Chenlei Ma
Soft Focus
Interior Design
2023
Clients are a 30-year-old botanist couple. The male owner is visually impaired, he is highly nearsighted and sensitive to light. To avoid eye fatigue, he only wears glasses when working, and the rest of the time, he goes without it. Without glasses, he can only discern blurry shapes and colors, but he has a Labrador guide dog to help him. Their basic requirements are: need space to conduct botanical research. Since guide dogs are very important family members, special designs are needed according to dog habits and characteristics, such as pet doors that allow access to both indoor and outdoor areas.My personal interpretation of my clients is that they are people who love life and work, and even the visually impaired male owner is still involved in botanical research. So I think it is important to try to convey the concept of equality in this design, not to deliberately treat the male owner as a disabled person, but to try to hide the design that takes care of him in the details. At the same time, it is important to consider the connection between the owner and the guide dog. Is it possible for the guide dog to damage the plant samples, and it may be necessary to delineate the outdoor area where the guide dog is not allowed to enter. For the interior, I am considering adding a den, greenhouse, and indoor and outdoor plant areas. Since the male owner is visually impaired, accessibility elements need to be considered in the design, such as minimizing or not adding steps, widening corridors and doors, and laying out the rooms in a way that is easy to access. In this case, I will avoid refractive and reflective materials to minimize eye irritation. Moreover, smart appliances can be installed, such as adjusting lights, curtains, etc. through voice commands to make life easier for both of them. In addition to having sound cues, raised signs and handrails can be added to assist the male owner in his life. Overall, accessible design is needed so couple can carry out their work at home while keeping the interior safe and convenient for both of them.
Work by
Chenlei Ma aka. Nicole
Environmental Design - Interior Design Specialization
“Design is not merely the arrangement of space; it is a dialogue between people, place, and purpose. At its best, design listens before it speaks, responding to the emotional, cultural, and...” [More]