Essay

Featured Image Takeaway Design Strategy:

When expressing a material through an architectural work, consider its scale and texture as somewhat dynamic. That is, as your occupant moves throughout your building, they will “read” your materials from different distances and angles, in different shades of light and shadow, and with different ability to physically touch or experience them through their other senses — like the visual, the aural or even the olfaction. Your choice in materials, and how you go about positioning them, scaling them, and giving them context, will all add up to the sum that yields your design. Think of materials beyond core functional requirements. Think of them in terms of poetics — where you can invite occupants into an experience they will find meaningful, beautiful and sensitive to their needs.

To Apply This Strategy, Ask Yourself:

HOW CAN I COMPOSE MATERIALS WITHIN MY BUILDING DESIGN IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY MAKE MY DESIGN MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS? WHAT QUALITIES ABOUT MY CURRENT MATERIALS CAN COME TOGETHER TO YIELD THIS? WHAT WILL MY BUILDING OCCUPANTS’ EXPERIENCES BE LIKE?

‍Image Caption: University Zurich Switzerland

Image Credit: © John Picken | Flickr