Think Like an Interior Designer
In Tuesday’s lecture about Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander, we discussed how modern architects have failed society because they try to solve problems without understanding why they are not working. For example, decisions about where furniture goes are as much architecture as designing the envelope. When one thinks about a bedroom, one should think about how it is going to be used. It is hard for me to believe that this is not the way that all architects think about design because my background is in interior design, so I have always approached a design problem from a user-centered point of view. Designing to allow for creativity demands a lot of imagination, so architecture needs to be complex and thoughtful.
I also find it hard to believe that architects don't try to put themselves in the place and think if it makes sense. My parents are actually going through this problem now with a new house they bought. Even though it's double the square footage, the way things were laid out and the wall space makes for little room for the things they had in the smaller house.
ReplyDeleteI also am surprised that architects and designers don't think through a space from the user's point of view. I always find myself envisioning how the space will be for the end user and that usually results in a logic that is applied to the design and layout of the space.
ReplyDeleteWe're talking about some of this in my programming and predesign course and in some ways it's almost the opposite of what you'd expect. When architects or planners try to think too much about the specifics and details too early, they design spaces that are too specialised and lack the flexibility to make them fit what the users need and want. Spaces should be designed more flexibly to allow for adaptability and customisability by the user, and there should be collaboration early in the process between architects, planners, and interior designers so no one gets overly constrained.
ReplyDeleteElla, I agree with your comment here. It's easiest to relate this to residential design, and I faced a difficult moment when designing a floor plan for my sister's future house. In the living room, where would the tv go? And how would the furniture be arranged around it? This conversation happened right after the first pass of the design. It's ultimately their house, but what they want now may change in 5 or 10 years? So, how do you prevent making spaces too restricted and specialized?
DeleteI have recently been watching short clips where people submit pictures of a room and the content creator shares how he would organize the space. It is surprising just how many of these spaces don't function well unless one very specific layout, found by a professional, is used. Even then, some of the spaces still have awkward things about them.
ReplyDeleteI also find it interesting that a user focused approach is not considered common. However, I do think that in architecture school the aesthetics are pushed more than the use. You could go a whole semester thinking your program and circulation make sense for the users and instead spend your time making a perfectly articulated facade, only to be called out during a final review that something in your building is not user friendly.
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