Inside Out (but not the movie)
According to the EPA, Americans spend over 90% of their time indoors, so why do we mainly design buildings from an exterior perspective? Because my background is interior design, I definitely side with Inaki Abalos, Abalos Sentkiewicz and Jose Cruz Ovalle that the interior is the Achilles heel of design. When we leave out the interior and only focus on the envelope, we are giving up the soul of what is important in architecture. My favorite example of an architect designing from the inside out is Richard Roger’s Madrid Airport – when I walked inside it took my breath away. I have always been of the opinion that architects should design from the inside out because if we are not designing for the user, then who are we designing for?
I completely agree that there is a huge need to think through space interiors. I think where projects lose their 'soul' (the interior of the building) happens at times with 'starchiect' designed buildings that are expected to have these eye-catching exteriors and a very minimalist interior. In this case, even if unspoken, I think the idea of having this eye-catching building becomes more important than designing for people. While minimalism can be done really well, I can say I have been in a building like this that felt extremely cold and unwelcoming due to the minimalist interior.
ReplyDeleteI agree that one should be designing for the user. However, I feel as though designing strictly inside out is not the only way to do it. Designing exterior walls to achieve beautiful views and natural lighting also account for a user in the space.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we should design from the inside out more, because we as humans experience architecture most directly in this way. Yes, some exterior details can draw users in, but they are not the essence of a project. Throughout school, I've become more inclined to design the interior space first, with a lens of the user rather than a birdseye drone or fancy render might capture. The starchitect approach can become distancing and neglect the practical aspects of architecture altogether.
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