Chapter 2 Related Literature

CHAPTER 2 RELATED LITERATURE

The following related studies and literature provides details and bases on the proposed interior environment design of St. Ezekiel Homes.

On Interior Design Interior design is the total creative solution for a programmed interior. It encompasses the conceptual planning, aesthetic and technical solutions applied to achieve the desired result. A "programmed interior" means a specific intended purpose or use of the built environment. Many factors come into play in formulating the design solution. There is the space itself-its dimensions and construction--with its potential and its limitations. There is how the space will be used--for work or leisure, entertainment or worship, healing or learning. There is the meaning of the space, what it signifies--be it power, authority, security, wisdom, achievement, playfulness or serenity. There are practical considerations, like ease of access, amount of light, acoustics, seating and places to store or set things down. There are health and safety considerations, attention to special needs and more.

The elements of design range from the visual (color, lighting, form) to the tactile (surface, shape, texture) to the auditory (noise, echo). The designer must have an aesthetic, practical and technical appreciation for these elements. He or she must understand how people

use and respond to these elements, not just individually but as the elements interact with one another. Designers must also be knowledgeable about the many types and characteristics of furnishings, accessories and ornaments used in creating interiors. Furniture, lighting, carpeting and floor covering, paint and wall covering, glass, wrought metal, fixtures, art and artifacts are just some of the many items and materials designers select from. In addition, they must be familiar with the various styles and history of styles of design, art and architecture. On the Purpose of Interior Design The field of Interior Design is concerned with finding creative, technical and innovative solutions to lay out the space of many types of buildings, including houses, theaters, restaurants, hotels, convention centers, airports and medical facilities.

On Types and Approaches of Interior Design It is common for Interior Design professionals to specialize in only one area of design, but many interior designers are choosing to focus on both commercial and residential Interior Design. Although designers and clients often look for fresh concepts and a new look, many stick with basic Interior Design styles that are casual, formal, traditional and contemporary. Some other areas of specialization include: •

Interior Design for accessibility

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Health & safety issues

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Green, sustainable Interior Design

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Lighting design

FOREIGN LITERATURE

On Space

Many factors come into play in formulating the design solution. Space, its dimension, and construction, with its potentials and its limitations, are one of these. How the space will be used for leisure, entertainment or worship, healing or learning is another. Also, the meaning of space, what it signifies- be it power authority, security, wisdom, achievement, playfulness, or serenity, should also be considered.

Color Neutrals, black, and white are the main colors in contemporary style interiors. The palette is often punched up and accented with bright and bold color. Black is often used to ground and define a contemporary style room. With walls painted in a basic neutral, you have a wonderful backdrop for bold colored accessories.

“Color has a strong role to play in our lives” (Walton, Color Your Home: Inspiring Ideas to Brighten Up Your Life) and it can certainly affect people both physically and psychologically.” “People respond to what they sense, not always to what is real” (Whitehead, Residential Lighting 2004) Walton, further explores the psychology of color. “Color affects our states of mind; some even believe in its power to cure illness. Whether or not you believe in the more cosmic theories about color, there is certainly scientific proof that color can warm us up or cool us down.” (Walton, Color Your Home: Inspiring Ideas to Brighten Up Your Life)

The shades of black and white are just the right colors for the Salvation Amry Building. It is neither too loud nor too plain. “Black and white presents such a strong contrast that they are used over large areas only by the very brave or those wanting to make a grand statement.” (Walton, Color Your Home: Inspiring Ideas to Brighten Up Your Life) The dramatic effect of black and white can be stark and cold unless handled with sensitivity. The secret to success it to “have lots of colorful ethnic artifacts and interesting paintings to display against the pure white background.” •

Line and Space The most obvious and distinctive element of a contemporary style interior design is line. It's found in architectural details, use of bold color blocks, high ceilings, bare windows, and geometric shapes in wall art and sculpture. The bare space, on walls, between pieces of furniture, and above in upper areas, becomes as important as the areas filled with objects. In contemporary interiors, less is more. Each piece stands out as individual and unique.

Condominium Units •

When in comes to the total Unit Arrangement of the Condominium, “There must be no circulation through bedrooms to other bedrooms or to primary bathrooms. Bathrooms should be near the bedrooms. Bathrooms must not open into the Living Room, Dining Room, or Kitchen.”

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“Circulation through the Living Room should be avoided and all door placements and wall lengths should accommodate furniture placement. “

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In designing the Kitchenette or Kitchen in the Condominium Unit, “Kitchen to Living Room visibility should be maximized by pass-through openings, open counters, and half height partitions.”

