Essay

Featured Image Takeaway Design Strategy:

There are many aspects within architecture that designers currently take for granted simply because they have been done the same way for so long. While there is reason and need to meet proper building codes and other regulations, I still do think it is good for a design to question even those aspects which seem to not need questioning. Take for instance Carlo Scarpa’s stair, where his design redefines how one might think of and use a stair — where each step, left and right, moves you upward along its path. When encountering such an innovation in design, just imagine what your occupants might think and feel as they travel through. For instance, is such a Scarpa stair preparing them as an entrance would? Or could it be an exit from a memorable building experience? The main idea is to challenge the assumptions which you take for granted, to not always let yourself settle into that “default” way of thinking, and to open up opportunities for you to explore ways in which to enrich your occupants’ experiences as they journey through your building.

To Apply This Strategy, Ask Yourself:

HOW CAN I USE EVERYDAY ASPECTS WITHIN ARCHITECTURE LIKE STAIRS, DOORS, CORRIDORS, ETC. DIFFERENTLY SO THAT TOGETHER THEY CREATE A UNIFIED AND INNOVATIVE ARCHITECTURAL EXPERIENCE THAT MAY ALLOW THEM TO USE MORE OF THEIR SENSES AS THEY GO ABOUT THEIR ACTIVITIES WITHIN MY DESIGN? AND HOW DOES OCCUPANT BEHAVIOR HELP ME TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX WHEN STRIVING TO COME UP WITH SUCH INNOVATIVE ARCHITECTURAL AND EXPERIENTIAL SOLUTIONS?

Image Caption: Carlo Scarpa, Palazzo Steri Entrance

Image Credit: © seier+seier | Flickr