Page 9 - CooperatorNews Chicagoland Summer 2021

CHICAGO.COOPERATORNEWS.COM COOPERATORNEWS CHICAGOLAND — SUMMER 2021 9 continued on page 10 YOUR BOARD’S ATTENDANCE IS NOT REQUIRED. BUT IT SHOULD BE. FREE REGISTRATION:CHICAGO.YREXPOS.COM WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021 - 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM AND THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021 - 1:00 PM TO 4:00 PM ALine “foresee that there will be demand for either flexible coworking spaces or single occupancy pods within residential build- ings.” Knowing that amenity space can be limited in co-op and condo buildings, ALine suggests in a recent blog post “to create an amenity space that has flexibility for many different uses” by installing convertible fur- niture or furnishings that are easy to rear- range or to store away. Some examples they give include “collapsible conference tables, segmental seating arrangements, pop-up desks, and modular wall panels.” Flexibility is also essential for design- ers and clients themselves. Like no other time before it, the Era of COVID has forced people to adapt quickly, to put their lives on hold, and to endure a constantly changing stream of guidance and regulations with vir- tually no warning. While they look to imbue spaces with flexibility, both designers and their clients also have had to tap into their own ability to be flexible and understanding to make these projects successful. Archi- tect and interior designer Eric Mullendore, whose eponymous firm has reimagined and refreshed interior spaces in Chicago condos and co-ops for nearly 20 years, tells Coop- eratorNews that during COVID, “I have seen clients displaced and their routines inter- rupted, and have seen great patience in ac- commodating their projects being delayed months after they initially expected it to be completed. “Patience and understanding, compas- sion and empathy—not terms we usu- ally ascribe to the work we do,” Mullendore continues, “yet they have been wonderfully incorporated into just getting through this period together.” Materials & Technology With today’s emphasis on wellness and cleanliness, many designers are recom- mending fabrics, surfaces, and structures that have antimicrobial properties or that are easy and safe to keep clean and free of germs. Simple adjustments like “not as many throw pillows” in lobbies and common ar- eas, as recommended by Milazzo Smith, INTERIOR... continued from page 1 make for fewer touchable surfaces to clean and fewer passable items that can spread germs. She has also seen many homeowners who had been putting off improvements to kitchens and bathrooms taking this oppor- tunity to do that work—and to incorporate not only easily cleanable materials, but also room for storage of more cleaning supplies and other bulk items. For wellness upgrades in common ar- eas, ALine studios provides a list of prod- ucts and materials that have aesthetic as well as functional appeal. They recommend Type II vinyl wallcovering for “its durabil- ity, cleanability, and customization options,” noting that there are yet more wallcovering products that can be cleaned with harsher chemicals such as bleach without fading or deteriorating. Such fabrics can also be con- sidered for furnishings in common areas, they say. For countertops and reception desks, ALine recommends non-porous materials like quartz and soapstone for their ease of cleaning and maintaining. Quartz in par- ticular is durable, versatile, and attractive, they say. Without pores or holes, it is easier to disinfect and is also stain-resistant. “Con- sidering that quartz may not fit into every building’s aesthetic or budget,” notes ALine, “there is the option to apply quartz to the writing surface of a desk only.” “For high end buildings that wish to pro- mote wellness without sacrificing design,” ALine offers upscale hand sanitizer dispens- ers that “are available in a variety of colors, finishes, and materials. Some can even be customized with room numbers and light- ing,” they say in their blog. Similarly, they suggest “upscale partitions that can be used in place of the ubiquitous plexi-glass divid- ers” that are in place for COVID protec- tion at front desks and doorman stations throughout co-ops and condos nationwide. Interior designers also mention more high-tech improvements like touchless el- evators, entries, and lighting, and smart home controls that provide health and safety enhancement while also being “aesthetically pleasing in their elegance and simplicity,” ac- cording to Rodriguez. Other health-focused technology products—such as ventilation systems with UV light or high-efficiency filters—are completely invisible to the resi- dent, she continues. Bringing the Outdoors In Another popular element in post-CO- VID design, both for common spaces and individual residences, is the installation of natural elements into the indoor environ- ment. “In common areas where there’s a need to enforce separation and distancing,” says Rodriguez, “greenery and planters can help accomplish this goal in a way that ac- tually enhances the space’s aesthetic appeal.” In fact, Rodriguez continues, the ongoing distancing and isolation experienced dur- ing the COVID pandemic has reinforced the value of what the pros call “biophilic design”—elements of interior design that in- corporate and/or mimic aesthetic and sen- sory characteristics from the natural world. “Staying indoors for months on end dur- ing quarantine has left many of us longing for some type of connection to nature and the great outdoors,” reports ALine’s blog. While biophilia doesn’t kill COVID or other germs, they say, it has been shown to im- prove mental health, boost productivity, and enhance air quality. Wellness considerations were top of mind before the pandemic start- ed, but they have taken on even more im- portance as the need to prevent viral spread has become an existential imperative. Adds Rodriguez, “In terms of color and “I have seen families rediscover the joy of being at home, and being with each other, and this has prompted them to start paying more attention to the wellbeing and enjoyment of their most important space: HOME.” —Eric Mullendore materials, we’ve seen a movement towards warmer, neutral tones that have a calming and soothing effect—something that’s espe- cially important when people are spending so much time at home. Taking inspiration from nature, materials and colors are an im- portant element of biophilic design, which aims to reconnect people to the natural en- vironment.” Where possible, multifamily buildings and communities are using design to make the most of the literal outdoors by expand- ing access to light and air, creating indoor- outdoor entries and lobbies, or installing green walls and other organic materials. Ground-up design is putting much more emphasis on both private outdoor spaces like balconies and terraces and common outdoor elements like roof decks and court- yards. “The demand for apartments with balconies and outdoor space has surged dra- matically,” notes ALine. Rodriguez agrees. “\\\[The year\\\] 2020 un- derscored the value of outdoor spaces. A balcony or a terrace felt essential during the pandemic, but the sense of serenity and sanctuary that people find in these spaces will always be important. And as the mental and physical health benefits of biophilic de- sign and access to light and air continue to make themselves known, more people will look for homes that offer outdoor access.” Uplifting By Design By and large, the attitude of interior de- signers is that home should always be a place of comfort and sanctuary. According to them, having more people spending more time within the walls of their homes than ever before this past year-plus has forced professionals in the field to reexamine both their use of space and the way the space in- fluences them. “My experience,” says Mul- lendore, “is that this period of COVID has challenged us all—not only our use of spac- es, but it has tapped deep into our sense of humanity.” Milazzo Smith agrees: “I think any time that you spend time at your home, you should be inspired, and you should be nourished and you should be uplifted. And I think there’s never been a time in my life-