SHOW NOTES - EPISODE 120

Episode Summary: This episode examines the critical but often overlooked principles of scale and proportion in clubhouse design, exploring why some spaces feel perfectly comfortable while others feel fundamentally wrong, and providing solutions for both new design and existing space challenges.

Key Topics Covered:

• Psychology of human-scaled environments
• Oversized space syndrome and its effects
• Cramped space crisis and member impact
• The Goldilocks principle in action
• Solutions for fixing scale problems
• Designing proper scale from the start

The Psychology of Scale:

• Human comfort zones hardwired from evolutionary environments
• Ceiling height emotional responses (oppressive vs. absurd)
• Intimidation factor in oversized spaces
• Crowding stress in undersized spaces
• Social interaction space requirements
• Cultural expectations and regional differences

Common Scale Failures:

Oversized Spaces:

• Dining rooms designed for max capacity used daily
• 6,000 sq ft dining room serving 120-160 vs. 300 capacity
• $200,000+ spent on partitions to fix wrong sizing
• Ballrooms dominating buildings used 6 times yearly
• 30-foot ceiling lobbies creating intimidation
• Acoustic problems multiplying with size

Undersized Spaces:

• 400 sq ft bars serving 60+ members during events
• Locker rooms sized for average not peak usage
• Private dining "seats 12" comfortable with only 8
• Kitchen adjacencies creating service bottlenecks
• Boardrooms without presentation/serving space

The Goldilocks Principle:

• Dining rooms comfortable at 60-70% occupancy
• Rule: 10 feet width = 1 foot additional ceiling height
• Flexible zoning instead of single large spaces
• Furniture scale matching space scale
• Sightline management controlling perceived size
• Acoustic treatments appropriate to scale

Solutions for Existing Problems:

Partition Systems:

• Modern motorized wood panels vs. 1970s folding walls
• Converting 4,000 sq ft into multiple configurations
• Glass wall systems for transparency with division

Lighting Fixes:

• Table lamps vs. overhead institutional lighting
• Using 30-40% of installed lighting capacity
• Seasonal lighting adjustments for different moods

Furniture Strategy:

• Clustering tables in conversation zones
• High-top tables creating gathering areas
• Different furniture for different functions

Aesthetic Solutions:

• Ceiling treatments visually lowering height
• Dark colors making large spaces intimate
• Light colors expanding small spaces
• Art proportioned to space scale

Design Prevention Strategies:

• Programming based on actual vs. theoretical use
• Full-scale mock-ups during design phase
• Adjacency studies for scale transitions
• Future flexibility planning
• Building systems supporting multiple configurations

Key Ratios and Guidelines:

• Dining: Comfortable at 60-70% occupancy
• Ceilings: 10:1 width-to-height starting point
• Bar areas: Plan for peak, not average usage
• Private dining: Account for service circulation
• Locker rooms: Plan for simultaneous peak usage

Warning Signs:

• Members consistently avoiding certain areas
• Staff reporting operational difficulties
• Spaces feeling empty at normal capacity
• Conversation difficulty due to acoustics
• Energy costs disproportionate to usage
• Members clustering in specific zones only

Investment Considerations:

• Partition systems: $50-200/sq ft
• Lighting renovation: $20-50/sq ft
• Ceiling treatments: $15-40/sq ft
• Furniture reconfiguration: $10-30/sq ft
• Full renovation: $100-300/sq ft

Key Insights: "Scale problems are psychological before they're physical"

"The most successful clubhouses aren't necessarily the most grand - they're the ones where every space feels exactly right for its purpose"

"Scale and proportion are invisible when done correctly - members simply feel comfortable without knowing why"

Action Items:

1. Audit spaces for typical vs. designed occupancy
2. Identify member clustering patterns
3. Test different furniture arrangements
4. Evaluate lighting for scale appropriateness
5. Consider partition solutions for oversized spaces
6. Plan mock-ups for any new construction

Connect With Us:

• Website: golfclubhousedesign.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/egcd/
• Listen on Fountain: fountain.fm/show/yzI5IQdvhrChoCRj3htR