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The Sketchbook – A Tool For Exploration + Discovery:

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Sketchbook Tool For Exploration + Discovery

Its fascinating how a hand made drawing can become so rich in information and convey important details, or ideas that an electronic drawing can never do. The sketchbook is simply a vital tool in which helps us (human beings) understand. There is something profound that occurs when a simple sketch engages the human mind to convey an idea(s). It’s a  flexible tool, that is often underutilized. In this blog, I briefly provide a case study of how this is used in our work, and how it sets the stage for creating a meaningful design.

A Case Study:

A recent project which entailed a major renovation project for an existing two story home, built in the 1950’s. Was nestled on a beautiful 1 acre sloping lot, with several areas of mature elm and box elder trees. The client wanted to add an addition for a formal dinning room, and additional storage. After our initial consult, I developed a plan of the existing home which documented the existing conditions. But at this point, the existing floor plan document information gained from the site reconnaissance was utilized to develop a sketch of the existing floor plan. At this stage, the sketch serves as a way to organize existing data in a flexible way. coupled with the existing plan, the sketch was utilized to create a schematic diagram that could be used to meaningfully create grand sweeping changes and alterations long before the formal planning began.

Sketch First, and Seek to Understand:

The Project is a good case study as it reflects the typical garden variety of homes that have a very similar entrance, and often, multiple entryways with mixed messages about which is the main entry. In addition, there is a predictable individual rigid room layout and function. In addition to the disjointed floor plan, the home had the three car garage out front and center, and gave very little thought to how this non-livable area was allowed to take over the home and become a prominent feature. 

With that said, the sketch book became an vital tool that helped to establish new ideas as an overlay of the existing home. Establishing how the existing home currently functions (or not)  as well as begin to set the stage and ideas of how things can be improved. The value of the sketch quickly becomes apparent when several iterations are required. This also serves as a gradual step in leading to a schematic drawing phase. Building your understanding through the flexibility of this sketch, subtly and deliberately creates a basis by which ideas can come to light. It builds a meaningful framework. Its not something that is just arbitrarily established.

The Sketch Engages Our Thinking:

Another important aspect of the sketch is found in the way it engages our thinking and ability to work through a rational and ordered process. We sketch to engage our thinking and understanding. We first seek to understand what the problem is. And the sketch is a tool that helps us do that. It identifies problem(s) very easily.  Sketching encourages exploration and discovery because of the ease in which sweeping changes can be made and analyzed. Perhaps most important, It can create value driven solutions and opportunities to enhance.

Another important aspect of the sketch process can be found in taking time to think through how it currently functions, and what you may actually like. It serves as an analytical tool to identify and prioritize a future design. As each project is unique, so to, the ability to have your sketch tool become a way to identify what’s important.

A Sketch Convey’s a Thousand Words:

The goal of many projects is primarily about improvement of some kind. The sketch book helps in this process from the start. In fact, there is a fascinating mental process that takes place when the mind takes paper and pencil and begins to envision and create. This is completely unlike anything our digital media tools provide. Its unique to the sketchbook itself.  

The sketch book provides a simple but thoughtful process that not only captures what you observe, it engages our mind to begin the process of creating meaningful change. Even more, the cost of this effort up front is such a minimal investment compared to the lost opportunity of not utilizing this tool —  should encourage everyone to start small, with a simple sketch, and use it as a tool for exploration and discovery.

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A Planning Process

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A Simple but Valuable Planning Process:

Developing the architectural design for a home or most any project, requires a process that helps you navigate through a diverse array of decisions. This is especially true when having to coordinate among various stakeholders. This post will focus on a brief overview, to help navigate your project to completion. And establish a simple but needed process.

Good Design Requires Careful Thought:

Often, our initial ideas fall short, and it is not until they are refined and expanded upon that they become worth perusing. This is precisely where planning can become such a wonderful tool of exploration and discovery. Planning provides a way to work through ideas and begin the process of setting a course. It also helps to refine ideas over time and perhaps reveal challenges that need resolution or expose risk. Discovering challenges early can save time and money. A great way to begin, includes forming the building program and functional requirements. This engages a thought process and exposes many facets. Working through your program, will establish the preliminaries. Unfortunately, many homes that are mass produced will by-pass this planning stage. Often it is said to plan is costly! We say to not plan is even more so. And the one size fits all philosophy falls far short of meeting the needs of human beings. It is ironic that in an age of mass produced widgets, that promised low cost and mass production would become so expensive! Can the cost of not falling short of human centric needs even be calculated?   

Only after a good understanding of the building program and client expectations are understood, can the designer begin the next phase of exploring ideas, and possible solutions. But remember, it’s all contingent upon a specific program, which BTW must include the site, and budget requirements, etc. The process leads to clarity and adds value to the project by way of thoughtful development. This planning process provides the initial steps, but also  develops and organizes the building objectives and goals; providing clarity.  Through this planning process, the project starts a dialogue or story of whats important, and where we want to take this project. ( BTW, this planning process alone, can far and above exceed a design professionals fee for the entire project.)

Hiring an architect for your residential project may not be possible for everyone. However, it can be beneficial on many levels, to seek council at minimum on initial planning ideas and assessment. The architect’s experience and ability to think holistically and work through various solutions beyond just the standard stock plan approach, helps the client achieve greater efficiencies that are simply not achieved with a factory assembly line process. This also provides the client with site specific solutions that are infinity more valuable than an arbitrary process that seems to serve modern production needs and machines than it does human beings! 

A Case Study Example:

By way of a simple example, If the architect can design a residential plan operate more efficiently, even by 100sf, that can represent a major cost savings, In the case were a  building cost is $250/sf, that can be a $25,000 savings! (using a very conservative building cost value.) This is a tiny example, however it provides a clear advantage in designing a home. In addition, aligning the extensive array of various functions with the design, provides solutions that are harmonious and well thought out. The potential to serve a homeowner through a formal design process provides many a great advantages, even if it is just a simple planning document. Winston Churchill said, “We shape our buildings and thereafter they shape us.”  Our building infrastructure has an effect on our emotional and physical needs as humans. Both the hight, the width and the depth of which all come to play a vital part.   

When a schematic plan is developed, it establishes a process in which you are able to order your goals and objective. As ideas are developed, and greater levels of information can be established this can serve as a preliminary cost estimation tool. A building contractor can review these documents and provide preliminary cost estimates, based on specific square footage and design parameters. It’s a great way to gauge your budget and the cost implications at an early stage. This can also facilitate effective revisions long before the project is built.  

Another aspect or benefit of using a design process led by an architect, establishes a framework to evaluate all the applicable building codes. This is specifically about mitigating risk, and establishing a clear path before the construction process starts. In short, this is not only about the design, it is about creating a project that is healthy and one that has substantial value; creating incredible experiences.

Utilizing an Architect to Help Plan:

Like soo many things in life, success comes with vision and a plan. Having a design process in place can greatly help in clarify objectives and create meaningful goals. It is also interesting how setting out on a journey to create something, can lead to discovery and improvement. There is quite unique and speaks to the extraordinary yet simple process of planning. As an architect, I can help many a clients to begin the process and help envision the project; even starting with the end in mind. In short, with no guide, chaos quickly ensues and will undermine any project. The process that leads to bringing ideas and concepts together in a meaningful way, can and will help make the dreams a reality. It’s important that the client has an advocate and advisor to balance the art with the science of building. 

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