Washington Home & Garden Blogs

By Patrick Roden
Aging In Place

Aesthetics; noun; a branch of philosophy dealing with beauty (Merriam-Webster)

Four years ago I read an article that changed my thinking forever. I had what Buddhist call a “satoir,” or an instant awakening.

The article: Tracing the Flow of the Greek Aesthetic was written by Brian Krause. He interviewed Dr. Harris-Cline, a professor of Art History and Classics, as well as Greek Scholar.

Before you ask: What’s this got to do with aging in place? I’ll give you the substance of the article and tie it in…

Harris-Cline had been studying a phenomenon termed “flow” as described by psychologist, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in the book, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (1990). Flow simply is the experience of being in what athletes call “the zone.” For a basketball player it’s shooting unconsciously and you can’t miss; for the writer it’s writing your best prose without lifting the pen to edit, or the runner who hits that sweet-spot where there is no fatigue, only a quiet zone of endless energy.

Dr. Harris-Cline applied the flow concept to develop her theory about Greek civilization. She suggested that: “The Greeks built a civilization where flow, and flow experiences, was part of everyday life.”

The theory posits that the Greeks developed a culture rich in sensual stimulation. They used incense and perfumed oils for smell; the lyre and flute for music; honey, olives, and fruits for taste.

The Greeks also appreciated the richness of touch, using hand woven fabrics from linen to wool, and created beauty and good taste in their homes. She thinks the Greeks triggered flow experiences from them and over time began to love beauty and beautiful things.

Further, the flow experience brought on by aesthetics allowed the Greeks to produce political and philosophical ideas and inspired works of art that are still held in esteem today. And also helped breed tolerance and appreciation for diverse experiences of human life.

In my opinion Harris-Cline is on to something…and the implications for aging in place and interior design are significant.

I’ve always argued that interior designers are a key element in successful aging in place. The mature market is requesting home modifications to make them more energy efficient, convenient, comfortable, and safe.

What they don’t want is to live in an institution and any changes that hint at infirmity aren’t going to be received well by many older adults, especially boomers. The demand is for non-stigmatizing and aesthetically pleasing products.

Luckily there are designers who understand this and are turning obstacles into beauty. Individuals like Cynthia Leibrock and Michael Graves are liberating mundane assistive devices and making them not only non-stigmatizing, but a delight to look at.

Interior design and aesthetics matter, they’re not just niceties but can make the difference in adopting aging-in-place modifications and even being inspired by them.