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9. MATERIAL CONNECTION TO NATURE

PATTERNS

ENVIRONMENTAL
  • IMPROVE Comfort (2)

WELL-BEING BENEFITS

  • IMPROVE Creative Performance (1, 2)
INTELLECTUAL
PHYSICAL
  • DECREASE Diastolic Blood Pressure (3)

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air."                                                                                  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Basics

THE BASICS

This element addresses our connection to natural materials.

GOOD TO USE
  • Local materials

  • Texture

  • Biomorphic patterns

  • Natural, minimally processed materials over synthetic re-creations. 

  • Materials that reflect time and use. 

  • If man-made materials are used, the closer the representation is to the real material the better, as some of those inherent properties may be suggested. 

  • Consider especially the goal Information Richness & Complexity.  Humans are able to perceive very small scale in the structure of materials.  This detail should be available at both the smallest scales, but also at an intermediate and large scale (5).   

GIVE PREFERENCE TO
SOME INTERESTING RESEARCH
  • When concrete is left exposed, its lack of a geometric structure can cause negative sensory feedback.  Addition of an aggregate, or patterns on the concrete will help with correct fractal scaling and feel more natural, additionally adding visual and tactile interest (5).

  • A room with approximately 45% wood can decrease blood pressure, pulse rate, and brain activity, possibly having unintended effects in a room where focus and concentration are necessary (4)

  • Natural Stone, Leather, Wood, Fossil, Grasses

  • Veneer

  • Natural Color Palette

EXAMPLES
Break Down 1

All Photo Credits: Nicole Craanen

Some more Great Examples of Unexpected Sensory Stimuli

(a range of applications & styles is are shown below)

Casa Batllo
Barcelona, Spain
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
UW-Madison, Nancy Nicholas Hall
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
UW-Madison, Discovery Building
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Locavore
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Falling Water
Mill Run, Pennsylvania, USA
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Madison Public Library
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Park Guell
Barcelona, Spain
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Fatehpur Sikri. India
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Colectivo
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, USA
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Art and Culture Centre
Bangkok, Thailand
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Agra Fort
Agra, India
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Taj Mahal
Agra, India
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Ireland
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Ireland
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Colectivo
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, USA
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Park Meadows Mall - LuluLemon
Lone Tree, Colorado, USA
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Nha Trang, Vietnam
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Royal Citadel
Hue, Vietnam
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Helios Apartments
Englewood, Colorado, USA
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
Photo Credit: Nicole Craanen
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