Land of Dochia, Issue No. 1, December 2022

Belonging on design

Baroque music improves focus and concentration

Evergreen table arrangement

Top 2023 Winter Design trends

Selftropy Manifesto

A villa with a past

What else did we inherit from the Egyptians?

Transylvanian cabbage roll shortcut

Hola Barcelona 2022, a year in highlights

Letter from the Editor

When I started my education in architecture, like many colleagues, I wanted to change the world, make my mark and contribute to the marvellous life of cities and people within

The exploratory excitement of the familiar and unfamiliar streets of Bucharest in the '80s lined by majestic trees and grand architecture, the interiors of buildings, theatres, bookstores and merchants, the restaurants and cafes full of well-dressed people that lived an oppressed life yet did not allow themselves to compromise their souls, it all taught me about unconquered resilience and the irrelevance of wealth in loving your life

It is, instead, through creativity and imagination that you can build this superpower Loving your life is seeing only the positive in the beautiful things around you, carving a place for you to cherish and rule

This magazine is dedicated to that To the power that comes out of designing a space of belonging, to the energy that comes out of a creative life, to the mental health that can be nourished and maintained through living inventively, surrounded by things that matter and staying dedicated to only what you want to give a damn about

This first volume focuses on introducing the concept of Selftropy™ and how this still obscure but mighty tool has helped shape the happiness of many of my clients Together with enrichment tools for well-rounded experiences, the magazine will be dedicated to sharing the knowledge, methods and experience of twenty-two years of design practice in helping you shape your happiness and live a creative life

Happy reading,

You're in. You've got your people Someone has your back You have someone else's back That's what belonging is a sense of certainty like no other You matter in the context of others, those who accept you for who you are because you are like them or complement them on some cosmic level.

Reasons are seldom important when relationships are the way they are, an intricate and fragile plethora of invisible webs Clubs, charities, families and friendships are clans with insiders and outsiders, beliefs and values, support systems and love.

That's why Tarzan is so fascinating Alone and secluded, we could say that, once she arrived, Jane was his only realm of belonging How did he survive before her when his happiness depended on himself only?

His solitude is modernity's anathema A self-sufficiency that modern man has trouble figuring out how to feel about when the focus should be on what to do with

The secret of well-sustained solitude is its immense confidence that can be inflicted on others.

Belonging is not only about taking When your clan gives you the strength to try new things, be imperfect, take risks and not be safe on all fronts, you have to wonder what you give in return You could firmly hold someone's hand as they dangle down from the cliff and reach out to grab that beautiful rock-bound flowerabove an abyss

"Those who have a strong sense of love and belonging have the courage to be imperfect."

Brene Brown

BY THEODORA ZETU

BAROQUEMUSIC

IMPROVESFOCUSAND CONCENTRATION

Scientific findings from two different continents separately concluded that there is a correlation between this type of music and the mental capacity to concentrate. The vibrations of baroque music have been shown to improve work performance in study groups in both United States and China.

That is because a tempo between 50 and 80 beats per minute can relax and reduce the alpha waves in our brains. Sometimes called Berger waves, these occur naturally and are increased during a state of idleness as the music slows them down and our power to concentrate on the task at hand increases.

eloped in the aroque Era, to 1750 In enice, polychoral th various the same red, rhythm d barlines ly the major eavily ilt their gh the pieces ssential covered

Handel's Messiah is an excellent example and is known to be one of the greatest works of all time It has a high Baroque style that uses many conventional elements, such as slow arias followed by fast choruses, fast rhythms, and fugal writing. Known as an oratorio, it includes an array of instrumental movements from string to woodwinds, bass, and organs Separate voices merge to form flourishing harmonies It has an instrument-influenced texture and a steady pulsating rhythm revolving around major-minor tone quality, outer voice polarity, and terraced dynamics that all contribute to its complex delivery and emotional impact on the listener

HHow did baroque music come about?

tempo between 50 and 80 beats per minute can relax and reduce the alpha waves in our brains

DIY EVERGREEN TABLE ARRANGEMENT

what to get

Evergreenbranchesofsemi-consistent length.Mixtwo-threetypes.Artificialor dryplantdecor Dryplantdecorincolour coordinatedtone Pliersoftwokinds,for differentthicknessesandprecision A largebowlorlowvasewithholes Handheldvacuumcleaner Needlesgo everywhere!

where NOT to do it

Notovertherug Notinthekitchen Notwithoutcoveringthetable

start!

