Cocooning is where we\u2019re heading with interiors, writes Leanne Moore after attending NZ Design Week in Auckland this month. <\/p>\n
Immersive, intensely personal spaces that are deliberately designed for comfort and ease was a common theme among experts at New Zealand\u2019s annual design conference. <\/p>\n
\n In an increasingly chaotic and
\n uncertain world, home as a place that provides refuge and rejuvenation is more important than ever. This new immersive home-making movement is about interiors that produce a feeling of being held and protected, a place of safety and belonging.\n <\/p>\n
Here are four key trends to bring to your own home this year.<\/p>\n
The Architecture of Feeling: Neuro aesthetics with Muuto <\/p>\n
Everyone\u2019s idea of a calming and soothing environment is different. Whether you like your surroundings peppered with bold-coloured art and furniture, or prefer a neutral backdrop of white and cream, the key is creating a built environment that feels good to you. <\/p>\n
Tactile fabrics, a pop of yellow and garden views make this space a multi-sensory experience. Photo \/ Cave Studio<\/p>\n
It might take a while to get it right. Harmony in a space is rarely accidental. Immersive interiors are intensely personal and fad-free \u2013 not trend-driven cookie-cutter spaces. <\/p>\n
Neuroaesthetics, a relatively recent field of scientific research, explores how sensory and emotional responses to space shape both our wellbeing and creativity. Muuto\u2019s David Mansfield presented a design week session at its new store in Auckland on neuroaesthetics. He talked about the way homes designed to feel good activate our senses and calm our stress levels. <\/p>\n
Through the lens of Muuto\u2019s human-centred Scandinavian philosophy, Mansfield explained how subtle shifts in colour, light, form and texture transform how we think and feel. As a brand, Muuto intuitively designs pieces that feel as good as they look. <\/p>\n
Danish designer Lise Vester in her studio.<\/p>\n
Muuto\u2019s new Dream View Bench by Danish designer Lise Vester, pictured at the top of this story, is rooted in healing architecture. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe spend our days on autopilot \u2013 always on, always moving forward. The bench is a deliberate interruption to that rhythm,\u201d says Vester. <\/p>\n
Designed to gently tilt your head upwards, it\u2019s perfect for viewing birds in flight, clouds floating by, and the sparkling stars at night. Or simply a space to sit and be still. A seat for contemplation, self-reflection and rejuvenation. <\/p>\n
Immersive interiors are unique and fad free \u2013 not trend-driven cookie cutter spaces. Photo \/ Cave Studio<\/p>\n
Key design takeaway: It\u2019s important to create a home that looks and feels good because our surroundings impact our wellbeing. <\/p>\n
The Long Middle: Designing For Imperfect, Evolving Human Lives <\/p>\n
This session by Eva Nash and Kate Rogan, of Rogan Nash Architects, explored design longevity and resilience, addressing how architecture can genuinely support busy, imperfect lives over time. Their talk at design week explored the practical strategies for creating flexible, durable and resourceful environments that absorb the chaos of real life, spaces that can adapt to changing family dynamics. <\/p>\n
Eva Nash (left) and Kate Rogan of Rogan Nash Architects. Photo \/ Jackie Meiring<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking at that critical shift from designing for single moments or fleeting trends to designing for \u2018The Long Middle\u2019 \u2013 the decades where homes and spaces truly evolve,\u201d says Nash. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are interested in designing spaces that quietly support the physical and emotional wellbeing of their inhabitants; spaces that are not just beautiful, but deeply and resiliently human. <\/p>\n
\u201cHomes are places of constant change, layered with routines, memories and evolving relationships. Good architecture supports this complexity, creating spaces that hold both the quiet everyday and the unexpected moments that shape a life.\u201d <\/p>\n
A studio in the backyard can double as a pool cabana, workspace, or a teenage retreat. Photo \/ Cave Studio<\/p>\n
When a home is deliberately designed to facilitate reinvention, spaces can easily be transformed for new uses. Flexible space gives a home longevity and adaptability \u2013 a pool cabana can double as a workspace, a small studio, or a teenage retreat. <\/p>\n
Large open spaces can easily be adapted to different uses, when required. Photo \/ Cave Studio<\/p>\n
Key design takeaway: Flexible spaces allow homes to grow alongside the lives lived within them. <\/p>\n
The New Local: Regenerating Craft, Culture, And Commerce <\/p>\n