![]() They can also weather and transform over time, settling into their place within the surrounding landscape. These materials can all withstand the elements to varying degrees. But over time, they can be significant and transform the appearance of the structure in such a way that the transformation becomes part of the structure’s existence.Ĭoncrete, stone, wood, and metal. In the short term, the effects of sun, wind, rain, snow, and wind may be negligible. Timeless design not only lives in harmony with its surroundings, it also responds to it. For if the intervention is to find its place, it must make us see what already exists in a new light.” It is essential to the quality of the intervention that the new building should embrace qualities which can enter into a meaningful dialogue with the existing situation. I have a passionate desire to design such buildings, buildings that, in time, grow naturally into being a part of the form and history of their place.Įvery new work of architecture intervenes in a specific historical situation. ![]() ![]() They make the impression of being a self-evident part of their surroundings and they seem to be saying: “I am as you see me and I belong here.” These buildings appear to be anchored firmly in the ground. And yet it is virtually impossible to imagine the place where they stand without them. We do not pay any special attention to it. “To me, the presence of certain buildings has something secret about it. Peter Zumthor in his 1988 Lecture at SCI-ARC called “A Way of Looking at Things” and later summarized in Thinking Architecture, describes how some buildings fit into their places in such a way that they themselves become part of their surroundings: There’s always a context in which it is situated and with which a relationship is established. We study the local context, the colors of the changing seasons, and the relationship that the new structure wants to have with the land because a structure never exists in isolation. Instead, we intentionally incorporate their presence into the story of our design by showcasing them either by framing views to them or creating usable exterior spaces under them. ![]() Rather than clearing and leveling the entire site, we’re deliberate in the siting of the home to keep the natural terrain and to avoid removing healthy mature trees. We often feel that the site “speaks to us” and tells us what the structure wants to be, where it wants to be on the site, and how it wants to be. An early site analysis reveals many things about the site. In our custom home design process, every project begins with an understanding of the location and the site’s unique qualities. The choice of colors, textures, and materials can camouflage a home into its surroundings or highlight colors of nearby flora, vegetation, or rock formations. it blurs the boundary with the exterior, strengthing its connection with the place.Ī home’s material palette further places the building in harmony with its place. With well-positioned sightlines, the home showcases the essence of its setting. It responds to its surroundings and site features whether by blending into the terrain or standing above it and whether its footprint dodges cherished trees or it’s perfectly positioned to frame distant views of the mountain peaks. You know a building connects to its location when you can’t imagine it anywhere else. What are Qualities of Timeless Design? Timeless Design Has a Strong Sense of Place It has a sense of permanence and honesty that makes it feel authentic – deepening our appreciation and connection to it time and time again. Over time, its materials transform and weather, becoming part of the character of the home. It’s thoughtful, intentional, and functionally works now and into the future. Meaning, the home seems to belong right where it is and you can’t imagine it anywhere else. Christopher Alexander in The Timeless Way of Building identified this quality as being ‘organic’ and originating from within us, yet he could not describe it simply with words.Ī home with a timeless design has a strong sense of place which is reflected in its geometry, material usage, historical context, and connection to its surrounding landscape. They evoke a visceral feeling of admiration and appropriateness. But the emotional charge we get from buildings that are made out of something – that are thoughtful – is a good one.įor reasons we can’t fully put into words, we find ourselves emotionally drawn to certain homes. Today, the emotional charge we get from the quick development of strip malls, urban sprawl, and spec housing is a very negative one. Timeless design is something designed with intention and to endure time.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |