accelerated heartbeat.

·         Rapid and shallow breathing (hyperventilating).

·         Feeling hot, flushing.

·         Stomach upset.

·         Diarrhea.

·         Trouble swallowing.

·         Breaking out in a sweat.

·         Nausea

·         Ringing in the ears.

Causes:

·         A complication of a panic disorder

·         Some medications and substances

·         Difficulties with spatial orientation

·         Some other factors such as a history of alcohol abuse, drug abuse, a traumatic childhood experience, a very stressful event or a history of mental illness, such as an eating disorder or depression.

Treatment –

·         Medications for agoraphobia

·         Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CROWDING –

Crowding is a personal, perceived state of mind that may occur due to conditions of high population density.Crowding, for psychologists, is a psychological state characterized by stress, which generally means an increase in illness, decrease in performance, and increase in aggression. Behaviors caused by crowding include assertiveness, rushing to complete activities to flee the dense conditions, physical withdrawal (characterized by less eye contact), psychological withdrawal, and adaptation.

Evidence has shown that crowding can lead to a decrease in aggressive behavior. When a region becomes overcrowded, this will lead to discomfort and stress in a population. Limited resources arise and the space available to live remains fixed which leads to damage to the environment. Research also shows that there are unpleasant and stressful behaviors due to the high density.

1.       Unstructured activities are more likely to cause crowding than structured.

2.       Even the anticipation of being in high social density generally puts people in a negative mood.

3.       The farther into a setting one resides, the less likely people are to withdraw or become distressed in high-density settings.

4.       For males, greater ceiling height is associated with less crowding. Rooms with well-defined corners generally elicit less crowding than rooms with curved walls, and rectangular rooms seem to elicit less crowding than square rooms of the same area.

5.       Rooms that keep an escape (such as windows and doors) in view are generally perceived as less crowded than areas without.

6.       High-rise buildings are associated with greater feelings of rowdiness than low-rise.

7.       Positioning furniture in the center of the room (as opposed to the sides) generally is associated with a perception of greater crowding. Somewhat paradoxically, partitions in rooms lessen feelings of crowding.

8.       A brighter place (whether in color--think yellows--or lighting) will likely result in less perceived crowding.

9.       The presence of visual distractions leads to more perceived space.

SITE ANALYSIS AND ORIENTATION –

Site analysis is a pre design research activity which focuses on existing and potential conditions on and around the building site. It is an inventory of the site factors and forces, and how they coexist and interact. The purpose of the analysis is to provide thorough information about the site assets and liabilities prior to starting the design process. Only in this way can concepts be developed that incorporate meaningful responses to the external conditions of the site.

It involves the evaluation of an existing or potential site in relation to the development program, environmental impact, impacts on the community and adjacent properties protect budget and schedule. The site analysis identifies environmental, program, and development constraints and opportunities. A well-executed site analysis forms the essential foundation for a cost effective, environmentally sensitive, and rational approach to project development.

CLIENT NEEDS: Site analysis vary greatly depending on the owner’s situation, the project size, program complexity and the site. One client may have defined a building program and be in search of a site. Another may have selected a site and be interested in fitting a development program to it.

SKILLS: Site analysis services may he performed by an interdisciplinary team or by an individual capable of directing the work of others. For the designer, skill in the initial evaluation of the physical features and quality of a site is fundamental. The designer leading a site analysis effort must be able to evaluate the site in terms of climate, topography, geographical and soil characteristics, utilities, Natural features and surroundings, transportation and access, and historic preservation and landmarks. Familiarity with planning and zoning requirements such as parking, building density use, open space, and design controls also ¡s essential.

PROCESS: When assembling the project team, a prime consideration is the level of investigation that each site factor requires in relation to the skills of the project manager. The consultant’s familiarity with local conditions should be considered. During site analysis, an architect often explores the potential for a client to become an accepted part of a community. The site analysis team should he fully capable of making a good impression on a community and dealing effectively with its representatives.

ORIENTATION –

The orientation of the site plays a very important role in siting of the building. This, when combined with the wind direction and sun path, would give a good idea as to how the design should be oriented so as to optimize the design. The orientation along with the sun path will also determine the placement of rooms inside buildings. For instance, in a warm tropical climate, the bedrooms will be placed such that they are not facing the west or the south.

                                                                                                     BY

                                                                                           N.VIJAYALAKSHMI 

                                                         HEAD DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR DESIGN AND DECOR