Give the people what they want..... and what they need
Alejandro Aravena and Walter Segal both took a minimalistic approach to design the frame and utilitarian parts of a building while giving both freedom and responsibility to owners to complete their homes whatever way they chose.
Walter Segal took the approach
of creating a simple grid and use materials that can be purchased locally to
insure people can move walls and customize their homes to fit changing
needs.
Aravena had a similar approach
but did not even fully enclose half of the individual housing units. This allowed the residents to build half of
their home however they pleased.
Both approaches encourage
ownership of one’s home and creates stronger community ties among neighbors. This seems to be a creative and useful way of
design and build.
This seems to be most fitting
in residential design and build. It has
always been evident since an architect is not necessary for residential
construction anyway. There is little
doubt that those well versed in the art of architecture can design more aesthetically
and often more functionally. It begs the
question of what role architects should play in design? Are people more satisfied when they do it
themselves even though there may be many issues with their designs or
construction?
I think what Walter Segals approach is something that we should as architects attempt to implement in every project. We have to be the advocate in order to implement these things into the commercial realms.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a very interesting way to think about design. I like giving the people who actually will be inhabiting the space, the opportunity to design it how they want and how they will use it. We as architects are not in those people shoes and we dont know how they live from day to day, so what better opportunity to allow them to design it to improve the way they live.
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