KBB - August 2009 - (Page 16)

Continued from page 14 The most potent reason, though, for understanding how the eye works relates to perception. Sociability is made effective by eye contact. A key role for a kitchen designer is making a space sociable, ensuring the kitchen is a magnet to which all the people in the house are drawn. Like butterﬂies drawn to light, humans are drawn to sociability. Without it, a kitchen is a pretty dreary space. Neuroscience tells us that long views are a key way of making humans feel safe. In addition, when we descended from the trees onto the savannahs in the far distant past, we were vulnerable to predators. As they rarely attack from the front, we felt safe as long as our backs were covered. In spatial design, we need to satisfy both requirements. That is why a central island provides such a great opportunity. If you have either a wall or sink cabinet behind you, ideally with some vertical cover, you can create a “sweet spot” or driving position, a place where one feels in control. From this spot you should also have views to the garden or window, the table, the entrance into the room and ideally a ﬁreplace. The hearth is one of our most potent hard-wired needs, along with access to sunlight and nature. Once these requirements have been fulﬁlled, then the planning of the kitchen is well-grounded. ACHIEVING BALANCE As the kitchen becomes more hard-wired to our instincts, it not only makes its occupants happier, but also becomes a living space in which one cooks and has all the attributes of sociability. In the new holistic approach to house design, this needs to be balanced by providing spaces for retreat. We are often asked by our more trusting clients to explore how we can make the whole work better by creating quiet rooms, noise-containing media spaces, studies or outdoor green sanctuaries. We are still at the beginning of using neuroscience as a tool for design analysis. For those interested in learning more, there is now an institute for research, The Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (www.anfarch.org). I —Johnny Grey is a UK-based kitchen designer. His ﬁrm, Johnny Grey Studios, is looking for U.S. designers to work with on this holistic approach to kitchen design and will be organizing a workshop to explore this further. For details and more information on neuroscience relevance, visit www.johnnygrey.com. your business is our business. Register for FREE Exhibit Hall Admission thru September 28 INDIANAPOLIS 2009 Exhibits: October 28 - 30 | Conference: October 27 - 30 Indiana Convention Center | Indianapolis, Indiana USA 866.860.1964 | TheRemodelingShow.com an exclusive feature of the remodeling show platinum sponsors: silver sponsors: http://www.anfarch.org http://www.johnnygrey.com http://www.TheRemodelingShow.com http://www.TheRemodelingShow.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of KBB - August 2009

KBB - August 2009
Contents
Online Contents
Online News
Editorial
Focus
Trends
Products
Profile
Design
External Analysis
Southern Comfort
Tech
Additions
Education
Editorial Index
Ad Index
Favorites

KBB - August 2009