The big challenge for architects designing concert halls is to design the architectural acoustics to meet the needs of varying musical styles. (1)

WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM CONCERT HALL DESIGN

The design challenge of a concert hall is at first glance contradictory — to foster closeness and, yet, to surround listeners with the life and essence of a music’s sound.

Different levels of intimacy and aliveness vary depending on music style. What makes this even more...

WHY CHANGE NOW?

Did you know that school design has not substantially changed over the past 200 years? (1) Well, school architecture is undergoing some significant changes now, and computers are a big reason why. The following is an excerpt from Tomorrow’s Schools, by Jackie Craven, to highlight this point…

The Shape of Things To Come In tomorrow’s classrooms, students no longer need to face a podium, teacher’s desk or writing board. Learning...

IT ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE

I discovered a site that has a thought-provoking section on workplace by design. Read this introductory quote to get you thinking about workplace design and what principles you use to create healthy and productive work environments.

The workplace today is a result of historical innovations that were designed to make the workplace a productive environment. However the world of work continues to change, and the design factors that once were helpful are...

YOUR CUSTOMIZED HOTEL ROOM

I came upon an interesting post that got me thinking about the future of hotel design — and hospital architecture…

Chris Brogan, a social media expert, describes his ideas in this post: Ideas for Hotels and Hospitality. He merges his knowledge of social networking with making efficient use of time during his hotel stays — his ideas seem to revolve around productivity, comfort and individual preferences.

I’m especially...

LIBRARY EVOLUTION

As data is being “stored” and “networked” in the digital age, some people question the future of library architecture. Two leading questions are as follows:

• “How will the library evolve?
• “Will the library (as we know it today) become obsolete?”

Most present-day libraries help to foster a sense of community with an emphasis on learning where people can interact, explore, study and research. However, the library is evolving (as...

All architecture is shelter, all great architecture is the design of space that contains, cuddles, exalts, or stimulates the persons in that space. — Philip Johnson

WHAT IS GREAT ARCHITECTURE?

Buildings are all over the place, but not all buildings are architecture. In the above quote, Philip Johnson talks about the point where a building becomes great architecture, taking an occupant to another level where a space actually “touches” a person....

Over the years, workplace design has evolved to become more and more flexible. Today, we see the workplace not only as a space in which to execute given tasks, but also as a place in which to interact, communicate and foster creativity. Different work environments call for a variety of different needs; and, one thing seems to be most consistent — design for flexibility.

DON’T FORGET THESE FEATURES

The article entitled “Design for the Changing Workplace” does...

Texture has long been used by architects to breathe life into buildings as well as to create a unique experience for occupant’s senses. Expressing the true quality of materials, shaping an interior space or simply to articulate a pattern; texture is a fundamental tool existing to some extent in most all buildings – both good and bad.

The question becomes — how do you use it in your architectural design?

AN EXPERIENCE FOR ALL THE SENSES

Texture can be used...

Architecture usually tries to achieve some sort of design balance, whether asymmetrical or symmetrical. In the midst of the design process, do architects consider certain laws or theories as relating to how humans perceive? Yes, architecture must take into account all of the senses – but can theories, like the Gestalt Principles, highlight why design works the way it does?

For instance, when viewing a building from almost all distances and perspectives, the observer may...

Many sources today are writing about a renaissance of the “scientific revolution” in architecture – where architecture is once again influenced by science via its theories and findings. In the Seed Magazine article, “Architecture’s Scientific Revolution”, five examples are illustrated to show modern architectural designs that have been influenced by science. (1) So, where do we stand today?

It is important to not settle on simply...