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Architecture Short Course: How to Develop a Design Concept
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Architecture Short Course: How to Develop a Design Concept

Introduction

The video introduces the concept of architecture and how it begins with a concept. It explains what a concept is, why it's important, and how architects develop them.

What is a Concept?

  • A concept is an idea that underpins your project.
  • It distinguishes a work of architecture from a mere building.
  • Architecture seeks to solve problems, and the questions we ask determine which problems our architecture will solve.

Developing Concepts

  • Developing a concept allows us to frame the questions we're asking and guides the design process.
  • Choosing a starting point for your design can be intimidating, but your concept shouldn't be rigorous; the more malleable it is, the better.
  • Most architecture can't be reduced to one singular concept diagram; rather it's informed by many concepts working in concert.

Understanding Practical Constraints

This section discusses practical constraints that architects must consider before developing their concepts.

Gathering Information

  • Before developing the concept, architects must first understand practical constraints.
  • There are three types of information: site information (local climate, solar aspect), client information (budget, personality traits), and building typology (museum, home or school).
  • Understanding these constraints allows architects to approach problems from fresh perspectives.

Site Inventory

  • The site inventory is the most readily translated into a physical diagram.
  • For Squid Cove project zoning, deed and setback information was transcribed onto the site plan.
  • The diagram sets real boundaries for our project such as property line setbacks and unstable bluffs that need avoiding.

Processing Information into Usable Form

This section discusses how architects process gathered information into usable forms for designing their projects.

Translating Site Inventory

  • For Squid Cove project zoning, deed and setback information was transcribed onto the site plan.
  • The diagram sets real boundaries for our project such as property line setbacks and unstable bluffs that need avoiding.
  • Solar path, prevailing wind direction, and view were added to the site inventory.

Constraints Incite Creativity

  • Constraints often incite the creative process rather than shunting creativity.
  • The concept sets the project in motion, but it can't capture the richness and depth of the finished architecture.
  • Without a concept, work is unfulfilling.

Site Constraints and Programming

In this section, the architect discusses the importance of defining site constraints early on in the design process. He also explains how programming exercises help define the size of the home and budget.

Defining Site Constraints

  • It's important to define site constraints early on in the design process.
  • A neighboring house is a constraint that needs to be avoided.
  • Diagramming these constraints on a site plan before visiting helps with information gathering.

Programming Exercises

  • The size of the home and budget are strongly interrelated.
  • Completing programming exercises helps define space requirements and rough cost estimates.
  • Diagramming relative sizes of spaces allows for overlaying them onto the site when appropriate.

Building Typology and Precedent Study

In this section, the architect discusses building typology and precedent study. He explains how knowing typology allows for reinvention and rethinking things when opportunities arise.

Building Typology

  • Knowing building typology allows for reinvention and rethinking things when opportunities arise.
  • Researching building precedents can provide an underlying framework for developing programs.

Precedent Study

  • Not discussed in detail as it is not necessary for every project.
  • Bjarke Ingells is given as an example of someone who uses typological reinvention to inspire building concepts.

Building Concepts or Parti

In this section, the architect discusses building concepts or parti. He explains how it serves as an organizing principle used as a starting point for design.

Definition of Parti

  • Parti is architect lingo for "concept."
  • It comes from French prendre parti which means "to make a decision."
  • It serves as an organizing principle used as a starting point for design.

Types of Parti

  • There are an infinite number of parti available.
  • The simplest is using the site to inspire the building concept.
  • Other factors that can inspire building concepts include views, light, topography, historical features, vegetation, and other structures.

Design Inspiration

In this section, the architect discusses how design inspiration can be derived from the site. He explains how he used the site's natural slope and view to water and solar aspect to shape early building massings.

Site as Design Inspiration

  • The site was an important progenitor of the design concept.
  • Working with the landform and exploiting the natural slope was important.
  • View to water and solar aspect became strong organizing forces that shaped early building massings.

Competing Site Factors

  • Not all problems will be solved by assuming a singular attitude toward the site.
  • For example, prevailing wind direction may compete with other ideas about positioning taller masses.

Site Concept

In this section, the speaker discusses how the site of a building can shape its design concept. The speaker explores different ideas for positioning a home on a site and how to use the site to inform material and structural concepts.

Using the Site to Shape Design

  • The hard-edged retaining walls and decks can highlight and contrast with the soft edges of the site.
  • The position of the home on top of the site could be used as a light monitor or viewing tower, or terraces could be excavated with a green roof placed on top to conceal the home.
  • The site informs other dimensions of our concept, such as material and structural concepts.

