[GSBN] earthen floors (resilience)

[Chris Magwood]

Literal resilience, as measured deflection, is not really where the 
smiley sensation is coming from, I think.

Earthen floors have a unique surface texture and density and level of 
conductivity, and it is this that imparts the feeling of "softness". And 
because the floors are handcrafted they tend to be less than perfectly 
flat. The human foot was not really designed to operate on perfectly 
flat surfaces, and so this adds to the feeling underfoot. Stone and 
concrete tend to feel cold, which is nice on warm days and a lot less so 
when it's cold. Softwood floors also tend to get smiley raves, 
especially older, well-worn softwood floors. They are cupped, dented and 
less thermally conductive, and that combo seems to sit (or stand) well 
with most people.

I'm glad my earthen floors don't literally squish, and equally glad that 
they make my feet squishy happy!


On 12-01-09 7:50 PM, RT wrote:
>
> I would venture that an argument could be made that the barefoot 
> tactile delight one experiences  has more to do with having removed 
> one's shoes or perhaps the floor temperature (ie cool during the hot 
> months, warm during the cold months) than it does a particular floor 
> material.
>
> But you won't catch me trying to make that argument here. Nosirreebob.
>

-- 
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