A thread for whinging about minor quirks in interior design

Because apparently we don't have one and I am waiting in a bar and want to complain about the lack of brass rail or footrests for the bar stools. You wouldn't think they would be so important but it turns out it is shitty ergonomics and it's ruining an otherwise great bar, although one with moor barstools than anything else.

The fact that they used to have the light switch at the top of the lamp base, under the shade. It has ever been thus. But now they put the switch on the lead at an inconsistent distance from the bottom of the base so now you have to footer around behind a sideboard or a table or wherever the switch happens to be. WORSE they do it with floor lamps too so I have to reach under my couch with my foot and press a button with my toe (it's a raised sofa on legs) to switch the damn standard lamp off. My mum has mobility problems and can't even reach the stupid floor button on hers so it's *always* on!

Backlit electronics (specifically the screen of the weather station I recently bought) which, though it thoughtfully dims automatically at night, is still overly bright enough to read by and has to be banished from the bedroom.

I hate bathroom sinks with lots of flat counter space surrounding the basin, as in my new apartment. Almost every time you use it puddles form all around the counter area. I've had to lay a hand towel on one area beside the basin to collect errant water, but then the towel quickly gets soaking wet and gross. And if you forget to wipe the counter dry every time you might lean into the sink and get your upper thigh area wet from the standing water.

Not really a gripe but I don't know where to put this obsessively comprehensive article on the history and design of theme restaurants.

https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/the-death-of-flair/

jed_ : https://www.safewise.com/blog/5-best-remote-control-electrical-outlets/ ?

At my work, the main door is security locked and you have to hit a button to open it from the inside to go out. Except the button is on the wall on the left - nowhere near the door handle, which is way over on the right, so you do this awkward button-whack then swing across to push the door open. Why didnt they put the button on the other side of the wall, *right next to the door handle* ?

Ha, yes, that collectors weekly article is fantastic.

Trayce we have the same thing in a few places I've worked and even in residential buildings. I have no idea why the design convention seems to be thus.

Our button is on the right while the door we use is on the left.

HOWEVER, there's a motion sensor above us... somewhere... that unlocks the door... maybe 65% of the time.

http://www.locksmithledger.com/article/10611828/code-requirements-for-electromagnetic-locks

• A sensor must be mounted on the egress side to detect an occupant approaching the doors. Doors must unlock upon a signal from the sensor or loss of power to the sensor.
• Loss of power to the lock must unlock the doors.
• A manual unlocking device (push button) shall result in direct interruption of power to the lock – independent of the access control system electronics. When the push button is actuated, the doors must remain unlocked for 30 seconds minimum. The push button must include signage stating “Push to Exit” and must be located 40” to 48” vertically above the floor and within 5’ of the doors. Ready access must be provided to the push button.

Well the designers for my office ignored most of that. Every single floor of our building has a glass sliding door opens whilst the opposite glass panel blocks half of the corridor from the lifts. On every single floor he security. Are reader and emergency release are on the wall next to the fixed panel.

Having worked on a commercial building and reviewed plans it is almost impossible to get the numbskulls who design the doors to talk with the numbskulls who design the electrical systems. If you don't watch them like a hawk your building will be full of stupid shit like this. The architects ought to be pulling this all together but all but 1% of commercial architects are frustrated that they aren't the 1% of architects who get to be Richard Rogers or Zaha Hadid, and are completely unsuited to managing details that end up mattering to people who have to use the building.

Anyway, we should have a seperate thread about collectors weekly is it is a a treasure trove of obsessively comprehensive articles about the minutea of life. There was a great one about the automat and similar restaurants linked from the bottom of that article that was similarly fascinating.

what I took from that locksmithledger explainer was that since the international code only requires a height range and a distance range, the contractors are only going to meet those requirements and ergonomics be damned. and as you point out the parties with the necessary influence to get the contractors to do better, i.e. the architects, are bothered with far bigger issues, like wibbly profiles and museum competitions.

Ready access must be provided to the push button.

it depends on the interpretation of this requirement!

The sensor is installed above the two doors.

However, I just figured out why it has a 65/100 rate: Since the right door is locked, most people come from the left side to exit. The sensor - directed at the area in front of where the two doors meet - doesn't sense any movement when people slide up from the side.

This would also explain its ultra-annoyance: Finally "clicking" the lock open when someone reaches (across the sensor) to push the Exit button on the right wall.