How to guarantee comfort and well-being in small spaces?
While part of the feeling of comfort and well-being in an internal environment is related to external factors of the building, such as natural lighting and ventilation, another part is directly associated with the internal spatial distribution and sensations caused to the inhabitants of that area. space.through architecture.
Reconciling all the factors that ensure greater comfort and well-being in interior spaces is always a challenge in an architectural project, especially in environments with small areas, where space must be used to the maximum and there is not always the possibility to provide large openings in externally or not to host all the functions of the program in a conventional way.
+ 15
In these cases, a number of solutions can be thought of in architectural terms to promote a better sense of well-being for the occupants of the building. Below are some of the strategies that can be used in small-scale projects to ensure greater comfort in terms of lighting, ventilation, approval of the space and the well-being of those who live in it.
Natural lighting and ventilation
Windows, as one of the main means of connecting interior and exterior in an architectural project, have the dual function of lighting and ventilation of rooms. These qualities are highly valued in environments with small areas, so it is important that they are well sized and positioned based on ventilation studies and the solar path, combined with the needs of the place.
Renovation: U-shaped room / Tao workshop + c
Rooftop studio Tapachula / TO
Flexible and versatile furniture
In projects with a small area, flexibility is a key word. Stairs used as cabinets, retractable tables, beds with built-in drawers and wheeled furniture are some examples of recurring solutions in small spaces to save space and solve several functions in a single element.
Apartment 097 –Yojigen Poketto / elii
Wok apartment / studio of 28 m2
Vegetation
Mankind has an instinctive dependence on nature, which fuels the search to be somehow close to it. In small areas, an alternative to save space and continue to take advantage of the influence of vegetation on the well-being of its inhabitants is to incorporate it in a suspended way.
Pantera Filmes Workshop / Matú Arquitetura
Apartment Lido 501 / Atelier Aberto Arquitetura
High ceilings
Environments with high ceilings, in addition to allowing greater use of space by creating mezzanines and larger storage spaces, also help to ventilate indoor environments through the effect of the chimney.
Taller_142 / Atelier Wilda
Family house / Ruetemple
Light shades
In a previously published article we showed how colors can change the perception of interior spaces and an excellent example is the use of light colors on the surfaces of an environment as a way to provide a feeling of greater space.
Camarin / IR architecture
Apartment Spectral / BETILLON / DORVAL – BORY
Hot materials
While light and cool tones can provide a greater sense of comfort in interiors in the greater sense of space, warmer materials such as wood, fabrics and ceramic materials can provide a better feeling of welcome without it necessarily brings the feeling of living in a larger area. space-bar.
Architecture studio / Alina Jerónimo + Paulo Carneiro
Apartment in Saint Andreu / Oriol Garcia Muñoz
Mobile and light partitions
Movable and light partitions, whether curtains, panels or other possibilities for flexible separation of the room, have a great advantage in small spaces. When fully open, these elements promote greater integration between spaces, while when kept closed, they take up less space compared to traditional room partition alternatives, such as drywall or masonry walls. .
Renovación Apartamento Alphonse / Match, architecture office
Translucent spaces Apartment / batlab architects
This article is part of the ArchDaily Topic of the Month: Wellness in Indoors. Each month we explore a topic in depth through articles, interviews, news and plays. Learn more about our topics. And as always, at ArchDaily we appreciate the contributions of our readers. If you would like to submit an article or paper, please contact us.