Surface: boundary conditions, spatial interactions, and occupying time

Abstract

As science and technology continue to accelerate and change our society, disciplinary core beliefs are also changing, leading to an erosion of the boundaries between exterior and interior and a diminishing of the distinction between object and subject. In this technology driven era, where interiors are exclusively conceived and produced digitally, surfaces have gained a particularly prominent role. This is attributed to the fact that surfaces are more conducive to the formation process and are responsive to a variety of production methods from folding to segmentation to inscription. Inscribed, ornamented and textured surfaces make immediate connection with the senses, leaving the subject unclear about where the body ends and exterior elements begin. In the graduate level studio described here, the study of surfaces and boundary conditions was employed as a medium to investigate material potentialities as well as to explore the erosion of the disciplinary-specific binary oppositions. The purpose of the studio was to seek novel approaches and possibilities for new interiorities that are defined by data, fields and interactions.

Keywords:

• Design education
• interior design pedagogy
• surface studies
• interactive interiors

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Acknowledgments

Polyp: Sensory Technology 5 – Master of Interior Design (MID) Class of 2011. Nikki Layne, Gillian Herold, Rehanna Hartung, Tamara Nyysola, Aimee Mah, Christine Plett, Darci Madlung.

Thixus: Sensory Technology 5 – Master of Interior Design (MID) Class of 2015: Kara Bergmann, Angela Chen, Tiffany Jameson, Stephanie Prouse, Jason Shields, Maria Thom.

Da’starbans: Sensory Technology 5 – Master of Interior Design (MID) Class of 2015: Umidjon Abdullaev, Jaymie A. Borchardt, Lynn M. Dolyniuk, Laurianne Parent, Carla G. Pienaar.

All the images of the installation were produced by the group members. Technical assistance during the construction of Polyp was provided by Tony Wong and the Department of Physics, University of Manitoba. Kiral Poon provided programming and electronic support for the Thixus Group. Projects were funded by a research initiative grant provided by the Department of Interior Design, University of Manitoba, Faculty of Architecture, and by Tech Fees associated with the Sensory Technology 5 course from 2011 and 2015.

Special thanks to Dr. Ro Spankie and the two extraordinary and unanimous reviewers for their constructive criticism and invaluable help during their review of this article. Thank you for cultivating new notions and approaches in my research and teaching.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tijen Roshko

Tijen Roshko received her BSc degree from Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. After completing an MSc degree in nuclear physics at the University of Manitoba, she decided to pursue her studies along a more artistically creative direction in the Department of Interior Design where she was awarded a BID. Following fifteen years of international practice experience at various levels from senior interior designer to executive VP, Tijen returned to the University of Manitoba to continue her career in the Department of Interior Design as an associate professor, she is responsible for both graduate and undergraduate design studios which are conducted at the intersection of science and interior design. Email: [email protected]