The Sound of Silence

The basic need of quite in one's life can't be underrated. Research shows that being around noise pollution sources can cause serious health issues. That is why cities have guidelines pertaining specifically to the issue of noise.

What is interesting to me as a designer is creating quite zones, and moments with-in a space. Best example I had encountered of coming in and out of silence is in a swimming meet. I often ask my daughter, do you hear us cheer? With a big smile over her face she says, "no it is so quite in the water it's the best thing". The silence of the water keeps her safe from the competition's stress.

Many commercial places make the mistake of cranking up the volume, to a point of complete disorientation, it seems these are the places, that are starting to see cuts in revenues. Noisy restaurants may seem appealing when you walk in, but the charm of the loud music or boomy chatter wares you down, and asking for the check seems like the right exit move. Even hectic cities take a toll on people. I know that I love to visit New-York city, but I've learned I also like to say goodbye.

The basic way sound works is by traveling through some sort of medium like solid, liquid or gas, by vibrating the molecules. The density of the medium (spacing of the molecules), will determine how fast the sound will travel through it. The denser the medium, the faster sound will travel through it. So hard table tops, combined with hard flooring surfaces and bare walls - make for a very boomy and loud environment.

There are ways to mitigate some of the noise disruptions. I've seen people wear noise reduction headphones on airplanes, and open office spaces. There are special rooms where one can leave the open space to take on a phone call in a more private setting. Carpets and their padding also help. Architecturally walls can be built with more sound proofing - mainly by adding air of sorts. Anything that will help keep the house warm or cold, will also help with sound proofing i.e. foam insulation, double paned windows. In some restaurants I have seen foam padding under the table and seats (not a pretty sight). Some public places even go to the extreme and use a 'high-pitch' device to keep younger people from loitering and making noise around the area.

But I have to admit these solutions are usually not visually pleasing. Yes we can put more and more rugs or carpets, but what if there are allergies, or we just like the look of hardwood floors? Just googling the words 'sound proofing' brings up pretty basic solutions, some are more pleasing to the eye, some less. I have even once found there is a whole world of sound proofing art work (basically felt cut into landscapes).

Any of these things can help, but I also think that as our living areas get more condense, there should be a behavioral change in our environments. I don't need to walk into a store where the music is cranked up, or a bar where the hockey game is put on so loud I can no longer sit in there. I want to enjoy looking a things in a store without having the urge to bolt, I want to enjoy my dinner with a side of the hockey game not IT being the event. I really want as Simon and Garfunkel so aptly sing is to enjoy The Sound of Silence.

Visual Cleanse

"Less is more" one of the most iconic phrases coined by one of modern architecture's forefathers, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. I have to admit that until recently I sort of got this phrase. I even use it quite a bit. Yes it means less ornate type of things, a striped down version of a window trim, purity of line, light and space. In short it means very stark places where one feels they can't really move anything around, less they want to upset the meticulous balance achieved.

I was fortunate to study, and live in one the worlds' most thriving Bauhaus cities in the world, Tel-Aviv. For years I got to examine and absorb the pure lines, cantilevered balconies, bare no frills entryways. To be honest at first I thought it the most ugly city in the world. It felt bleak, uninviting, and unlike cities in Europe there wasn't until about 15 years ago, any urban policy of preservation set in place. Though many will argue not enough is being done to salvage these buildings, enough are considered historic and have undergone extensive renovations. The city has been beautified with these gems.

Then I moved to America and was struck by the amount of trim, the endless array of baseboard finishes, not to mention the ever terrifying crown molding, and don't even get me started on chair rails. I was intimidated by all these things added on to spaces, only to learn these are perfect for hiding construction imperfections. You see, you can't hide behind clean lines - they have to be perfect plum, and aligned, they require a different set of skills.

Which brings me to the small revelation I had last week. Nowadays I don't really walk into stores, aside from the online options, I get tired and disoriented by the sound, light, clutter, abundance of options. But last week I had too, the screen of my phone cracked, and had to be replaced. I walked into a slick, clean, striped down space, adorned with some monochromatic images - very modern stark looking place. A space where I knew exactly who to talk to, easily navigate through the space, no bells and whistles. A place that as I was walking into, I was immediately seen and greeted. It was a space where when the person that helped me smiled at me, I actually saw the smile, and could hear what was been said to me clearly. The space lent it self to human interaction like no other commercial space I have been to lately. And if I'm honest, it caught me by surprise. That moment made me deeply understand the meaning of less is more, and how human centric that saying is. How ingenious it is to clear the visual clutter (just the view of a news room on TV sets me into hyperactive aggressive mode), and allow for the person in that space to be able to see, hear and in return be seen and heard. I have a feeling that there is a reason why of this kind of store can succeed for many years, because it's not only the buyer feeling clarity in the space, but also the people who work there. We need to think together how we can cleanse the visual clutter around us, I think it will allow us to see each other better.

The First Impression is the Deepest

First impressions are lasting impressions, this usually is said, in reference to meeting new people. The same holds true to spaces people walk into. The psychology and research behind this tenth of a second moment are extensive and interesting to read about. Our conceptions (misconceptions), primal thoughts, fears, judgment are all in hyper-mode when we first encounter a person or space.

When I first walk to meet a client, usually at their home or office, I pause just a few seconds before I enter. And after adjusting the sunglasses over my head, I'll take a deep breath and walk into the space - trying to make the most of the that tiny instinctual first impression moment. That moment to me packs a powerful tool I draw upon time and time again throughout the whole design process. It's an authentic rare and fragile moment, and trying to re-create or change that moment, especially for small businesses, is a challenging process. That first impression usually sets the expectation and mode of the encounter. Same as people put effort into the suit they will be wearing the morning of a job interview, that same care and effort should be taken into creating that fist impression moment of entry to a space. But most of us neglect that unique and one of a kind transitional entry space (be honest now - how does your home or office entryway look like?). It's usually  last on my client's list to invest in, especially at an age where having a reception area is becoming more more obsolete. Herein there lies the biggest mistake I feel many do.

Stop for a moment and think about any event you walk into. Break it down to every millisecond you were there - were you hot or cold, did anyone greet you, how did the space smell, was the light bright or dim, were you able to orient yourself easily, was the ceiling high or low, was there anything that caught your eye, how was the sound around you, was it crowded, were you able to find a place you'd feel comfortable standing in. The reason I ask you to break down that first impression feeling at an event, is because when entering one, we come geared up to absorb these details. Now ask these questions about how you feel when you first walk into a job interview at your future company. Try and notice what are the first things you see/feel/smell/touch. I urge many clients to put some effort into that space (a good example of grand scale entry spaces are hotel lobbies).

The best first impression masters I can think of is actually the Catholic church. Any big cathedral will have the same sort of look and feel to it (brand and corporate identity reenforced by design); A grand entryway, then as you walk through the door the ceiling above you is lowered to create intimacy or make you feel small and meek as your eyes are automatically drawn ahead of you, where the ceiling is an unimaginable hight, and a clear line of vision is set to the one of the most recognizable icons in the world. A perfectly orchestrated  first impression delivery. 

Think about your brand-identity, or as it's now being called, company culture, not only in terms of web presence, letter heads, cool lounge areas, and logos. Think about the message you'd like to convey in that fleeting precious first impression moment.