Importance of Site Concept

  • The site informs public and private spaces' organization, window placement, formal concepts, etc.
  • A good concept will always refer back to it when stuck in design problems.

Client Concept

In this section, the speaker discusses how clients drive residential architecture's design concept. They explain that successful architecture addresses client needs by taking into account their programmatic requirements.

Addressing Client Needs

  • Clients determine which spaces are most important in their program.
  • For this project, our client expressed a desire for the house to act as both a gathering place for friends and family while also accommodating seclusion and retreat from others.

Developing Concepts Based on Client Needs

  • Division of spaces into separate living and sleeping pods was inspired by clients' need for privacy during summer months when welcoming guests is common.
  • A simple way to develop a concept is to divide public and private spaces and then take a position on their relationship.

Narrative Concept

In this section, the speaker discusses how they developed a narrative concept for the project based on their client's interests and lifestyle. They explain how this concept informed the floor plans and exterior elevations later.

Developing a Narrative Concept

  • The client's interest in the outdoors and expeditions to faraway places inspired the imagery of an encampment by the sea.
  • The home was envisioned as a place for family and friends to gather, with separate living and sleeping pods providing both social gathering and private reflection as needed.

Importance of Narrative Concept

  • The narrative concept informs layers of meaning as we develop the floor plans and exterior elevations later.

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Video description

All architecture begins with a concept. If you’re struggling to find one, curious about what one is, or wondering how architects begin their projects; this short course will walk you through the process I use and some of the techniques I rely on to develop architectural concepts all illustrated with one of my residential projects. Design is a dialogue, and the concept ensures you have something to talk about. In this video I discuss the precise steps I take when beginning each project and how those steps lead me to an architectural concept. Before we can develop the concept, we have to first understand the practical constraints. My design process begins only after gathering and assessing all the given parameters for a project. Now, this primarily consists of three types of information. There’s information derived from the site - things like: local climate, the prevailing winds, the solar aspect, vegetation, neighboring structures, the site’s history, and any unique liabilities or opportunities. The site of course also comes along with legal frameworks for development, which describe where and what we can and can’t build. The second type of information we’ll gather is from the client. Every client has a set of cultural beliefs and preconceptions, preferences and agendas. Of course, we’ll want to determine their budget, and understand the personality traits and organizational politics which might also shape the design. The client and the building type together determine what architects call, “the program” which is essentially a detailed accounting of all the spaces the building will contain. And the third type of information I gather is related to the building typology – is it a museum, a home…or a school for example? To learn about a building typology we often conduct an analysis of notable or relevant historical precedents. We want to know the essential problems these types of structures grapple with. Understanding the history of the archetype allows us to approach a problem from a fresh perspective. All of this is necessary information that we collect for every project. This inventory can also serve as the progenitor for the design concept – our seed idea. And, rather than shunting creativity, these constraints often incite the creative process. Concept Inspirations Discussed: - Site - Client - Narrative - Materials - Structural - Mainifestos - Formal As with a good film, the setting, the characters, the cinematography, and the plot all conspire to make it what it is. It’s the experience you’ll recall rather than the concept per se. Sure, the concept sets the film in motion and it’s the starting point for all that follows. But this concept – the one or two-line description – can’t possible capture the richness and depth of the finished film…or in our case the architecture. Yet without it, the work is unfulfilling and so it should be clear that the concept is necessary for all our work as architects. // GEAR I USE // DSLR CAMERA: * Canon 70D: http://amzn.to/29klz7k LENSES: * Canon 24mm f2.8 Lens: http://amzn.to/29l7ac5 * Canon 40mm f2.8 Lens: http://amzn.to/29x2QcI AUDIO: * Rode VideoMic Pro (hotshoe mtd.): http://amzn.to/29qlNM3 * ATR-2100 USB (dynamic mic): http://amzn.to/2dFDaKp ARCHITECTURE GEAR: * Prismacolor Markers: http://thirtybyforty.com/markers * Timelapse Camera: http://thirtybyforty.com/brinno * AutoCAD LT: http://amzn.to/2dxjMDH * SketchUp PRO: http://amzn.to/2cRcojz * HP T120 Plotter: http://amzn.to/2dBGf1O * Adobe CC Photography (Photoshop/Lightroom) Plan: http://amzn.to/2dhq5ap STARTUP TOOLKIT: * Architect + Entrepreneur Startup Toolkit: http://thirtybyforty.com/SPL -~-~~-~~~-~~-~- Please watch: "Making a Site Model - The Outpost Project" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsJrDScS5ZI -~-~~-~~~-~~-~-

Architecture Short Course: How to Develop a Design Concept | YouTube Video Summary | Video Highlight