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“Plumbing and ventilation chase walls should be shared where possible, but not at the

expense of the design.” Kitchen equipment must consist of a 30” range, refrigerator (14 c.f. min), 24” sink, base cabinets with countertop and wall hung cabinets. In 1 to 3 family homes, provision for dishwasher and hook-ups should be provided for the homeowner. •

“Scale, balance, and rhythm are the underappreciated parts of most decorating schemes” (New Decorating Book 2007). It is because so much focus is placed on color, patter, and texture that it’s easy to forget that the three other elements are at work in every decorating plan.

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“Flexibility is playing and increasingly important part in contemporary interiors” (Gibbs, Interior Design 2005) and while there is much to be gained by opening up spaces to maximize light and living space, it is now understood that discreet and private areas are also sometimes needed within a home or working environment.

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Sometimes a designer will look to separate an area of a large space without actually isolating it, through the careful placement of furniture or the installation of low or threequarter-height walls with openings that allow light to filter through communication to take place between the two areas”

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Gibbs further explains “Designers will employ visual tricks to increase the feeling of space or magnify small rooms.” This can be achieved by removing or scaling down details such as cornices, which define corners and can sometimes appear to cramp the space, can expand the perceptions of space. Conversely, positioning one over-scaled piece of furniture in a small room can often increase the perception of space, since arrangements of smaller furniture; art and lamps can often be distracting to the eye.

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“For the designer who is well-versed in the principles of design, it is often a case of looking for ways to effectively blur the boundaries between traditional classical style and modernism or oriental style. So often, less or more, and the simpler the design, the more timeless and satisfying it is likely to prove.”

ELEMENTS OF DESIGN The Elements of design play an important role in the creation and success of a piece of art, whether it's for outdoor, indoor, digital or print medium. These elements are: Space Space is the area provided for a particular purpose. It may have two dimensions (length and width), such as a floor, or it may have three dimensions (length, width, and height). Space includes the background, foreground and middle ground. Line Line is the mark made by a moving point, such as a pencil or brush. The edges of shapes and forms also create lines. It is the basic component of a shape drawn on paper. Lines and curves are the basic building blocks of two dimensional shapes like a house's plan. Experiment in design by adding or changing lines such as the lines of the floor plan of a house.

Color Color is the most expressive element of art and is seen by the way light reflects off a surface. Color is used to create illusion of depth, as red colors seem to come forward

while blue seems to recede into the distance. Color, and particularly contrasting is also used to draw the attention to a particular part of the image. Shape Shape is an area enclosed by lines or curves. It can be geometric or organic. Importantly, a shape automatically creates a around it. Shapes in house decor and interior design can be used to add interest, style, theme to a design like a door. Texture Texture is the feeling and visual feel of the fabrics, colors, and room accessories. There are two types of texture; Tactile, or visual texture, and texture which you can detect with your five senses. Form Form may be created by the forming of two or more shapes. It may be enhanced by tone, texture and color. Form is considered three-dimensional showing height, width and depth. It can be illustrated or constructed.

Value Value helps with Form. It gives objects depth and perception. Value is also referred to as tone. Basically shading. Type

Type is the use of letterform to add a message that would be otherwise challenging to create through the other elements. PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN Design is the organized arrangement of one or more elements and principles (eg. line color or texture) for a purpose. Awareness of the elements and principles in design is the first step in creating successful visual compositions. These principles, which may overlap, are used in all visual design fields, including graphic design, industrial design, architecture and fine art. Unity Unity refers to a sense that everything in the artwork belongs there, and makes a whole piece. It is achieved by the use of balance, repetition and/or design harmony. Two objects like a living room and a dining room can be unified by giving these similar features like a shared hardwood floor design. Unity helps the objects like furniture look like these belongs together. Balance Can be either symmetrical or asymmetrical depending on if the right or left side is identical or not. Also refers to a sense that dominant focal points are balanced and don't give a feeling of being pulled too much to any part of the artwork. Harmony Harmony is achieved through the sensitive balance of variety and unity. Color harmony may be achieved using complementary or analogous colors.

Contrast Contrast is the occurrence of contrasting elements, such as color, value, size, etc. It creates interest and pulls the attention toward the focal point. Color contrast or "pop" also helps people navigate easier in a dark room. Contrast or "pop" in home colors may be visually pleasing. Variety (alternation) The use of dissimilar elements, which creates interest and uniqueness. Variety like a painting or some reflective wood panels added on a plain wall may be used to reduce monotony. Emphasis (dominance, focal point or area in a room's decor) Areas of interest. Guides the eye into through and out of the image through the use of sequence of various levels of focal points, primary focal point, secondary, tertiary, etc. Emphasis hierarchy may give direction and organization to a design, and avoid subconscious confusion to sometimes improve the design's (like a house) visual appeal and style. Proportion (scale) Proportion involves the relationship of size between objects. Proportion is also relative sizes of surface areas of different colors in a room. Functionality A design must have good functionality. For example a bedroom must function well as a place to sleep and store clothing as well as looking nice.

