An architect-psychologist team applies mental fundas to archi-tectural projects so that clients can enjoy homes and offices that are in sync with their personality
An architect-psychologist team applies mental fundas to archi-tectural projects so that clients can enjoy homes and offices that are in sync with their personality
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It's been over two years that Priti Nair, managing partner at BBH, India, an advertising firm, got her home designed by architect and interior designer Mandar Karande.
She hasn't felt the need to change or move a thing. "My home makes me want to come back to its cosiness. I feel stress-free here," she smiles.
Her satisfaction has to do with the fact that in addition to designing a home in accordance with Nair's likes, Karande took help from clinical psychologist Amit Joshi to help design her pad.
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Karande decided to make a ledge in the living room, the focal point of Nair's home. |
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"For the architecture entrance exam, there was a question that connected our brick and cement world to psychology.
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But nothing in the course continued that thought. Years later, I was intrigued by that question.
That's how we got the two streams to come together," Karande says.
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Take a personality test
Finding little or no reference material, the two decided to take each project at a time, in an attempt to see if their hypothesis worked.
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"There are a few basic questions that help identify a client's traits. I got Mandar to ask his clients certain questions so as to get an insight into their character.
I then made some suggestions on how the home or office could come up so that it would benefit them," says Joshi.
They have even developed a personality test, involving nearly 105 questions, which clients can answer before the duo take up the project.
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For the high-stress professional
So in Nair's case, since she led a high-stress professional life, Karande decided to make a ledge in the living room the focal point of her home.
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It allowed indirect sunlight to stream in. The inclusion of natural elements like bamboo in the safety door, helped provide security while bringing in relaxing ambient elements into her space.
Nair says that's her favourite spot because it provides her a view of the garden, and hills beyond, helping her forget her worries in a jiffy.
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For someone with an anxious personality, Karande and Joshi suggest they opt for a seating arrangement so that they don't end up facing entrances to any other rooms since it could trigger off a bout of anxiety.
Mandar Karande can be reached on mkassociate@hotmail.com
Celeb Clients
Gold to lift Poonam's mood, no mirrors to help weaken Rahul's glam public image
Karande used psychological fundas while designing residential and office spaces for late politico Pramod Mahajan's kids, Rahul and Poonam.
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For Poonam, he stuck to earthy colours and used a combination of gold motifs.
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It was used in matt effect on the walls through wallpaper, and on the curtains through semi-glossy fabric.
The colour gold would help pep up Poonam's mood, allowing her to take a break from social activities that she undertakes on a professional level.
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For the office, Karande used a contrasting colour palette, with brighter warm colours for the visiting area.
The colour would give visitors a feeling that Poonam would help fight for their cause, and get work done. He also used direct lighting in the office to give it a no-nonsense, work-oriented feel.
Karande gave Rahul's home a rustic look, focussing on textures on the walls, floors and doors. The home has no gloss and has very few mirrors.
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"The idea was to tone down his glam image, that the general public believes he exudes," says Karande.
What kind of design suits you best? Karande helps you figure
A self-conscious person or someone with low self-esteem and confidence may not feel comfortable in a room with mirrors and reflectors.
In case of people who are anxious, the seating arrangement must be arranged so that entrances of other rooms aren't visible.
Self-made, self-sufficient individuals or those with strong egos should display their medals and awards so that visitors are able to share their achievements.
Phobic or nervous people will never be comfortable in places where lights are dim, or the room has a closed feel.
Restless and highly energetic people should stay in a room that appears large and spacious, with open spaces
to pace about.
Light shades of aqua and green are often used for their soothing effect.
Want to design your own place? Analyse this!
Psychology, unlike Vastu Shastra or Feng Shui, helps you analyse your own personality rather than interpret or change cosmic influences. So it's best not to duplicate a design that doesn't work for your personality.
Understand your personality traits, your real strengths (are you ambitious, strong-willed, confident, successful?) and weaknesses (are you impatient, arrogant, short tempered?).
Don't bring in a couch or divanu00a0 because you think it's cosy. Instead, try and analyse why you liked sitting in one at a night club. It is only the emotion, not the design element/object that you should try to replicate in your space.
Start designing with in-depth knowledge of yourself and what you want to gift yourself through the end product. Ask yourself, "Why am I using this element or colour?" at each step of designing, decorating, planning.
Focus and strengthen the spaces that relate directly to the most important among your traits.
Try to understand the details of finishes, colour, texture, study of volume, proportion, scale, ambience, in terms of light quality and intensity.
The idea of the entire exercise is to come up with an appropriate interpretation of the desired emotion, and turn it into a physical design that can be touched, seen and felt.
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