Residential environments do more than shelter occupants—they communicate. Through scale, proportion, light, acoustics, materiality, and spatial organization, homes influence how occupants feel, function, and live daily life. This workshop will discuss the concept of the “Language of Space,” a framework for understanding how residential design can intentionally respond to both the physical requirements and emotional needs of homeowners.

The session emphasizes that effective residential design balances measurable performance criteria—such as accessibility, ergonomics, and safety—with less tangible but equally critical emotional outcomes including security, belonging, restoration, and identity expression.

Using real-world residential scenarios, the course demonstrates how designers can translate homeowner narratives into spatial solutions. Attendees will learn to identify emotional drivers behind client requests and integrate those insights into layout planning, lighting strategy, circulation design, material selection, and sensory experience.