Incorporating the philosophies
of chiropractic into a physical space creates balance and harmony for the people
who use it.
By Holly O'Dell
Chiropractors operate under the philosophy of holistic healing, an approach
that combines the mind, body and spirit. But is your clinic, or even your home,
reflecting the principles of balance, harmony and function? Integrating such
seemingly intangible concepts into physical space is not only possible, but
it will benefit your practice, your patients, your family and, of course, yourself.
“Chiropractors have both a deep understanding and an appreciation for
the interconnectedness of all life-sustaining elements,” says Jeffrey
Scherer, principal and project architect with Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle,
an architecture and interior design firm in Minneapolis, Minn. “They know
that finding a ‘cure’ is not a matter of simply targeting one strategic
point with a predetermined solution. Rather, it is an overall systemic approach
that is more subtle in its nature. Design should also be systemic in its origins.”
Scherer and two of his team members—project architect John Marlow and
interior designer Coco Dugan-Early—are working on several projects for
Life University, including preparing a master plan; developing a student and
outpatient clinic; reviewing the design of the new administration area; providing
a design for a historical exhibit; and developing a comprehensive landscape
plan.
Scherer and his team are using chiropractic theories to guide the design of
these projects. “Striking a delicate balance between serene and relaxing
space and one that functions for its use is imperative in the design of this
type of environment,” Scherer says. “The challenge is to create
an environment that maintains a calm and reflective serenity for the patient
or student without creating unneeded obstacles for the doctors working in this
same space.”
Wanting to design a clinic that exudes serenity and actually achieving that
goal can be perceived as a challenge. After all, saying that you want your practice
to be “relaxing” or “welcoming” might sound good, but
how exactly do you get there? Finding an architect or designer who speaks your
language becomes imperative. For example, Scherer’s firm operates under
the following eight values: integrity, enduring value, mutual enrichment, respect,
balance and well-being, responsibility, attention and joy. “These are
important since we strive to work for people who are similarly minded,”
Scherer adds. In addition, it might be helpful in your decision-making to see
an architect’s portfolio of other projects to see if what he or she has
created for other clients is aligned with your objectives.
Knowing your own work style and values is another critical step in finding the
right architectural match. “The most effective way [for clients] is to
first search deep inside to understand who they are, what their core beliefs
are,” Scherer says. “It is especially crucial that they be open
to a process of discovery, rather than a process of the architect simply being
asked to translate a stylistic desire. We believe that architecture is a result
of the process and, ideally, this process is one of open, two-way conversation
that is founded on common beliefs, values and expectations.”
In turn, your architect or designer should share that same desire to get to
know you. “The architect is required to develop a deeper understanding
of the patron, beyond the mere factual aspects of the project, such as number
of rooms,” Scherer says.
Once you have found your match, explain your design goals, no matter how vague
they may seem to you. “Clients come with aspirations and expectations,”
Scherer says. “The intangibles are linked to the expectations—often
very hard to express and convey—especially their meanings. The aspirations,
or dreams, are only vaguely known, and in many cases are expressed through examples—pictures
of spaces they like, for example. We all learn from examples, so it is useful
to see inspirations that you may have collected over time.”
One of the biggest similarities between architects and chiropractors is that
balance is at the core of their professions. Both try to achieve balance for
their clients, and both often want balance in the spaces in which they perform.
“Balance is one of the fundamental principles of good design, not just
a successful building,” Scherer says. “Balance is a matter of harmony.”
To achieve this harmony in your practice or in your home, Scherer suggests creating
spaces that are visually balanced but not literally balanced. “For example,
an architect could proportionally arrange windows on one side of an entrance
to look in balance with those on the opposite side, yet in actual size, they
may be completely different,” he says. “This is equally true of
lightness/darkness, heavy/light, open/closed, shape/color, position/displacement,
and texture/smoothness. We strive to be harmonious without being a slave to
any established preconceptions.”
The furnishings, textures, lighting and color palette you choose can also help
you incorporate the theories of chiropractic into your practice. A quality interior
designer will ensure that these elements don’t overwhelm the space, however.
“You could choose all the right materials to appease the human senses,
but if the sense of space or scale is wrong, it may still cause the user to
feel uncomfortable in that environment.”
Though a room can look beautiful, it still needs to function. Make sure that
the space is easy to utilize, is comfortable to move through, and features a
traffic pattern that allows you and your patients to interact without crowding
walkways or interfering with others’ work. Your architect will also ensure
that your patients and visitors can relate to the space in a broader way. “Each
individual space has its own set of characteristics beyond the materials that
comprise it,” Scherer says. “Smells, tastes, textures, basic spatial
dimensions, daylight, artificial lighting—these are only a few of the
factors that have an outside influence on the way that people experience and
utilize their surroundings.”
In the end, a space that reflects chiropractic principles should make you and
your guests feel uplifted, calm and refreshed. “Have you ever walked into
a building, and have your eyes been drawn immediately upward to the ceiling
with a gentle feeling of awe creeping over you? Or have you ever been tucked
away someplace in a quiet corner, feeling completely comfortable and at ease
to be there?” Scherer asks. “If done correctly, even a simple single
room has the ability to lift the human spirit, and may have an effect on the
user or the ability to change his or her emotions.”
—Holly O’Dell