Journal of Spatial Futures

Journal of Spatial Futures

Blog Article

Abstraction of Colorful Light

Can a Building Impact Lifestyle Design?

Architectural Design

I often use the term “lifestyle design” when thinking about the design of architecture. By this, I mean that architecture holds within it a great power to uplift the way humans live their daily lives — and it is “lifestyle” which is directly connected to human health, happiness and spirit.

Although many factors must be considered, architecture is ultimately for the occupant. And it is up to the architect to provide real and meaningful value for them.

When you stop to think about all of the things that make up an occupant’s lifestyle, the list is quite overwhelming. In many ways, simply understanding what your occupant really needs is an art. Translating those needs into a wonderful design takes a lot of ingenuity and forethought.

Asking the Right Questions will Guide You toward the Right Solutions

What I challenge you to do is to take their needs, in all of their complexity, and solve for them by incorporating and targeting their lifestyle. How can you improve it? What do you need to change about it? What do they want to change? What do they love about it? And so on.

Hone your ability to ask the right questions. Know where to look for answers and what other global or cultural factors to consider when making your designs not only work, but work extremely well.

With each design decision you can ask — What is the “real architectural value” for occupants? How can you, as an architect, make sure that your designs are providing real value (going way beyond those important regulations and requirements)? And how can you rise above building “constraints” to really push toward a design that holds within it great architectural progress and meaning?

Know when you have found the right solutions. Know when to add complexity and when to simplify. The key is to unleash a building design that not only impacts lifestyle design, but improves it.

Image Caption: Salk Institute. / Image Credit: © TheNose | Flickr

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JOIN OVER 6200+ SUBSCRIBERS OF:


DESIGN FUTURECAST


Plus, get the

Sensory Design Guide

On the 24 Laws of Architectural Perception


SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE


Join DESIGN FUTURECAST to get special VIP Access to Maria Lorena Lehman's design guide, podcast, and newsletter including news of her latest art and design works, book publications, creative design processes, new inspirations, teaching resources, and upcoming exhibitions.


All delivered directly to your email inbox.

Advisory

Unlock world-class design insight, strategy, and refinement through personalized advisory offerings that help architects, designers, and futurists elevate their work into iconic, future-shaping legacies.
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Advisory

Unlock world-class design insight, strategy, and refinement through personalized advisory offerings that help architects, designers, and futurists elevate their work into iconic, future-shaping legacies.
Rotating Quantum Key
Futuristic Portal Image

Advisory

Unlock world-class design insight, strategy, and refinement through personalized advisory offerings that help architects, designers, and futurists elevate their work into iconic, future-shaping legacies.
Rotating Quantum Key
Futuristic Portal Image