Designing for Design

One topic that I found interesting from this weeks topic was the idea of designing a blank canvas for others to come in and design their own spaces. As architects, we have a unique ability to visualize and organize a space in a way that works on a functional and aesthetic level. However, it is a completely different set of tools that allow a designer to create a space with the intention of allowing other people to dictate what the space ultimately becomes. With houses, people only get to control certain elements of the design. The walls are often fixed, the kitchen is the kitchen, the bathroom is the bathroom and so on. Walter’s Way in London offered more freedom when Walter Segal designed the bones of a house and allowed the rest of the plan be determined by the user. Next 21 took this concept even further as Urban Design Studio created a building and invited other architects to create complete houses within the building.

These cases lead to an interesting discussion considering an architects role in a project. I think designing a space for it to be designed, such as Walter’s Way and Next 21, can be considered with a wide range of projects. For example, when designing a hospital, it is always necessary to consider future expansion. The options of fitting another building on the site, expanding vertically, or leaving shell space are always considered during plan but implemented 5 or more years in the future. Architects have to look at the current conditions and determine the best scenario for future expansion and then they must design with those future spaces in mind. They must design the space to be designed in the future.