Make your Yard a Personal Area of Refuge
The “area of refuge” in a building is a specific area designed to protect occupants who cannot leave. Whether it’s a raging hurricane or an active shooter, the intent is to provide safety until help can arrive. In today’s chaotic times, wouldn’t it be nice to have an “area of refuge” in our own homes? A comfortable place to escape the hustle and bustle, and never ending demands on our time?
When we work with fellow contractors and designers on an outdoor space, we are indeed creating “areas of refuge”. Simply being able to get away for a little while can make all the difference in the world. “Me time” is not a selfish concept, it is critical for our personal well-being. As humans, we need to sometimes retreat to a place where we can “reboot our systems.”
As an electrical contractor, how do I help? I don’t do it alone. The construction of a “personal area of refuge” requires the joint effort of a few different services, starting with a landscaper who has designed the space according to the client’s needs, wants and desires. My job is to compliment the space; with proper lighting design, my team creates the rhythm of the space after the sun goes down (after all, you are most likely to be using your “area of refuge” after a long day of work). Arriving home and walking outside, you can leave the world behind for just a couple of hours. When the sunsets, the area you have created becomes your own personal resort. Properly lit, you can enjoy your refuge well into the night.
To unwind, you don’t need to plan an expensive trip a year in advance, grind it out to that predetermined time, and fight the travel monsters to get to your vacation. You can simply come home, pour a glass of wine, turn on some outdoor music, and relax in an Adirondack chair. The area of refuge could be right in your yard, just a few footsteps away.