Designing and building a house is a form of architecture where architects are famous for, most people would quickly assume that building a house is as simple as grabbing pictures and showing them to some carpenter would suffice. A wise home-builder such as yourself should know that it is far more complicated than that, first, you got to think about some principles to help guide your journey in defining your design problem.
Before you create your design brief, consider some ideas that will help you think better about what to write down on your list. You need to consider four (4) aspects of design using the Ancient Roman Architect Vitruvius’ description of the essential qualities of architecture – commodity, firmness, and delight.
#1. Functional Design (Commodity)
The functions of a building can cover many aspects. However, within a house, it’s primarily concerned with the functional internal planning; the size and relationship between the various spaces; provision of sensible and flexible rooms; the consideration of furniture layouts; the provision of sufficient natural light and good ventilation; and finally, practical, efficient circulation.
While the planning within the building is the primary focus, good design will also consider how the building sits on the site and how the internal spaces will relate to the external living areas and gardens.
Part of the functional aspect of a house is the climate and weather protection, consideration of the prevailing winds, rain, and sun protection.
#2. Technical Design (Firmness)
The building must be constructed to provide the enclosure and structural stability.
The technical aspects of a house design include the structure, which will support the building (floors, walls, and roof), the provision of services and how these are integrated within the structure (water, electricity, gas, drainage, air conditioning), the cladding of the building to provide protection from the elements as well as reducing the maintenance cycles.
The final aspect is buildability – a combination of the structural and cladding elements to enable the building to be built in a reasonable manner without difficult and costly construction methods.
#3. Creative Design (Delight)
These aspects include more intangible ingredients that create a sense of delight and enjoyment in living within a house.
These considerations can include maximizing attractive views, the appropriate control of sunlight, the flexibility of the internal planning for multiple uses, creating interesting and spacious interiors, the ability of the house to increase the occupant's appreciation of the natural world, including changing seasons and weather, and creating some spatial excitement for the occupants as they move through the house between the various spaces.
This also includes more aesthetic considerations such as internal and external color and material selections and the external form of the building.
#4. Civic Design
Moving on from Vitruvius’ elements of design, any building – including a house – has a public presence as it addresses the street and the neighboring buildings on the adjoining properties.
Civic design includes respect for the neighboring properties, consideration of mutual privacy, overshadowing, setbacks from boundaries, appropriate landscape treatment, plus other similar matters.
Good manners in civic building design translate into the consideration of others so that your own building does not compromise the amenities of your neighbors. This also includes how your house contributes to the streetscape.
THE DESIGN BRIEF CHECKLIST
I. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR HOME DESIGN- Outline your current situation by briefly describing your family, your family's lifestyle, or the intended lifestyle when your house is done, what improvements from the current situation are you aiming to achieve. Include each family member's hobbies, personalities, and special requirements that need to be addressed by design.
- How do you like to accommodate and entertain your guests? Are you putting up an office that you need for work and try to integrate or balance your work and family time in this home build project?
- Describe your lot or land area, where is it located and how large or big are you planning to put up in it, are there challenges that need to be addressed in your land?
II. INTERIOR & SEMI-INTERIOR SPACE REQUIREMENTS (List them)
- Number and type of living areas, any specific features?
- Dining area, casual, formal, number of chairs?
- Describe the type of kitchen you want and specific features?
- Type of pantry and how you want to use it?
- Size of laundry and specific requirements? Drying area?
- Games room, computer/study room, nursery room, home theatre?
- Study, home office, library?
- Mud room, store room, workshop, cellar?
- Number of bedrooms and sizes?
- Number of bathrooms and specific features?
- Master bedroom requirements and design features?
- Guest bedroom requirements?
- Type of stairs, desired style and look?
- Ideal ceiling heights? Do you like natural lighting options?
- Any specific electrical and/or automation system requirements?
- Any specific cooling requirements? Do you like natural cooling options?
III. EXTERIOR DESIGN & OUTDOOR SPACE REQUIREMENTS (List them)
- Describe how you would like the house to look from the street and any specific exterior design ideas or requirements? Colors and materials that you like.
- Any specific requirements for the entry or front door?
- Any specific exterior materials you do or do not want to use on the building?
- Windows – any specific requirements?
- Alfresco / BBQ area requirements?
- Swimming pool? or Lap pool?
- Front fence requirements?
- Describe the type of garden and outdoor spaces you would like and any specific design ideas?
IV. INTANGIBLE ASPIRATIONS, EXPECTATIONS, AND RESULTS
- What are the budget, timeframes, and boundaries we need to work within?
- What does your home really mean to you?
- How do you want to FEEL as you move through your new space?
- What will you need to see to know your project has been a dramatic success?
In no way that this list is complete, you can also note your architect of any other concerns like funding, cultural, religious, and other sensitive information. The design brief must be as detailed and clear as possible. The design brief that you will produce will be crucial in your Project Planning Workshop to determine your other basic project questions and help you make proper strategic decisions.
Read other articles:
- The Project Planning Workshop
- Five most essential things to know before deciding to design and build
- Best Way to have Better Control and Fast-Tract Your Project
- How Much Does Hiring an Architect Cost
- Why contracts are essential when engaging in services
- The Architect's Basic Design Service
- 7 reasons why Architects are seen as expensive and an unnecessary cost in building projects
- Philippine architecture practice and P.R.C.'s position with Civil Engineers' encroachment in the architecture profession
- Architects and Architecture: Myths vs Reality
No comments:
Post a Comment