Connecting interiors with exteriors: Simple Strategies By Shabnam Arab

We enjoy being surrounded by nature and feeling its presence around us and to make a strong connection between natural and built spaces, is to make a linkage between indoor-outdoor spaces. Forging a strong connection between indoors and outdoors in houses can make homes more liveable and it will change the experience of everyday life at home. Different materials like stone, wood, and glass with various methods have been introduced to dissolve the boundary between interiors and exteriors, which allows residents to experience the full potential of living close to nature. As in ‘modernism’ architects have practised and introduced features to create a calming connection to the exterior, for example, featuring spacious terraces, walls of glass, and water features etc. Let’s have a look at some examples to achieve a connection between exteriors and interiors in our living spaces

1) Forming a flow

There can be multiple ways to create a seamless flow between spaces. Doors are a very important feature in any living space and the main door is used as a primary connection between outdoors and indoors, creating an ample-size pivoting glass door can make an impressive and well-lit entry on its own without creating a barrier between exteriors and interiors.

In forming a flow ‘around the corner’ windows also play a significant role, it helps to break away the traditional four walls with window patterns by creating a spot which can become the highlight of the house. Getting rid of the corner can always help to create a vista which can make you feel that as if you are part of that view. These corner windows do a significant job of bringing the outdoors in even if the outdoor spaces are not very prominent ones.

2) Continuity of Materials from outside to inside

Using the same flooring material indoor and out can create an uninterrupted flow, which will not break the continuity of the outside for the user when entering an indoor space. It can be a smooth way of connecting the two without even giving an obvious break.

This also includes more incorporation of plants indoors. By bringing in the ‘greenery’ from outside will bring in the idea of ‘living close to nature’ in almost all the spaces in a house and will not be specific to certain timings of the day when gardens, courtyards or backyards of the houses are being used.

3) Narrow stretch of a yard

Growing a small garden outside a master bedroom or a garden off the bath can be an exquisite place to relax in. Having a huge yard to create an impressive or unique garden feature is not important, even a long stretch of yard on any side of the house could be planted or covered with bamboos for privacy and open up to the bath with a glass wall or can be used as a small patio for a bedroom, with a water feature for a serene touch and can also help mask noises from outside. Incorporating small yards throughout the house design will automatically help to build a connection between indoors and out.