Attraction and design styling Attraction is how much an observer is attracted to a particular design such as a particular style of a house. May involve studying the psychology why certain people are attracted more to particular designs than other designs. Artistic unity Artistic unity is staying on the story (like a science fiction novel) topic or story line, telling only one story at a time, staying on the style of a home in interior design. Genuineness in media, form and function Genuineness in media and form in architecture and home interior design is using real material for finishes rather than faux. Proximity Proximity in home decor is the placing of similar objects closer together physically, and unlike objects (decor) further apart. Color theory Color theory in interior design includes the color wheel. The color wheel are the colors of the rainbow arranged in a circular array. Color theory also involves the idea of how color affects human thought and emotions. Decluttering, organization and harmonization of accessories Neatness, construction precision and organization in interior design, architecture and home appliances is important.

Lighting and light reflection Lighting is important in home interior design. It allows the observer to clearly see the design. Home interior design decor and furniture usually looks better in brighter lighting. Design methods Design by experimentation: experiment with different shapes, materials, sizes of shapes to optimize functionality and aesthetics of design; for example choosing a good size for a sconce.

On Flooring Flooring is the general term for a permanent covering of a floor, or for the work of installing such a floor covering. Floor covering is a term to generically describe any finish material applied over a floor structure to provide a walking surface. Both terms are used interchangeably but floor covering refers more to loose-laid materials. Soft coverings Carpet is a floor covering woven or felted from natural or man-made fibers. Fitted carpet is attached to the floor structure, extends wall-to-wall, and cannot be moved from place to place. An underlay can extend carpet life and improve comfort.

Hard flooring Ceramic tile includes a wide variety of clay products fired into thin units which are set in beds of mortar or mastic with the joints between tiles grouted.

Wood flooring Many different species of wood are fabricated into wood flooring in two primary forms: plank and parquet. Hardwoods are typically much more durable than softwoods. Reclaimed lumber has a unique appearance and is green. LOCAL LITERATURE

On Color Color works magic. In the hands of artful users, color creates optical illusions, making small spaces appear smaller. Color affects mood, making cluttered rooms seem serene and dull interiors more dramatic. It influences opinions – sometimes eliciting warm approval, at other times evoking alienating discontent. On Meaning and Mood Color selection can be one of the most enjoyable projects of the decorating experience. Who doesn’t love to experience color – the excitement of red, the richness of purple, the exuberance of orange? But color can be confusing, because we experience it in its cultural, aesthetic, and personal contexts, which, when taken together, can feel like a tangled web.

Black Traditionally, black represents darkness, despair, sorrow, mourning, formality and solemnly. The idea about black is that is the epitome of mystery and style. Black is best used in restricted amounts – are accents or accessories – and in rooms that aren’t used frequently or for long periods of time. Black absorbs light, when it is used in large amounts.

White

Traditionally, white stands for peace, purity, faith, joy, and cleanliness. White, unlike black, can be used in large amount without seeming overwhelming. Predominately white color schemes look modern and fresh. Gray Gray, a non-color, is a somber shade that suggests humility and penance. Gary is cerebral shade and emphasizes spiritual and intellectual values over sensual ones. Too much gray can look monotonously boring and dull instead of chic. On the positive side, gray is an easy-to-live with neutral that makes a good backdrop for other appropriate accent hues. Red Red stimulates and energizes. The hottest warm hue, red is associated with danger, tension and excitability. Various reds symbolize passion, anger, warmth, gaiety, martyrdom, and revolution. Red increases desire, excitability, domination, and sexuality by increasing circulation and raising the heart rate. Orange Orange has some of the effects of red, but a lesser degree. Orange stands for force of will and is considered an active and competitive color. Widely used in fast food restaurants, orange tends to make people eat fast and leave quickly. Yellow The subtlest of the warm colors, stimulates and energizes in a positive, non-aggressive way. Yellow conjures feelings of warmth, cheerfulness, and fruitfulness. Green Green suggests hope, restfulness, and calm and is the color of defense and flight. Green connotes elasticity of will and reinforces self-esteem. Green has even been known to slow down

heart rate and circulation. Green is a favorite for creating calm and restful balanced color schemes. Blue Blue, the coolest of the cool colors, depresses the nervous system and makes the body ready for nodding off to sleep. This hue has come to stand for depth of feeling and is associated with sensitivity, perception, and unification. Purple Violets and purples, the cool colors closest to warm, are associated with justice and royalty, and interestingly enough, depression and suffering. Considered unsafe risky colors, violets tend to convey uncertainty and ambiguity. On Relating Colors Color expresses character, establishes mood, and creates a variety of visual effects. Color selection, however is not as simple as just picking out things you like in colors you like. The successful color scheme is whole-house scheme – one that provides a sense of harmony throughout.

