Prospect & Refuge

 
Refuge sketch by me using pen

    Prospect and Refuge may completely define a space or spaces for some, it is definitely something that has to do with how the person needs to feel psychologically. The Prospect-Refuge Theory is: Humans prefer edge-settings, between open and closed environments. This, again, is why this theory is so much tailored to how the individual would want to feel in a setting because some people would want to feel more secure while others wouldn't mind feeling a bit out in the open so to speak (or that's how more introverted people might put it). So lets get into it.
Ah Refuge, Sweet Refuge. The floorplan to my apartment.  

    Refuge is the environment that is closed off from the rest of pretty much everything, and its a place that the user can go for safety, relaxation, an escape route. Its the haven that a lot of people require. I know that if I had to choose personally between a large-prospect, open-viewed, social area, I would much rather prefer a place of more solitude and security. And if I was in a large open setting, seeking my escape when the time came would be key. My small studio apartment comes to mind instantly when I think of refuge as it is my place to wind down and relax, a place to get some work and studying done. The fact that it is small yet somewhat open (to its limits) only just adds to these refuge affects because its not a large space. The close walls add solid security and I have what I need always very close by. Coming home from work or school it's always nice to be able to come back to my "nesting" space. I would much rather be in a space like my studio apartment than a large setting with numerous people.

   Prospect is any area that has a large view and is very open and distant. An individual may find some sort of refuge within this if they are needing it, such as a specific spot that's a little out of the way of everything, but really you aren't going to find a whole lot of refuge in these types of settings. These types of environments may tailor to more extrovert people that like entertaining or enjoy having a lot of people around a lot of the time. Think of a large area with a lot of windows, sort of encouraging a gathering.


Abandoned shack on the shore of Shell Island, Florida. Photo taken in the summer by me

   Of course when there is one there is the other. When I think of Prospect and Refuge this moment definitely comes to mind and its a good example of the theories. What broader viewing area is there than the beach? And in the midst of this grand area there is a small refuge right on the shore. This is on Shell Island in Panama City Beach, Florida last summer when we went there on a boat. It was unknown what it actually was and after speculating for a while my dad figured it might have been an old ranger station since the state park there was involved with the surrounding area. Other than that guess I have no idea. Beside the webbing of support under the building, there are stairs that can be raised up and down from the top but no way to bring down the stairs from the bottom as I could see. Whether it was for any ranger work or some other specific reason I thought this mechanism is a decent example of refuge as well as the location of the shelter. As for Prospect, the beach is obviously very well-lit with tons of people on it most hours of the day. It's very social and there's a lot of family gatherings. The incredible views also can bring out these feelings of being perched in a Prospect manner. This isn't to say that a beach setting couldn't be Refuge, but given these traits this environment definitely pointed towards Prospect.

  In conclusion, there are some specific ways that we could use elements in a setting to be able to make an individual feel like they're in a refuge or in the open. M.J. Ostwald insists in his article: "Prospect-refuge patterns in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie houses: Using isovist fields to examine the evidence", that Frank LLoyd Wright used specific elements to bring these feelings in. Lower ceilings and deeper eaves are used a lot in his design to help the individual feel in a refuge. Also, adding a sense of mystery and wonder down a path and then leaving the refuge at the end of the path is also something Wright incorporated into his buildings. He used spatio-visual aspects to draw in those who wanted a space for themselves. Perhaps these are elements that could be used in the future for more Prospect-Refuge projects.




Reference


Floorplan Picture: http://evergreencampusapts.com/floor-plans/studio/


Article: Ostwald, M. J. (2013). Prospect-refuge patterns in frank lloyd wright’s prairie houses: Using isovist fields to examine the evidence. Journal of Space Syntax, 4(1), 140-141. Retrieved from http://joss.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/journal/index.php/joss/article/view/145/pdf



 

 

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