rest and recharge

An illustration titled <n>Charging the Self</n>.

LIVING

\- A home that feels like a sanctuary

\- A space that feels peaceful and serene

\- Architecture that restores our energy

\- Architecture that encourages creativity

\- As open plan as possible

\- Natural light that fills every room

\- Eco-friendly and sustainable

\- Child and animal friendly

\- Modular design that can adapt

\- Adaptable for a family


COOKING

\-A utilitarian space to enjoy cooking daily

\- Generous kitchen storage

\- A kitchen that is easy to clean and maintain

\- A space to enjoy spending time

\- Open and inviting to other living spaces


SHARING

\- A space that encourages interaction

\- A balance of style and comfort

\- A space that improves communication


WORKING

\- A tech-focused setup that works for multiple people

\- Optimised for sitting and standing

\- A place to design digital and physical

\- A space to collaborate

\- Maybe some gaming too


OUTDOOR

\- An outdoor/sheltered area to exercise

\- Space for a climbing wall

\- Space for equipment/tools storage

\- Grow vegetables/fruits


AESTHETIC

\- Minimal, functional, simple

\- Fusion of Japanese, Bauhaus, and Scandinavian influences

\- Natural and raw materials

\- Brutalism blended with softness

\- Non-colours blended with natural colours

\- Dark facade, light(er) interior

\- Juxtaposition of tones, textures, and light

We go through phases of doing, resting, and (just) being. We are encouraged to move with each stage, embrace it and even celebrate it; all are equally important. Most significantly, rest.⁠

**Resting is doing**

You don't need to be busy. You don't need to justify your existence in terms of productivity. Rest is an essential part of survival. An essential part of us. An essential part of being the animals we are. When a dog lies in the sun I imagine it does it without guilt, because as far as I can tell dogs seem more in tune with their own needs. As I grow older, I think that resting might actually be the main point of life. To sit down passively, inside or outside, and merely absorb things - the tick of a clock, a cloud passing by, the distant hum of traffic, a bird singing - can feel like an end in itself. It can actually feel and be more meaningful than a lot of the stuff we are conditioned to see as productive. Just as we need pauses between notes for music to sound good, and just as we need punctuation in a sentence for it to be coherent, we should see rest and reflection and passivity and even sitting on the sofa - as an intrinsic and essential part of life that is needed for the whole to make sense.

**The Comfort Book · Matt Haig**