Startbyarrangingtheevergreensfirst. Mixthetypesandaimtogiveanoverall sculpturalshapebyplacingthebranches inpyramidform.Itiseasier,inorderto balancethebowl,tokeepit somewhatsymmetrical.

Cleanupandsetitupproperlyonthe table.Theangleisimportant.Inthiscase, it'scompletelyparalleltothetablebutit doesnotalwayshavetobeso!

Rituals of Living

Co-living from youth to seniors

After you get your independence from childhood rules but just before you get too drowned in adulthood responsibilities lies the promise of an affordable Big City lifestyle: Co-living. Not surprisingly, the concept of a shared apartment with hotellike amenities is catchy and will boom in the next year.

What is it?

If you have yet to hear, coliving is a flexible way to stop living in your parents' basement and find adulthood bliss without completely being on your own.

Co-living is perfect for transitional youth, and the model can also be applied to long-term travel. Almost any property can be converted, from a three-bedroom home to an entire apartment building.

In France, the concept has taken on. Fully furnished apartments are provided with or without other amenities, while some options come with tailor-made services for tomorrow's digital nomads.

nope

yeah

is it for you?

Based on recent surveys, 36% of adults report severe loneliness 58% of young adults still live at home Trends like co-living come from a serious societal need Recognize where you stand, and make a call

Is it only for the young, though?

While such arrangements are perfect for a somewhat flexible youth lifestyle, it has minimal applicability to midlife. With families and busy lives, emotional safety and nourishing are always present. Busyness fills in the gap that loneliness lurks in later. Once over that, however, an exciting opportunity arises. In addition to the retirement home concept, co-living can solve loneliness and the safety net needed later in life.

Co-living

is perfect for the transitional youth & the model can be applied to long-term travel

Over three millennia of cosmology, osmosis, Fengshui, psychology and now, Selftropy tells us that influences exist between us and our environment. It's here; it's real; it's useful bank on it.

is it for you?

Yes, but it does depend on how much you care. Despite the universal nature of the concept, some people are less susceptible than others to the powers of their environment. While this is something for all to consider, it may not be applied by all to the same extent.

In a world where experience is everything, why limit yourself to the tangible when you can have so much more? The borders of real and surreal, virtual and physical, are becoming more blurred as mindfulness expands beyond the tangible universe.

Increasing attention will be given to unexpected mixers of form and texture, colour and contrast creating just the right dynamic. Learn your visual clutter threshold and bond with your home by using transparent and mixed textures; stay true to your colour affinities and let them permeate your living space. The comfort, energy and confidence you get from a home that bonds with your spirit are invaluable assets in building a resilient heart and a healthy mind

2

Bond with your environment

Acid green bursts everywhere with the promise of positive beginnings.

From Paris week runway to national policies, we see an effervescence of colour and lifestyle solutions (like coliving) that target a new kind of individual empowered, confident, healthy and ready. Next year will be all about the vibe you give and how you can live high as your best version of yourself.

This one, if acid green is not your thing, you can skip it Trends tend too often to be associated with colours That's their failure

Design is as relevant a

Reality is systemic, inter-connected, and ever-changing, in a vacuum Design methods produce solutions that refle environment-sensitive, bio-responsive and non-destruct subject and the environment Science, in an unnatural wa through experimental isolation Equally valuable truths st approaches; science just had the stage for longer

The old renaissance m dead. Long live the ne renaissance human

The self is not a closed capsule but a shareable entity. Ma universe, a subject against the infinite objectified world a unsustainable future. Self-help, self-confidence, self-este are all inward-looking concepts that evolved from centur were modelled on scientific isolationism. The new human sexually ambivalent, aware of the earth's perils and increa systemic changes

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Cherish your creativity

Creativity is not a human trait we're merely using to improve our aging brain cells and expand our minds or build better living standards. It is a physiological mechanism that sustains life. It is the means to successful survival.

