Restoration Greenhouse
A sanctuary for restoration and respite within a college campus.
Project Details
Fall 2023 // Colorado State University
Greenhouse in Library Courtyard
- Group Project with Maggie Dense, Kayla Celaya, and Alyssa Hooten
- School project, fictional
- 50 m² place of restoration and respite
- Created in SketchUp, Photoshop, AutoCAD, and Enscape
Design Approach
As part of the 2024 IDEC student design competition, we were assigned to create a 50 square meter wellness space designed for college students. Creating a space for restoration and respite on college campuses creates a healthy learning environment and promotes wellness for students. The Greenhouse, a dedicated mindfulness center, lies within a library courtyard surrounded by natural sunlight and vegetation.
User Experience
As the user enters the space, they are greeted with the decompression area (1). A water feature is situated in front of the entry to provide ambient nature sounds. Moving further into the space, there is a sensation area (2) with planters which provide a tactile experience and physical connection with nature. In order to create comfort, a variety of seating is provided which allows for individual reflection or socialization. A reflection area (3) is in the center of the greenhouse, surrounded by grasses. These provide visual privacy and a sense of enclosure. Furniture was chosen to imitate natural forms that provide restoration for the user (4).
Students across the world are burdened with long hours, high demands, and deadlines. Providing them with a space to decompress and focus on their heath is vital. Promoting increased performance has been implemented using organic materials and finishes, flora, and sunlight exposure. The central location and options for community mindfulness provide a therapeutic environment for students who can experience a community of peers who experience similar struggles.
Promoting Wellness
Evidence based design is at the heart of The Greenhouse in effort to promote wellness, productivity, and restoration. There is opportunity for decompression, sensory experience, reflection, and a sense of belonging. Throughout the space, natural water and bird noises are used to aid in recovery from stress (Benfield et al., 2014). The furniture was carefully chosen with the use of polyester and wool materials coupled with the use of beige, brown, green, blue, and gray, to create positive emotions and calmness (Lopez and Diaz, 2022).
Two main considerations went into the design of this wellness center: the effects of nature and mindfulness. A greenhouse was chosen as a way for students to connect with nature through biophilic design. Adding elements such as bird and water noises has been shown to reduce “muscle tension, pulse rate, and self reported stress” (Largo-Wight, 2016). Mindfulness, especially in design students has shown to provide “a positive connection between students’ engagement with contemplative practices and their studio work … and increased empathy” (Christian, 2018). Student wellbeing and mental health was the priority of this design, and therefore proper implementation of mindfulness opportunities and biophilic design was necessary.
Benfield, J., Taff, B., Newman, P., & Smyth, J. (2014). Natural Sound Facilitates Mood Recovery. Mary Ann Liebert Inc. publishers, 6(3), 183-188. http://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2014.0028
Christian, C. (2018). Contemplative Practices and Mindfulness in the Interior Design Studio Classroom. Journal of Interior Design, 44(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/joid.12134
Largo-Wight, E., O’Hara, B., & Chen, W. (2016). The Efficacy of a Brief Nature Sound Intervention on Muscle Tension, Pulse Rate, and Self-Reported Stress: Nature Contact Micro-Break in an Office or Waiting Room. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 10(1), 45-51. https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586715619741
López, M., & Fernández Díaz, A. (2022). Interior Environment Design Method for Positive Mental Health in Lockdown Times: Color, Textures, Objects, Furniture and Equipment. Designs, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/designs6020035