On Living with Lines Whether vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or curvy, lines create movement and establish mood. Line can be implied by points that the eye naturally follows or by planes and surfaces that come together. Line can also be denoted by stripes of any thinness or thickness, direction, length , and orientation. Lines used together create various effects, including focal points and a sense of rhythm, as well as pattern. On Straight Lines

Straight lines are strong, masculine and static. The eye sees very quickly where it is going, and after it is there, it stops. Straight lines come in three forms: vertical, horizontal, and diagonal. •

Vertical lines draw the eyes up and down, producing alertness. Vertical lines also suggest stability, dignity, and formality. A too-vertical room isn’t restful. So if you’re faced with this problem, introduce some horizontal lines in window treatments, furniture, and accessories.

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Horizontal lines move the eyes from side to side, creating a sense of restfulness. Horizontal lines are less formal and more relaxed and are associated with the physical rest. A room with too many horizontal lines may put you to sleep! Wake up a too relaxed room with vertical lines – maybe in the form of striped wallpaper.

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Diagonal lines promote rapid movement of the eyes and suggest fast movement in general. Used in excess, diagonal lines can be not just dynamic, but downright disturbing! For a restful dining room, avoid dynamic diagonal lines (often found in newspaper). Use diagonals in entry halls, or wherever you don’t want people to linger.

On Distribution Distribution refers to the placement, location and arrangement of each room-unit in relation with each other as to functions and coordination. On Circulation

Like roads and highways, traffic is also present in the house. The circulation and movement of the occupants inside the house should not be hampered by any obstacles or detour as a result of poor planning. On Light and Ventilation There is no substitute for a good daylight and fresh natural air entering and circulating inside the house. Artificial light and ventilation is very costly to those who cannot afford but, others prefer it for maximum comfort and efficiency of their work. On Areas’ Sizes and Shapes All rooms shall be planned according to human scale. Provide ample areas to accommodate furniture, appliances, and other related facilities including the most critical and important lane or pathways for routinely movement inside the house. On Orientation Orientation refers to the position and direction of the sunrise and sunset. It also includes the prevailing wind directions in the area for the year round. A brief nap or rest at mid-day or in the afternoon is normally done in the bedroom. On Zoning Laws The zoning ordinance should be consulted first before deciding on the final site of the house for you might be constructing your residential house in an industrial or commercial zone. On Height

A moderate high ceiling contributes largely to a comfortable atmosphere and aesthetic value of the room. A room with a very low ceiling has a warm atmosphere which requires artificial ventilation. On Electricals Although this is secondary aspect of planning a residential house, was included because common errors were committed when the location of this particular facilities are not studied. On the Living Room The kind of furniture, furnishings and the manner how they are arranged in the living room offers that feeling of grandeur and an inviting atmosphere. Furniture arrangement in the living room however, can be developed to suit any particular choice which a designer may be confronted. Furniture may vary from what will be presented in this study to changes in style depending upon the individual taste and preferences. In any furniture grouping, a minimum distance should be considered and established for convenience such as: 1. Space Allocation 2. Lanes or pathways between furniture On the Dining Room The Dining room is the place or room where the family sits together, pray before meals and talk about family affair including other matters. On Combined Living-Dining Spaces The combination of living-dining area in a single room has the following advantages:

1. Less space is required but could be used intensively.

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Its function could be changed making it more flexible and serviceable space

3. Adaptable to varied furniture arrangements 4. The room could be made more interesting On Combined Dining-Kitchen Area This type of combination is most preferred by occupants of small house and apartments due to the following advantages: 1. It minimizes housekeeping chores 2. Provides a space for the family’s day to day activities 3. The kitchen provides a place for informal family eating like breakfast, snacks or just serving tea or coffee to visitor. On the Bedroom The size and area of a residential house could be visualized imaginarily by anyone based from the number of bedrooms. The size of the room is determined by the following considerations: a) The likes and preference of the occupant is either large, medium or small room with or without comfort room. b) The type and number of bed including other items that the owner wants to place inside the room. On the Utility System

“The goal of lighting is to create an efficient and pleasing interior. These two requirements, that is, the utilitarian and aesthetic, are demonstrated by every good lighting design.