Prospect and Refuge

Sketch by me
"We are invited to savor danger from a haven of safety"
-Grant Hildebrand 

Grant Hildebrand studied the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright's "Falling Water" was particularly an interest for Hildebrand. Based on the Prospect and Refuge theory, humans, like other animals all have an affinity for a space where we can see but not be seen. Wright's architecture always focused on this idea as well as biomimicry, the concept of mimicking nature's spatial and visual qualities. Prospect and Refuge offers us a bright, open space and a perched view as well as sanctuary, and a safe resting spot for us to recharge.  Ideal spaces that are trying to imitate the theory of prospect and refuge tend to include: visual privacy, quiet space, and often personalization of that space.

Prospect and Refuge can be seen not only in homes, but on beach boardwalks, campsites, malls, and in hospitals. Below is a picture of me on the boardwalk at Tybee Island in Georgia. The beach was eerie that morning due to the fog and the fact that it was a cold, early spring day. Not exactly inviting. Walking along the boardwalk however, offered ideal prospect and refuge. The domed ceiling of the boardwalk offered refuge from being out in the open, fully exposed to the elements and the sight of others that braved the cold to go on a walk. From this spot I was able to see a large portion of the beach; including those people walking, ships off the coast, and dolphins (yay). 

Me in Tybee Island, GA
Human interaction with nature has been proven to increase longevity and promote good health. A big part of the implementation of prospect and refuge is having a sightline to nature around you, be it a window looking out at a lake or a mountain, or an interior courtyard centered in an office building. In a healthcare setting, having this sightline has been proven to increase the moods of patients and their will to get better sooner.

Related image

The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne has manifested this concept with great success. The window not only offers a view of the forest, but lets in large amounts of natural light, also proven to be a mood booster. The rooms are meant to be highly customizable for individual patients, providing them a personal safe space. 

The importance of prospect and refuge is immense and most of the time we take it for granted. It is easy to ignore its presence until we are in a situation where we really need it. As someone who likes to be aware of their surroundings at all times, it is important to me that wherever I go, I can find a place where I can find prospect and refuge. If I am in a restaurant I usually want to sit in a booth where I know my back is to a "wall" and have my eyes facing the door, or at least the majority of the room. Any time this can't be the case I immediately feel more anxious and uneasy. As a designer I want to put these feelings to rest. Now of course, it would be impossible to create these types of spaces for every circumstance, but if we take it into consideration instead of making it an after thought, it could greatly improve the overall health and well-being of everyone. 

Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 3, 2018 at 12:25 PM

    I love all your examples of prospect-refuge, and I especially love the picture of you at the beach. I think you described prospect-refuge very well, and in a way that is easy to understand.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownNovember 4, 2018 at 8:52 PM

    I am a person who likes to aware aware of my surroundings too. I loved how you involved personal expereinces like at a restaurant. I tend to go toward the booths also to feel a since of prospect refuge. Great job explaining it!

    ReplyDelete

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