lateral thinking volume 4Studio BArchitects

Welcome to Studio B’s fourth newsletter.

At the early stages of a project we develop a vision for a building and its spaces and then share it with our client. “Vision” is defined as sight and several other things including:

• Anticipation• Imaginative conception• Appearing vividly to the mind

Let’s take a look at how these impact the project as architect and client.

Vision

Where Do We Start?Our clients often ask for a building to meet their needs and invite us to use our skills to design it. They know what they need and provide a descriptive brief setting out what they want to achieve If no brief exists we can help to put the clients requirements into words.

However in other cases, our client is simply aware that they have a problem that may be solved by a new building or alterations. In such cases we work with the client to identify their goals and assist them to prepare a feasibility study before considering whether a building project would meet their needs.

What Do We Do Next?We gather all the knowledge that we can about the clientʼs needs and business or mission goals, about the site, the planning constraints, the sustainability opportunities, the neighbourhood context, the microclimate and sun path, the adjoining buildings, the street and approach, the external spaces that would be created between new and adjoining buildings together with of course, the clientʼs specific needs for spaces and the best linkages between these.

As we consider all of these things we put them together and start the design investigation. We bring our training and experience to imagine how users of the new or

altered building will use it and how they will best relate to one another.

This is the start of our visioning process. We use drawings, sketches, plans, models, spreadsheets and words to help us build and review the design as we develop it. This is an evolving process as we “see inside” the developing solution. This process of design, modelling and fresh understanding continues as we develop the vision (imaginative conception).

What Else Influences The Vision?Many things can influence the design process including philosophy (the designers view of life), the clientʼs

We developed a clear understanding of the Salvation Army client’s needs, sustainability principles and the site opportunities before arriving at the sketch on the left.

The current plan on the right has been a logical development from this concept

declared preferences, an appreciation of art, architecture or sculpture, cultural experiences and the value we place on caring for the planet. In this practice, Jonathan collects art works and enters architectural competitions, Sergey sketches and builds models whilst Fred enjoys photography, graphics and exploring good architecture. These, together with the importance we place on the relationships between future users of our buildings, influence the projects we design.

How Do Clients Visualise?Following this architects need to move from the design process to a presentation process. This enables a

dialogue to take place with the client. Each aspect of the concept design and the reasoning behind it has now to be conveyed to the client. 3D computer modelling and physical models may be used to assist the conversation. This requires the architectʼs time and is therefore a cost to the client in the fee. The client needs to be able to understand the plans, images and description to see the building that the architect has conceived. Beyond this the client needs to go further and anticipate how this building will serve their needs. The architect needs to be able to explain to the client how they expect this to work.

Ideally, the client needs to be open to receive the vision from the architect. A forward thinking agenda set by the client or client team is a boon for the project and the client should ask to be taken, by the architect, to a place of understanding about the design. They can then question and be critical so that together with the architect they can reach the best solution.

A building project is a big investment and needs to serve generations of future users. It deserves a thorough conception process so that it appears ʻvividly to the mindʼ long before construction starts.

Next month: Sustainability and refurbishing heritage buildings (as requested).

Fred BattertonStudio B Architects tel 03 9486 4425www.studiob.net.au

3D CAD modelling of St Alfred’s church allows clients to see inside and visualise how a building will be organised.

This project for St John’s church allowed for multi-purpose use by different client groups during the week. These illustrations show to the client different configurations that will be possible in the enlarged building.

lateral thinking volume 4