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JULIA BEWCYK

Canadian designers often face the challenges of merging heirlooms and artifacts with a contemporary aesthetic, as many families have a link to one old world or another This is such a home where the interiors have been shaped at the intersection of a distant past with the contemporary architecture of the present and a new world

To integrate the antiques and traditional pieces, the design team employed a museum-like approach where the items are treated like artifacts, and the interiors are tailored to enhance their presence Since this is a home and not a museum, careful attention was given to introducing texture and enough finishes in each room designed to maintain a warm and livable ambiance

The structural armature of the building provided an opportunity to create a series of niches attached to its columns. As you come in and perpendicular to the foyer, an open-space galleria is thus formed where the sequence of

niches and columns form a beautifully integrated display space for the owner ’ s sculptures and artifacts. Walking from one room to another becomes an experience The end wall of the galleria is an implicit focal point

One of the most impactful spatial moves was the combined galleria effect with positioning the uffet/bar as a sculptural element that integrates art and architecture The floating buffet piece defines the dining room area with its simple geometric nes and modern composition As you step into the living spaces, the built-ins of each room contribute to defining their character and anchor them as architectural modules as a whole

The decision to place the piano at the intersection of the galleria with the open stair creates a spatial and visual anchor, a melodic syncopation in space One has to move around and pivot around the piano to move up and down the stair or go from one area of the floor to the other

Wall paint is reduced to a soft white throughout. The dark floor was deliberately chosen for its bold contrast that, in combination with the white walls and the scale of windows, accentuates the brightness of the space. The cleanwhite kitchen extends all the way up to the 10-foot ceiling

The colour choice and the fact that, geometrically, it follows the wall all the way up makes it an integral part of the lightness of the walls It would make the space visually lob-sided and heavy if it were any other finish.

Second floor

The upper catwalk has the same simplicity with minimal glass railing and the clean, uniform colours of the wall The only visual impact is the inherited ornate and colourful pieces updated by an equally bold blue ottoman.

In the main bedroom, the built-in fireplace combines three finishes, stone, lacquer and wood-grain laminate, into one unit that elegantly engages the room without overpowering it

INTERIORS

DOCHIA INTERIOR DESIGNDESIGN TEAM ADRIANA MOT OZGUR OGUDUCU

RUBINOFF DESIGN GROUP

Wall

paint is reduced to a soft white and dark floors are deliberately chosen for their high contrast

One of the most impactful spatial moves was the combined galleria effect with positioning the buffet/bar as a sculptural element that integrates art and architecture

the interiors have been shaped at the intersection of a distant past with the contemporary architecture of a new world

museumlike approach where the items are treated like artifacts and the interiors are tailored to enhance their presence

To integrate the antiques and traditional pieces the design team employed a

Careful attention was given to introducing texture and enough finishes in each of the rooms to maintain a warm and livable ambiance

WHATELSEDIDWE INHERITFROMTHE EGYPTIANS?

BY ADRIANA MOT

The wreaths and garlands of Christmas

Wreaths were placed on mummies as they entered the afterlife in a nationwide custom that celebrated this important rite of passage. A few centuries after, rose-petal garlands adorned the infamous setups of roman banquets while the noisy God Bacchus poured ruby-red libations in gold cups.

Time is an inexhaustible collector. The more history we have, the more we amass human knowledge and customs We nourish and spread them around from house to house, city to city, land to land and soul to soul The wealth of our culture is made up of all that has been and all that we make with it You would think that with age, customs become more and more known for what they are, yet, their familiarity does not rest in provenance but habit

Dating back to the Egyptians, wreaths were placed on mummies as they entered the afterlife in a nationwide custom that celebrated this important rite of passage. A few centuries after, rose-petal garlands adorned the infamous setups of roman banquets while the noisy God Bacchus poured ruby-red libations in gold cups On festive days, bleached greek homes and temples alike wore them proudly while dark-haired women laid out edible versions as prey on abundant tables.

