50 Shades of Cocooning

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NOMADESSENCE

50 SHADES OF COCOONING

50 SHADES OF COCOONING

50 SHADES OF COCOONING

“Architecture is really about well-being.

I think that people want to feel good in a space…

On the one hand it’s about shelter, but it’s also about pleasure.”

- Zaha Hadid

This past year has been challenging for all of humanity. The harsh transition from physical closeness to virtual relationships that we have had to develop with our loved ones has been trying. On the other side of the spectrum, the unexpected prolonged proximity in smaller-than-expected spaces has also been a revelatory experience for many of us with unforeseen obstacles. We have been made particularly aware of our physical environment, at home and at work.

But this situation also brings opportunities, and many of us have had the chance to take a step back from our daily lives to reassess what we expect and strive for in the long term. We cherish moments we can take in each other’s company, we enjoy open spaces and nature and we nurture the time we have for ourselves to reflect and recharge. This transition has been and needs to be reflected in our personal surroundings.

NOMADESSENCE brings you our thoughts on your private and professional environment and how you can best create the spaces you need to flourish at home and at work.

THE HOME OFFICE

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Define your space – If you do not have or do not wish to be in a separate room, in order to absorb surrounding sounds all you need is an eye-level screen behind you. Place a panel that you can place behind your chair and on either side. This can be custom-made to incorporate your company logo and provide an attractive background color for conference calls which can further underscore your corporate identity.

This creates a useful boundary where a wall would be inappropriate or intrusive.

For those of us who are used to traveling, the concept of a nomadic office is nothing new. Yet, we may have new constraints in our own homes, such as space, sound and visual interferences. Fortunately, it takes very little to define a spatial boundary – even elements as ephemeral as color or textural changes, lighting, screens or even a highly functional piece such as a desk tailored perfectly to one’s needs, can make a person feel that they are in a protected and delineated space. If you have chosen an area in your home that you are comfortable working in, there are only a few steps to take to transform it into a cocoon of your creativity whether it be in banking, law, consulting, or any other field. Here are our main tips to make you feel at ease at work…at home:

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Safeguard your corporate identity. Have your background wall or panel - custom-designed to reflect your corporate identity. Use color and graphic signage to enhance your company’s identity and logo when conversing with colleagues and clients. This branding gesture will also reinforce your own identity with your brand.

50 SHADES OF COCOONING

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Mind your acoustics - Choose materials such as textiles, felt, cork and wood for your panels or background wall to absorb acoustic interference.

This will keep your space silent, protect your worktime from interfering with the rest of your environment and keep your conference call environment professional.

THE HOME OFFICE

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Choose colors that define the space in relation to your corporate identity but also in respect of the lighting you have available – natural and artificial.

Dark colors absorb light but can give gravitas to a space. Light colors can expand a space but may also not ground your presence enough. Study the color choice carefully to convey the best message to yourself as much as to your clients.

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Lighting is the one element that can make or break a space. Choose your task lighting well – consider whether the source has to provide you with light to read papers, or has to illuminate your presence on a call, or has to provide the environment for computer tasks, or all three. Lighting can also enhance the feeling of the space being a physical entity even if it is just a corner in a larger room.

Words: NOMADESSENCE Photo 1: devorm.nl Photo 2: Juan Carretero Photo 3: Maki Yamamoto Photo 4: bentleyslondon.com Photo 5: 1stdibs.com Photo 6: Maisons du Monde Photo 7: nohrd.com Photo 8: NOMADESSENCE Photo 9: Douglas VanderHorn Architects

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Choose your desk and chair carefully. Consider the ergonomics of your tasks, the functional needs when you are at your desk. The choice of exquisite sustainable desks is vast from wood, to recycled, polished metals to coconut shell, mother of pearl and sustainable leathers. Chairs, ideal for sitting long hours, built of recycled plastic mesh, soft, plush textiles and leathers with wood and metal accents and structures will make you wish you could spend more time at work.

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Count a space at least 250cm x 250cm free space for ease of movement

THE HOMESPA & WELLNESS SPACE

Install a full-length mirror on one wall and preferable a bar for additional movement exercises

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Make sure your space is ventilated naturally or artificially

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Choose your materials carefullyorganic paints, anti-fungal flooring appropriate for your sport, etc. movement exercises

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If possible, include a sink, toilet and shower for comfort and hygiene.

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Choose indirect and dimmable lighting so that you avoid glare into light sources when exercising, in massage sessions or when meditating

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With gyms and beauty centers closed or difficult to schedule, many of us have turned to the idea of creating our own home spas and gyms. Our favorite coaches and service professionals are fortunately at our sides to make these private cocooning spaces a revelation we will not let go of even once our clubs are accessible again. NOMADESSENCE offers you some guidelines in integrating this space in your home.

As with the home office, you will wish to define a space which is separated from the rest of your residence – visually but also in protection from external noise.

For yoga, pilates and other workout practices:

Pay attention to ceiling finishes – consider your ceiling as a fifth wall that you will look at during your exercise or massage sessions – the lighting, ventilation, speaker and other elements should be carefully placed to take your full comfort into account.

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Music is a known healer. Try to integrate a music system when conceiving your wellness space. Keep in mind the comfort of others outside your space.

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Look into compact equipment such as infrared saunas.

50 SHADES OF COCOONING

A home spa can be the most indulgent and inspiring environment without needing much space. The key is to consider every square centimeter with attention as one would in a yacht or plane and make each material and texture choice a part of the sensation of pampering and wellbeing.

50 SHADES OF COCOONING

GATEWAY COCOON Maybe what you are looking for is a place to get away from it all. The beauty of interior design is that it takes very little to create the feel, be it even the illusion of, seclusion. Tackling the design from the point of view of a stage set designer, you can enjoy your new private world designed only through textiles and lighting.

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Play with curtains, screens, possibly elements of furniture such as a bookcase or console, to define your cocoon. A window casing can be a perfect private nook as can the corner of a room with a library wall.

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Choose your favorite color that makes you feel good and apply it as paint, wallpaper or textile paneling on one wall that you choose as your accent wall.

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Flooring enhances the feel of a space. Wood flooring is cozy while marble exhudes a more glamorous and cooler aura.

Carpetting and rugs enhance the tactile effect of a space. Choose according to the persona you wish to experience in that space.

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Explore the cast panoply of seating to express the cocoon you envision. From cozy felts and wools to baroque chateau pieces in intricately carved woods, to sleek, modern Scandinavian minimalist designs to funky, one-of-a-kind pieces reflecting the extreme of creativity, the choices are endless. Let your decision be made by your emotions – this is your space.

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Provide a space for your pet to join you.

And finally, accessorize with your favorite objects – candles, books, boxes, collections.

NOMADESSENCE

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Table lamps, floor lamps and indirect lighting (cove lighting or lighting integrated in built-in shelving for example) provide a soft ambience while the option of dimming allows for further control of the atmosphere of the space. Playing with fiber optics in the ceiling, floor or walls can truly transform a space and transport you to another world.