Essay

Featured Image Takeaway Design Strategy:

When you design your architecture, give attention to the way you engage neighboring buildings. Pay attention to the proximity between your building and theirs, and find ways to respond — whether by using contrast, juxtaposition, or paralleling. Also, give attention to the surrounding culture and context where your building will reside. Understand problem areas that neighboring buildings create for the community, for you may try to solve for those with your design. Also, note that the distance between your building and the next can speak volumes. Pay attention to what you do with this voided space — by determining how it will be used. In other words, don’t let the in-between spaces detract from your building design.

To Apply This Strategy, Ask Yourself:

It is important to ask yourself: What are the unique contextual relationships that contribute to what my building needs to become? Also, ask yourself about where the neighboring building fell short in their design. Notice what worked and what didn’t work for them. But do note that you are not to copy their design solution. Rather, you are meant to be aware of it as you design your building, factoring it into your solution by choosing to purposefully create a design response, whether obvious or subtle. Either way, remember that that neighboring building may not be there forever, so make your building work by standing the test of time.

‍Image Credit: © Vitorio Benedetti | Flickr