What we now cherish has been passed on to us through family traditions or social conjunctures. In a twisted way, the further-back meaning of these customs is as nebulous as a late fall-morning fog. In fact, the older they are, the more nebulous their meaningful origin becomes.

Sure, in a trivial, applied way, we are all familiar with the custom of, say, putting up the tree for Christmas. But our provenance knowledge is limited to two generations back and, at most, to some religious and social constructs that vary substantially with country and nation. Previous roots are somewhat forgotten, and

Later, during the Renaissance and beyond, garlands took a turn toward more stable ornamentation as wood carving became a prominent craft Wooden festoons embellished everything from furniture pieces to homes and household objects Some architectural motifs date back to the architraves and friezes of the lost empires of antiquity that cleverly weaved anthropomorphic figures together with fruit and the abundance of mother earth

Nowadays, Hawaii proudly adorns all its incoming visitors with beautiful Kika flower necklaces and cultures at large have assimilated wreaths as the utmost symbol of success: most traditional award trophies or plaques carry the motif proudly, as a supreme celebration of a worthy life.

By no means of humble beginnings, our own Christmas centrepieces stand the test of time and bless our tables From life to death do us part, garlands and wreaths have been with us since many moons away and are here to stay

Table centrepieces made of garlands or wreaths are one custom that has endured the test of time yet not that of forgotten beginnings.

Transylvanian

English

(porc or beef, not too lean)

one pickled cabbage 500g minced meat two spills of olive oil one cup of rice bit of bacon or smoked sausage cherry tomatoes pinch of salt, pepper and thyme or oregano

48 |

Instructions: get the stuff, layer it on, repeat!

Roma

1 varză murată mărișoară 500 de grame de carne tocată de vita sau porc (mai grasă) un pic de ulei o cană de orez un pic de șuncă sau cârnat afumat sare, piper și oregano după gust roșii mici de decor

DNAL O F DOCHIA Hola Barcelona

Ohla Barcelona Hotel, Gothic Quarter design by Frederic Amat made by Antoni Cumella

Spiral staircase

Hi Sue, We just got here and can't tell you how great it is! We're just about ready to walk out on Career Comtal and grab a bite, but we wanted to tell you about the fantastic hotel we ' re in! It has eyeballs all over the exterior, and the rooms are open with the shower in the middle! Isn't this fabulous? Right after the eyeball shower, you go in, and there is more! Ceramic faces cover most of the lobby, and up the stair, these beautiful lights spiral all the way up! I'm going to ask where they got them and see if I can lay my hands on some for the foyer wall. I think they would look great there as an arrangement like these ones. What do you think? Can't wait to see you and catch up when I get back; I gotta run. I'll write more as soon as I have time

Xo, Joanne

ps more BARCELONA on LAND OF DOCHIA YouTUBE channel HERE

18 ceramic faces

by Samuel Salcedo

One thousand ceramic eyes

Ohla Barcelona Hotel, Gothic Quarter design by Frederic Amat made by Antoni Cumella

Reception

Gregg wallmount lights by Foscarini

The "Design" room

One of the 74 boutique rooms featuring open concept layout with themed colours inspired by lobby art The current hotel is housed in a renovated neo-classical building that occupies the site of a roman aqueduct and is the former palace of the first count of Barcelona

Names Adriana one of the

Editor's

Mental health Adrien Converse, Manuel Nageli and Tong Nguyen via Unsplash

Rituals of living Dochia Media

Feature Vitruvian man, via Istock Selftropy logo and Stonehenge, Dochia Media other, via Canva

Showcase Julia Bewcyk Culture images via Istock and Shutterstock

Bon Appetit Dochia Media Travel Images and graphics via Canva Selective photography, Dochia Media

Behind the scenes Group photo, Chris Harrison Photographer Other, Dochia Media, Unsplah and Storyblocks