Archive for the ‘design process’ Category

Take the Time to Understand Site and Context

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

“It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.”
-James Thurber

Our office is located in downtown Santa Barbara and we have a very nice view of the mountains from our second floor downtown location. If you’re in the area, feel free to stop by for a visit to experience it first hand. Prior to moving in, we spent some time measuring the empty office, assessing the views from the office and even documenting the views to the office from the street level below. We then made a computer model of the empty room, did some initial layout sketches and tested furniture/desk layouts using our 3D modeling software. We followed the computer modeling with a rough mock-up of our favorite arrangements in the actual office space. When we confirmed the layout we wanted, we went shopping for the furniture and had our lighting and electrical services installed.

Okay, so you may be asking why this is important to understanding your site. It basically describes the design process on a small scale and in a compressed time frame. Moreover, it demonstrates the importance of working with a site or, in our case, an existing wall configuration. Our layout is the direct result of dealing with all of the opportunities and constraints of a specific location. We didn’t force a solution. We let the solution develop from all of the information available to us.

Analyzing the site conditions provides a thorough description of site features such as views, existing access paths, sunlight, prevailing winds, a myriad physical features and contextual conditions such as neighboring properties. It balances the constraints of the existing conditions with the requirements of the project design goals. By documenting this information on a site survey we have an overall context to the various site features and constraints. Once documented on the survey, this information is used in conjunction with our client’s goals to come up with a variety of design solutions relating to the site features and topography. While we work to take advantage of featured elements of the site, ultimately analysis allows for the transformation of site constraints into design opportunities. We often find that this early analysis also helps to minimize the extensive and costly effects of site grading by developing solutions that work with the existing conditions.

The overall benefit; a design that has an intimate relationship with site while also being respectful of the existing conditions. It’s an important first step for any size project.

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The Importance of Being a Good Listener

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.”-Ralph Nichols

Architecture is problem solving. Precisely what the problem is varies from project to project. It could be as complex a problem as an urban renewal project or as simple as a request for a functional seating arrangement. It’s about setting goals for the project and then setting out to find the best solution to achieve those goals. Understanding the project goals, referred to as the ‘design problem’, is key to providing competent design solutions. That said, understanding the project goals takes more than just a statement of functional requirements. It requires the skills of good designer and more importantly, the skills of a good listener. For this reason, it is important to take the time to listen to clients early in the design process; focusing on client goals, expectations, likes and dislikes, unique lifestyle needs, experiences with the design/construction process, desired involvement in the design process, and other unique qualities of the project. Information is obtained in a variety of formats during this  early information gathering phase of the design process, including; magazine clippings, product cut sheets, hand sketches, lifestyle needs, anecdotal stories, travels, etc. From these various sources, our job is to develop the design problem, helping to define the project goals in terms of function, aesthetics and lifestyle needs. As an example, a magazine clipping of a brightly lit kitchen and highly detailed cabinetry tells us a lot about formality, placement, comfort expectations, social importance, and workspace expectations.

It is not enough to simply listen. A good listener is also an engaged questioner and we never hesitate to ask questions about our clients needs. The purpose is to get to the root of client’s design goals whether they be style, function or emotion. Going back to the magazine clipping of a kitchen cited above, we might respond with a series of questions to understand what our client finds appealing about the image – what about this particular kitchen do they like? Sometimes it’s simply the drawer layout, sometimes the response has more to do with a functional need and nothing to do with the style. Whatever the response, the key is to help our clients get to the root of their goals for the project, large or small.

The benefits of spending time as a good listener aren’t solely for the benefit of the owner. We find it incredibly helpful to our working relationship with our client. Taking the time to listen establishes a sense of trust between us and our clients while also establishing a level of open and honest communication between the members of the design team.

Ultimately, it’s about developing a design solution that combines the client’s objectives with our professional experience in a collaborative relationship built on trust and honest communication. It’s a key component to providing design that are responsive to our client’s needs. For us, being an attentive listeners is the first step.

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