In this course, we intend to use nature inspired design inside buildings. The context is an educational building at university campus, for example the Technohal at the University of Twente. After some brainstorming sessions we came up with an idea to facilitate interaction at the coffee machine. An unstructured, floor plan inspired by the unpredictability of nature was designed. The soft fascination pattern will attract people to the open space around the coffee machine without requiring much attention. At the same time, no obvious structure might help avoid line forming, making it easier for people to talk to each other. To achieve this, an experiment among the target group (students and staff) tested if a natural color palette (cool vs. warm) in combination with (or without) connecting lights, will induce more approach behaviour between people at the coffee machine.

 

Results showed that the use of lit up lines to connect the tiles would significantly increase the likelihood of interaction with people they do not know. In terms of preference and likeability, the results confirmed that the scenario with the warm colors and line was most enjoyed. Therefore, the final prototype makes use of the warm colors, representing autumn leaves, and also lines to connect the tiles where people are standing on.

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This project is done in cooperation with Jasper Westenbroek, Kirsten van Beuzekom, Sanne Eendebak, and Teresa Santos Coelho.