FEATURE NATURE’S TONIC
by lighting and it has a marked effect on our health and wellbeing. LEDs can very subtly change colour to mimic the sort of natural lighting conditions that you might otherwise experience under natural light. So throughout the day the circadian lighting system would vary from a warm yellow in the morning to a cool blue at midday and moving towards a more orangey light in the later evening. By echoing these systems we can actually convince the body that it’s existing within a natural light scenario.
LED light systems are being considered increasingly for education and health care purposes but Oliver believes that there’s no reason at all why we shouldn’t also be using them in retail spaces. “Not only is it of benefit for the customers but it’s also worth remembering that the staff spend a considerable amount of time inside. The benefit of having an alert, productive and interactive staff is paramount and so the idea of circadian rhythms, and what artificial elements like LEDs can do is of great importance.”
Oliver recalls a study conducted in Sweden, which looked at the enormous health benefits of using natural timber in interior spaces such as hospitals, offices and retail spaces. The research proved that using natural timber creates a greater perceived sense of honesty and reliability. “Therefore,” says Oliver, “If you are creating a retail space the study suggests that by using natural materials you would create a more reliable source of information from the staff in that space.”
To create symbolic connections through the use of materials, which mirror nature, Oliver suggests that retailers could fit Interface’s Human Nature or Urban Retreat modular flooring into their premises. “The Urban Retreat range mimics natural grasses and earthy colours while the Human Nature range looks more like weather-worn pebbles. Not only are these carpet tiles a great way to form a connection with nature, but because of their design and texture qualities they are also an excellent way to lead people through a retail space and create small zones where people can stop and look at products or move through on circulation routes.”
Advising customers
When advising customers on their purchase or trying to push products then it’s worth bearing in mind the fundamental bearing the home has on our lives. “Obviously the home is a space where we need to be invigorated and rejuvenated, feeling productive and alert from the moment we get up. Then, when we come home at night the converse; we need a solitary safer place where we can unwind and relieve the stresses and the strains of the day. At the end of an evening
28 | Winter 2015 Tomorrow’s Retail Floors
we need to restore our energy, focus and concentration for the next day to come. Not only that, but a lot of people work from home so there is a need for spaces to connect with nature in order for them to be productive and feel healthy.”
There are lots of products that would enable people to connect with nature, says Oliver. “It might be sensory things, like lighting or candles, especially scented ones, which add an aromatic quality to a space. Sheepskins and throws, timber surfaces and natural materials are also important as a subtle way to connect people back to nature.”
Different natural flooring materials work well depending on the space for which they’re chosen. For example, in a bathroom Oliver created for himself he used a weather-worn pebble flooring, which he says gives a sensual massage-like quality to the sides of the feet. Underfloor heating adds another element to the sensory aspect. For Oliver natural materials are more desirable than synthetic. “I think there’s a real difference between the use of a natural oiled- floor as opposed to a vinyl laminate”, he says. “They may look the same in a picture, but actually when you take your shoes and socks off the feel of a timber floor underfoot is quite
Interface Human Nature
A range of Skinny Plank carpet tiles that remind us of the materials, textures and tones we find in the natural world.
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