Imagining a Space for Cultural Identity and Posture
Imagining a Space for Cultural Identity and Posture
Sophia Pfleger
Growing up, my parents would often tell me to “sit up straight”. Which, as a child, I didn’t really see the necessity for. But interestingly, research shows that posture not only affects how we sit but also how we perceive ourselves. Sitting upright can enhance a feeling of confidence and eventually influence our behavior. And indeed, when I want to appear more confident, I in stinctively sit or stand up straighter. In the beginning of my research for this thesis, I came across Anna Aagaard Jensen’s project A Basic Instinct. The chairs she designed compel users to adopt a wide-leg- ged, open stance. Reflecting on my own seating habits, I began to investigate how chairs can nudge us into adopting certain postures, which would then influence our behaviors and perception. Office chairs for example are ergonomically designed – meaning they are adapted to human use – and are supposed to support proper posture and reduce back pain. They were designed to allow people to work longer hours. Of course they also allow us to sit more comfortably during these hours.
Nevertheless, they nudge us to a certain behavior. You wouldn’t relax on an office chair for example, you would probably prefer a Lounge Chair. As Rybczynski states, we project our moods and personalities into the chairs we sit in. And they themselves embody their own personality and identity.
So, what happens when we find ourselves in spaces where the design is purely functional, and the design identity is ab- sent or only weakly identifiable, such as in liminal spaces? In consideration of chairs and my practice in interior design, the following chapters will explore the relationship between posture, objects, and space. I will then focus on these identity-weak spaces and propose a design intervention that aims to counteract this by embedding cultural elements, fostering a stronger sense of connection and identity within these environments.
During the process of my research, I began to closely observe the postures of people around me, particularly during my daily subway commutes. I noticed how the “clean” design of subway benches, like the Japanese knife, leaves it up to individuals to decide how to sit, often resulting in behaviors like “manspreading.” This observation highlights how seating design can subtly influence public behavior, reinforcing the idea that the design of furniture plays a crucial role in shaping our interactions and social dynamics. The subway, as a melting pot of diverse people from various ages and ethnic backgrounds, is becoming increasingly intriguing to me.
The subway can be seen as a Liminal Space, as it is an intermediate area defined by transience and change, representing a threshold between two distinct states. Anthropologist Marc Augé describes these liminal spaces as “Non-places” they are the opposite of traditional places because they lack a visual identity and a connection to their cultural context. According to Augé, these Non-Places are a result brought by contemporary urbanization. He says they are places where “solitude coexist without creating any social bond or even social emotion”. Augé argues that Non-places are problematic because they foster feelings of alienation and disconnection.
Sitting, an integral part of subway travel, is closely tied to cultural practices. This connection is highlighted in Matteo Guarnaccia‘s project Cross Cultural Chairs (CCC). He designed eight chairs for the eight most populated countries of the world, each embodying the cultural identity of its nation. In his book, Guarnaccia emphasizes that sitting is more than just a functional act; it is a moment of sharing, reflection, and social connection. Beyond these connections, Guarnaccia’s chairs also embrace a deeper link between the person sitting on these chairs, and the cultures they represent. They allow individuals to experience cultural identity through the simple act of sitting.
In light of the previously described Non-Places, where there is little cultural context, this is very interesting to me. It made me reflect on how the lack of cultural representation in spaces like the subway contribute to feelings of detachment and anonymity.
Investigating the cultural context of Glasgow, I found out that 11.5% of the population belongs to Black and Minority Ethnic groups almost three times the proportion found in Scotland overall. Successfully integrating immigrants into local communities is often combined with challenges. Social interaction plays an important role to the process of integration. It is through meaningful social contacts and the environment that enables these interactions that people develop a sense of belonging within a specific social space.
Inspired by Guarnaccia’s approach I began to consider how sitting could be reimagined to foster greater cultural connection and community engagement in Glasgow’s Subway System.
Seating is not just an act of rest – it is, among other things, an act of connection. Across cultures, sitting is a universal gesture, and yet, it highlights our profound differences. As Guarnaccia suggests, sitting brings us toge- ther while revealing the cultural nuances that shape how we experience the world. In my intervention, connections are created in an everyday life environment.
Between ourselves and others, with the objects that shape our behavior, and with the cultures of the ethnic minorities who inhabit our public spaces. Building on this, I want to deepen the physical and psychological connection between body and chair, by challenging traditional postures and eventually create emotions. Because as my research has shown, through posture we explore our relationships with space, power, and connection. The positioning of a seat, the angle of a body – all these elements shape how we relate to each other and the space we occupy.
This space does not propose solutions for practical problems, nor is it intended to be implemented in real life. Instead, it stands as a conceptual manifesto – an invitation to rethink how we connect with others, with different cultures, with ourselves, through the simple act of sitting.
Based on the research and Design of CCC I introduce two conceptual interventions embedded in the space of the Glasgow Subway. One is inspired by Guarnaccia’s design for the China chairr, the other is influen- ced by his chair for Nigeria/Africa – these countries represent two of the three biggest ethnic minority groups in Glasgow (Pakistan would be the third). By incorporating these cultures into the design of the liminal space, I aim to counteract the anonymity of non-places and introduce a sense of identity.
In my thesis, I have explored the impact of chairs in shaping posture, emotions, and social interactions. From analyzing cases like “A Basic Instinct” to examining power settings like Napoleons throne room, my study reveals that chairs are more than functional items—they act as extensions of our bodies, shaping how we physically and emotionally engage with our surroundings and help us in creating connections.
As Auge describes, creating meaningful connections in our fast-pacing world, whether with people, ourselves, cultures, or the environments we interact with, are becoming increasingly rare. My Utopian Intervention aims to counteract these negative impacts of Non-Places and codes the space with cultural links.
Throughout my research, I became increasingly aware of the depth that the topic of chairs holds. Historically, culturally, functionally, philosophically, socially etc. In my project, I try to touch on a few of these topics. However, I acknowledge that it might have been more effective to narrow down my focus to one aspect, such as delving only into the connection between sitting and culture, or exploring more deeply how postures affect our emotions and behavior.
If I had more time and were to continue the project, I would try to support and further develop my theories with real-life experiments.
I also didn’t explore the negative aspects of sitting and the health issues that can arise from prolonged sitting.38 This is another area that could be developed further in the concept – designing a system for the subway that promotes health by balancing between sitting and standing.