Architecture
Feel-Good Home: Curves Follow Nature’s Lead
See what happens when you leave straight lines behind
Straight lines are rarely found in nature, yet contractors diligently work to ensure that all angles of the built environment are a perfectly plumb, square 90 degrees whenever possible. When straight lines are called for, squared angles are indeed a telltale sign of superior craftsmanship and are important for maintaining airtightness. But a new school of thought is questioning both the supremacy of the straight line and the compulsion for airtight, rather than breathable, homes. The latest installment of our series on biophilic design celebrates 9 ways curves can add to a home.
1. Go all out. Any builder will tell you that curves cost more, which is no doubt part of the reason they’re rarely incorporated in the average budget-conscious home. They need to be specially shaped and formed, whereas straight surfaces make use of rectilinear building materials whose standard sizes can result in construction cost savings. Still, if you can pull it off, embedding curves into your home’s architecture via walls or stairways is a surefire way to boost your earthy, organic factor.
2. Enjoy a well-rounded breakfast. I would argue that a rounded kitchen begs for a wall of windows. Going the extra mile and splurging on curved cabinetry demands that everything else in the space rise to the level of that one special splurge. A kitchen like this may be out of range for many of us, but daydreaming about brewing our morning coffee here is free!
3. Divide and conquer. Even within rectilinear structures, a curved partition wall can be an inviting addition to a great room if you have the space. This room features a custom curved sofa, but rest assured that curved sofa models do exist in the ready-made world if you look hard enough, and a curved room like this is also a prime setup for a dining room with circular table.
4. Make a statement with furnishings. Fortunately, pricey architectural upgrades aren’t the only way to leverage the soothing waves of curved lines. Here, every element from the artwork to the furniture is curved. Ergonomically minded furniture companies have long been aware of the curve’s cocooning effects, cupping and cushioning the human form for maximal comfort.
5. Go freestyle. If ever there was a blend of abstract art and architecture, this sculpted staircase is it. Bending walls in this manner gives the whole stairwell the air of a twisted tree trunk.
6. Take a simple approach. One of the most basic and budget-friendly ways to incorporate curves into your home design is to weave a meandering path through your landscape. Even the smallest townhouse patio could benefit from such a walkway. For maximum impact, let your path lead to a destination that initially is obscured behind trees, shrubbery or a wall, and design the path to reveal the destination slowly.
7. Wing it. A curved roof is always an attractive touch, and it is an architectural choice with the most potential for imparting biophilic benefits and integrating the home with its site. From the outside, it mimics a pleasing gentle hill. From the inside, it echoes a tree canopy or, on a larger scale, the umbrella effect of the earth’s gently curved atmosphere stretching across the horizon.
It also offers advantages in shedding precipitation on two sides, rather than a single dump of water on one side of the home, an occupational hazard of the shed roofs so common on modernist homes.
It also offers advantages in shedding precipitation on two sides, rather than a single dump of water on one side of the home, an occupational hazard of the shed roofs so common on modernist homes.
8. Bend a little or a lot. This patio boasts a plethora of biophilic design features, merging curves with a water feature by Jack Merlo and poignantly placed greenery. The curved wall makes for a comfier-than-usual spot to sit and admire the minimalist landscape, and to soak in the calming effects of the waterfall. Every element of this deck seems to have been designed for communion with nature. Even the tree can be experienced as its leaves change color and fall.
9. Put the “arc” in architecture. This home in Melbourne, Australia, is rife with natural design details with a human touch. I especially love how the barely there window bench varies in depth as the wall around it curves. It is a lovely example not only of the power of curved architecture, but also of “prospect and refuge,” the notion of gazing out onto a vista (here, the Zen-like courtyard) from a protected perch. The curved wall around the bench provides a deeper sensation of protection than would a cantilevered bench protruding into the yard.
More Healthy Home: Courtyards | Mixing Wood and Stone | Sunrooms and Conservatories | Water | Windows
More Healthy Home: Courtyards | Mixing Wood and Stone | Sunrooms and Conservatories | Water | Windows