From a permanent dwelling to a feeling of community, our understanding of ‘home’ is changing
For decades, psychologists have described a state of 'flow' as one of being-in-the-moment, absorbing oneself in an enjoyable task, or ‘being in the zone’ when we are fully immersed and absorbed in a tranquil and pleasant activity.
Today, we are reaching the point where flow not only describes a state of mind, but also a feeling and sensation of place.
‘Home’ is becoming a feeling or state of flow.
For decades after WWII, social understandings of ‘home’ in Canada and across North America centered around single-detached bungalows placed on large open lots. Suburban car culture, the dream of the growing middle-class and baby-boomers to own their own home and properties, and a desire to raise families in a ‘forever-home’, became ingrained in our minds.
‘Home’ was once equated with a single-detached property where we would live, independently, without enmeshment in our surrounding community.
No more.
This mentality of home, and home ownership, is changing as the world around us is changing. From the ending of the Cold War to waves of immigration and technological and economic globalization, dreams of single-detached landscapes are being transformed by new generations of young professionals and designers into feelings and sensations of comfort, stability, and security, in an otherwise turbulent world – feelings undergirded and reinforced by increased community engagement, and a desire to be part of something greater than oneself.
Home is a state of flow - As times change, how we live and where we live, changes too.
Today, for many, dreams of the ‘forever home’ are being replaced by a desire and achievement of flow – the mindset of being immersed in a tranquil state of peace and security, where we are engaged, joyful, and fully in-the-moment.
It is with this ethos in mind that PGE is proudly designing buildings that create and reinforce these feelings of home as a state of flow. First, as our previous blog explored, the most advanced technologies – such as Building Information Management, or BIM – are actively engaged so that no experiential aspect of living at home is omitted. Home is always a feeling of security and tranquility.
Second, from lighting, to spacing, to sound and vibration, PGE’s units are constructed based on the latest and best architectural research. Only the best and safest materials designed to optimize human health and well-being must be used to construct a space that is also accessible and safe for all levels of activity and physicality. The most optimal colours for human comfort are always used, avoiding excessive oranges and reds in colour schemes, or floor plans and fixtures that are not accessible to all.
Part of achieving "Home is a state of flow" is integrating and synthesizing our spaces and places into nature. This is why PGE (Prica Global Enterprises) focuses on studying and emulating natural processes, such as using phototropism in our building at 308 King St. North and drawing inspiration from the Danish concept of Hygge, which creates a warm and cozy atmosphere, in our design at 298 Hemlock St. The address of 298 Hemlock St. is located next to the recently constructed Hemlock Park in Northdale Waterloo. It incorporates the Hygge concept with the surrounding nature to establish a harmonious blend between the interior and exterior of a home. The resulting feeling of place links buildings and nature together.
Third, comes an emphasis on placemaking as an integral part of community-building and fostering a true sense of home for all. Placemaking is commonly defined as the making and re-making of public spaces to embrace community cohesion and joy. From art, to music, to architecture, to spaces for play and creativity, placemaking is integral to PGE’s designs and projects: to create public spaces where communities and people can come together and celebrate as one. At 308 King St.,PGE has transformed an ordinary rooftop into a space for amenities, complete with a park and gardens that foster a sense of community among neighbors. This area creates a warm ambiance and promotes feelings of belonging amongst its visitors.
Building the future today means creating the public and private spaces where residents from every background, culture, age, and walk of life, can thrive and excel. Home – as a feeling of flow – is a way to achieve stability and calmness in a challenging world.
We live where we build. We love where we live. Achieving flow, whether it is for our employees and colleagues, for our residents, or for our community writ large, is an exciting and integral aspect of what we do in Waterloo Region and beyond.