Module-A

Theory Module A Sabine Woudenberg
It is 12:47. We’re sitting in De Willem, the school’s canteen. It is a very colorful space. The color theme is red/warm, light green and dark blue. The space itself in general feels vey warm. Mainly because of the warm red/yellow yellow. The Christmas decoration/lighting might help with that as well. People gather here to eat, drink and relax, so it is clear that they tried to make the space inviting. Right now (13:10) there are 37 people (excluding us 4) in the space. Very generic pop music is playing. The sound of all the people talking together with the music makes the space itself very distracting. There is a lot going on.

It feels very small and crowded, even though the room itself isn’t necessarily small. It is full of tables. 12 in total. The walls are painted with murals, and there are cloud-like lamps hanging from the ceiling. I guess all the people, sound, object and general interpretations makes it a very chaotic space. But you could also call it “gezellig”, if you want to. For me it is a bit overwhelming though right now.

It is not a nice space to work in, and normally I wouldn’t sit here to do school work. Many things are a big distraction, with the music video’s playing and the flickering Christmas light being the biggest. This isn’t surprising though, since the space is more designed for relaxing, eating and chatting. The smell of food, more specifically soup and coffee, surrounds you. People are eating, and it makes me a bit hungry too. You can buy various kinds of food here. Unfortunately the food here is also kind of pricey. I hear music, people mumbling, a coffee machine and some bonking? Probably some food or drinks are getting prepared. It is hard to make out all the different noises. Sometimes you hear different words being spoken out loud, like write down, lots of agreeing sounds, connection, explaining, helps, onderweg? Most feel school related. People come and go in waves. Sometimes it is more quiet, and sometimes more busy. Do people that sit here alone feel lonely in all the chaos that’s happening here? Is the rush inviting to them? Are they able to relax, or are they’re going with the flow of this space?

Introduction
For our observation assignment we went to the Wijnhaven cafeteria. Here we realised this is actually one of the few spaces that is designed as a break room. All the other spaces are used by students to work. We decided to reclaim one of the worst spaces at the WdKA, the Wijnhaven cellar, the WdKA dungeon if you will, and make it into the Relaxation Station. The goal of this space is to invite students to take a break, rest, and recharge.

Problems with the dungeon:
Lighting gives you a headache
Space is too clean and white gives you a hospital atmosphere
The ceiling was very messy with the pipes
Has a weird distinctive scent
Didn’t feel like it was a space for us
Is not an inspiring environment

Importance of taking breaks
Intuitively we all know that taking breaks is important for your mental health. And science also backs this up! It is important to realise that taking breaks actually makes you more productive in the long run. Many people work with a ‘I don’t have time to take breaks’ attitude, but breaks help you to be more productive in the long run. Doing something other than work every 1 to 1,5 hours is recommended.
Studies show that movement is beneficial for your creativity, so making a seperate relaxation station instead of just putting comfy chairs in other stations makes sense. Having a space to work and a different space to relax helps your brain to really wind down when you want to take a break. https://medium.com/mind-cafe/the-science-of-taking-breaks-at-work-to-help-boost-your-productivity-ec3e1f47c818#:~:text=Taking%20breaks%20refreshes%20the%20mind,has%20proven%20to%20improve%20creativity.

Inspiration
Feng shui
Feng shui is a philosophy about how a space influences our mood. To give a space positive energy, you bring in nature. Of course, everything we as humans make isn’t exactly natural, but we can at least make design and nature work together in harmony. To do this, we need to think not only about bringing in plants, but also about light, shapes, and colours.
When we thought about what to put into the space, we had the five elements in mind: water, wood, metal, fire, and earth. We tried to stay away from the modernist, sleek design which you can see all over modern office spaces. Using this in the Relaxation Station would only remind people of work.
Following that logic, we also ruled out using bright white, grey, and black in our space. Instead we opted for greens and yellows. According to feng shui, green is the colour of renewal, fresh energy, and regeneration (perfect!). Yellow reminds us of the sun and the earth, which has a grounding, nurturing, and stabilising effect.
https://www.thespruce.com/feng-shui-color-tips-to-create-a-beautiful-home-1274395

Hundertwasser
We were very much inspired by the architecture projects of Friedrich Hundertwasser. He was an Austrian architect and artist who made numerous works, including the design of buildings. We loved how he incorporated nature and colour into his design. It’s very much the opposite of what the wdka dungeon looks like. We feel the space looks joyful and inviting.
https://hundertwasser.com/architektur/871_arch44_wohnhausanlage_der_gemeinde_wien_-_hundertwasser-haus_1106

Our design - Elements in the Space:
TEAPOT STATION:Where students can wind down by making nice relaxing cup of tea or beverage of their choice to drink while relaxin
Cubicles: for when students want to be in a private space by themselves or with a fellow friend
SUNLAMP: Sunlight can elevate mood, increase motivation, help with depression and anxiety and stave off Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The availability of sunlight has been shown to have more impact on mood than rainfall, temperature or any other environmental factor.
DIFFUSERS: Aromatherapy is an ancient healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts and essential oils. As the name might suggest, it’s the smells of these extracts and oils that are believed to have multiple benefits, from reducing stress and anxiety to alleviating pain and improving sleep.
BLANKETS: weighted blankets can promote relaxation and may trigger the release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, which are feel-good hormones produced in the brain. These hormones help combat stress, anxiety, and depression.
GRASS GROUND: Bringing back the element of nature we wanted to also give a sense of a grass floor so students can feel like they are in nature.
WOODEN WALLS: We wanted the element of nature that gives a studious, harmonious feel to the space which doesn't clashes with the surrounding.
PLUSHIES: Are suitable replacements for an emotional support animal that gives students a sense of security and can help with stimulations or when they're feeling overwhelmed/dissociated.
PLANTS/TREE: Students who spend time around plants learn better. In addition, being around natural environments improves the ability of students with Attention Deficit Disorder to focus, concentrate, and engage more with their surrounding environment as well its helps reduce stress.