How the Pandemic Will Change Interior Design

Pandemic Driven Design

    Early in my career I had the privilege to work on many of the historic theaters in NYC. Theaters such as the Apollo Theater, The Belasco Theater, and the Beacon Theater. These goliath's of ornament were in such contrast to the white, sterile designs of Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, and Eileen Gray that were espoused by my professors in Architecture school. In rebellion against their doctrine of architecture I embraced the ornamentation of these theaters in all of its glory. Swimming in beautiful, velvet damasque, the delicacies of intricate murals, and the rose colored glass of Tiffany light fixtures I ate up the visual feast put forth on display by these theaters. I wondered how the architects of the day could have eschewed such beauty in favor of the cold, humanless spaces of modernism. As much as I appreciated their designs for their ingenuity and their greatness, their rejection of ornament was a philosophy that I could not understand or relate to. How could I, I had never lived through a Pandemic!

  Great design is almost always fueled by necessity, and the necessity that fueled the modernism of the early 20th century was tackling the 1918 Flu Pandemic. In 1918 the Spanish Flu claimed 50 million lives, and touched every level of society. In a society where the soul defense against a world wide pandemic is cleanliness it makes sense that the sterility that we often admonish modernism and minimalism for evoking was a desired aesthetic. Sanitariums with their clean white walls,  fresh air, and sun filled spaces were the vision for a healthy, safe future. Minimalism with its light, moveable furniture free of ornament allowed spaces to be cleaned and sanitized regularly. Now, just over 100 years later, we are encountering our own worldwide pandemic. We once again find ourselves virtually defenseless against a virus. Let's take a look back at some design concepts that are now considered classic design, but were originally created as design solutions to fight an invisible enemy.

White Subway Tile

Originally installed in NYC subways these white tiles reflected the light in an underground environment helping the subway to look and feel brighter. The coloring of these tiles also showcased any dirt on the walls so that it could be quickly dealt with or avoided in public spaces.  Their glazed surface allowed them to be easily cleaned and sanitized making them both beautiful and practical. For a society that valued cleanliness in its war against germs it is no wonder that their popularity grew and they quickly became adopted into residential home design where they were used in kitchens and bathrooms to create an easily maintained and hygienic surface. Their popularity reigns to this day with their low price point, versatility, and ease of maintenance. I think this a material selection that will only increase in popularity post pandemic.

Limewash (White wash)

"Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash and a long-handled brush."

Tom Sawyer, Mark twain

Springtime for generations meant that it was time to apply another coat of limewash to your home, or in the case of the quote above to your white picket fence. Limewash is one of the oldest paints known to man because it was a readily available material that is fire retardant, antiseptic, anti-fungal, odorless, and slows the deterioration of wood and brick. It was in constant use until the advent of drywall, which was a fast and easy replacement to lath and plaster. Drywall, until recently, was unable to take lime wash so synthetic paints quickly replaced it. The aesthetic of lime wash has remained popular, and it has even seen a resurgence due to the popularity of design trends like The Farmhouse Style. I love this look and it is a great way to update outdated brick. If you are inspired by Scandinavian design then this is definitely a finish that is worth a try. There are now new forms of whitewash that are able to be applied to drywall. Lime wash creates a texture and tonality to a wall that cannot be matched. That said it is not as straightforward as applying white acrylic paint  for the DIYer and weekend warrior so I see this product remaining more of a specialty finish like a venetian plaster rather than becoming mainstream. What will continue to be popular is mock lime wash finishes, which can be replicated pretty easily with watered down acrylic paint. These mock finishes will not have the same depth of color that the real deal has though so if you are game for giving it a try here is a link to a fantastic tutorial by Remodelista for how to apply the finish and where to source it.

Closets

If you have ever visited a historic home then you would know that closets as we know them today are a relatively new addition to residential home design. Previously clothes were stored in chests, wardrobes,  and dressers. These furniture pieces were often intricately carved with exquisite ornamentation and most often were made out of wood. Wood because of its porosity was seen as harboring germs, and the heaviness of the furniture meant that it could not easily be moved for cleaning. The introduction of a closet allowed the clothes to be hung off the ground, and the room to require less furniture making it easier to sanitize and clean the space. There is no doubt that closets are here to stay, especially as our wardrobes have increased over time, however, I see their size decreasing moving forward. With the advent of the capsule wardrobe, and the pandemic making us all reevaluate our space a more purposeful wardrobe seems more appropriate moving forward and no doubt our spaces will reflect that.



Vestibules

While vestibules predate the 1918 flu pandemic it certainly influenced the design and function of this room type. As people became more conscious of the role that germs play in spreading disease the addition of a half bath off of the vestibule began to appear in wealthier homes. This provided the working class that serviced the home a separate place to wash and use the bathroom while they supplied the home with coal, wood, deliveries, etc. I think the vestibule will see a resurgence because vestibules are so much more than a mere entry they are a buffer to the public space of the outside world. All too often they are cut from a home's design creating a jarring entry that brings you directly into the private space of the home. A true vestibule can be a receiving space, open to the outside world while remaining closed off from the rest of the home. The endless amazon packages would no longer become wet in the rain, guests could wash and remove their shoes before entering your home, and outerwear would no longer clutter up your home. There is a wonderful little book called "Home Sweet Maison" by Danielle Postel-Vinay that describes the vestibule in a French home as a carefully curated assemblage designed to reflect the interests and tastes of the owner while completely separating the visitor from the private space of the home. A wonderful perspective to think upon as we reimagine the design of our homes post pandemic.

Now that our world's are beginning to open up once again we are left to imagine how many "classics" will be born of this era. Will architecture once again reflect the sterile, white, minimalistic environments inspired by the sanatoriums of the past, will we abhor ornament for easy to maintain and sterile smooth surfaces, or will we find some happy medium in-between. While we navigate these new unknowns the designs of the past will continue to inspire us and guide us.