Letter from the Editor
Ecosystems are not only " nature " and separated from us People are an active part of them, and more Homes themselves are ecosystems in their own right, and living in tune with our surroundings - and with ourselves - has never been easier
We connect to space to the point where we are so close that we identify with it We just forgot how to tap into this resource
In part two of Wellbeing, The relevant historical timeline, you can read about how we ' ve always had this, and, later in part three, how it got lost
But we can reclaim it By deliberately setting up our homes in Selftropy ™ , we increase the chances of establishing that connection This is a new tool to control our mood, boost our self-esteem, relax, energize us to pursue what is essential, and generally maintain a stimulating environment that assures our mental health
In Showcase, you will read about one of our beautiful bedroom suites designed through neurodesign back in 2011 If you have read our earlier issues, you know by now that I'm a big proponent of designing with our spirit in mind Long before neurodesign reached today's mainstream, I've carefully explored, tested and applied a series of methods that spun out psychological findings, and I am continuously working on an increasing portfolio of selftropic interiors
And last but not least, for all theatre lovers out there: as Spring sets in, I reminisce over my pre-covid trips to Stratford Do you find yourself longing for it too?
Happy reading,
FOCUS Monthly
Some still believe that the earth is flat. As shocking as that may be, it is not only true but takes more and more hold as they grow in numbers.
What is fascinating is that independent of the world being round or flat, the force that keeps it together and alive has boundaries. We either escape the gravitational pull or fall off a cliff-like ending. We're either on earth or off it.
But if the world is dead, does it really matter if it's flat or not? We need to keep our eyes on what is relevant, and each of us, one at a time, not only redefine where we stand so that we're not pulled off a cliff but keep everyone back from it too.
“If we pollute the air, water and soil that keep us alive and well, and destroy the biodiversity that allows natural systems to function, no amount of money will save us
"
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David Suzuki
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the bodyruling health age
BY
MOT PART 2 Mental health 8 |
ADRIANA
In around 440 b.c. Hippocrates categorizes the origins of disease as belonging to either exterior factors, such as climate and season, or internal factors such as irregular food, lack of exercise or bad habits. He is among the first known to talk about prevention and one of the first references he made was to the toxic effects of unsuitable diets on our bodies. This mentality continued throughout Antiquity as the Olympic games come into being as the ultimate body-exercise-worship ritual. With it, the architectural typology displayed a high regard toward the values of the time. Pagan temples were at the top of the built
hierarchy followed by an array of public buildings celebrating life and all that came with it: markets and the public display of power and baths and the healthy gossip of human interaction. In highly structures societies like that of Pompei, residences reflected a complicated structure of social life and privacy was a privilege of class. What they all shared was a stylistically confident architecture that offered a physical presence unencumbered by meaningless detail and focused on the majestic shapes of a heathy and clear geometry, a stable mind, and symmetry-based constructs reflecting the beauty concepts of the era.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
CHRIS HARRISON PHOTOGRAPHER
INTERIORS
DOCHIA INTERIOR DESIGN
ARCHITECTURE LAND
OF DOCHIA
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A modern home on a quiet Toronto street; living inside, one of the many kinds of regular families: two parents, two kids; life split between work, time together to listen and share, and the time apart to do the beautiful things we do for ourselves and our souls
When approached to add a new bedroom suite to their existing detached home, Adriana knew this was an excellent opportunity to design an emotionally balancing interior by working with one of the latest methods in neurodesign: the Selftropy™ theory outlines how one can nourish and maintain a healthy mind by way of connecting with the immediate surroundings. The theory's predictions are supported by accepted literature in fields such as neuroaesthetics, gestalt and motivational psychology, and they have been tested in Adriana's interior design practice for over ten years.
"The key concept I chose to apply here is the sympathetic design Bedrooms are the most private rooms of our homes They are our most intimate space or rest, recharge, joy and pleasure. They are the rooms where we carefully put ourselves together for the world to see and get to know us Here, for these very reasons, our emotional stability, capacity to relax, confidence and energy replenishment, all come together and coexist"
Sympathetic design structures space by its relationship to the human body. Our mind interprets the relationship between the Self and the respective object or space differently depending on our bodies being contained, equal, or containing. How we relate to walls and floors differs greatly from smaller things, especially those closer to touch, like nightstands, bedsheets, or headboards.
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he large headboard is proportioned to create a womb effect that induces relaxation and a cocoon-like effect that will induce sleep.
There are three ways we measure ourselves against our surroundings and three different comparative scales based on proportion to and position of the design elements in relationship to the person occupying the space
The Womb (or the Lilliput scale), where the body is contained into a bigger whole, the Pod (or the Gulliver scale), where the body is in parallel relationship to surroundings , and the Boomerang (or the Brobdingnag scale), where we dominate the objects around us or those at a greater physical distance
The Womb, the Pod and the Boomerang
There are three ways we measure ourselves against our surroundings and three different comparative scales based on proportion to and position of the design elements in relationship to the person occupying the space:
The Womb (or the Lilliput scale), where the body is contained into a bigger whole, the Pod (or the Gulliver scale), where the body is in parallel relationship to surroundings, and the Boomerang (or the Brobdingnag scale), where we dominate the objects around us or those at a greater physical distance.
The Womb is primarily our safe space, the Pod - familiarity and the Boomerang, control.
The variations in the scale of the closet storage, from the large doors to cubbies to the narrow slits for scarves and belts, break down the space around us into elements that we can grasp in one breath and control The textures of the headboard fabric and the detailing of the panels, bedding and the presence of small personal objects on the nightstand create a sense of controlled and familiar comfort The large headboard is proportioned to create a womb effect that induces relaxation and a cocoon-like effect that will induce sleep
Stylistically, art deco-inspired elements punctuate the room, from the built-ins to the glam chandeliers, open dressing area and spa-inspired open walk-in shower with the decorative tiled mural and make-up table in geometric dialogue across from it.
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Sympathetic design structures space by its relationship to the human body.
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Reminiscingover Stratford,Can't waitforthenext season!
Cover
Chris Harrison, photographer
Editor's letter
Pixabay, via Canva
Images and graphics
Quote of the month
Chris Harrison, photographer
Mental health
Pixabay via Canva
Showcase
Chris Harrison, photographer
Behind the Scenes
DOCHIA MEDIA
The team
Adriana Mot Jessica Cornacchia
Theodora Zetu
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