Some simple measures of good home
design
I thought I would share a few of my measures when it comes to home design.
1.
Taking time to
let the process evolve
2.
Get inspiration
from collecting items or materials
3.
Involve
experimentation with materials
4.
Have a process of
elimination
5.
Pay Attention to
detail
6.
Be sympathetic
and in harmony with the environment
7.
Take
responsibility for the environment
8.
Multiple uses for
spaces
9.
Involve both
professionals, yourself, friends and family in the building
1.Taking time to let the process evolve
Taking the time to choose a
space and materials, can help in the flexibility and evolution of the design.
The trusting of instincts is
often a good indicator when something is right. And this can only happen when
there is no time constraints. Time and
time again, I have clients who find something they like, only to go through a
multitude of options only to find they go back to the first thing they were
attracted to. Those that are pressured
to make a choice due to a deadline often end up not being so happy with their
choice.
Ideally as needs change the flexibility of being able
to evolve the building or create it in stages.
2.Get inspiration from collecting items or materials
The collection of materials
can help inspire a certain look or feel to a place. Often things that people collect have common
threads, so it is good find out what that common thread is and get inspiration
from those.
3.Involve experimentation with materials
Experimenting with raw
materials can help create discover something new and interesting.
4.Have a process of elimination
Just as important as
collecting, eliminating things can help create a clear picture and get rid of unnecessary
things to declutter. I love William
Morris’ quote;
“Have nothing in your houses that you do
not believe to be beautiful or useful”.
Beautiful and Useful don’t
have to be mutually exclusive. A useful
thing can also be beautiful thing. In history, some buildings like Victorian and
Edwardian Villas have been built with ornament. Much needed fixtures and
fittings are often decorated with detail to create a more personalised look to
a house. Much the same as those fittings
with purposely no detail can be just as beautiful in its simplicity and
form. Although I also believe something
beautiful doesn’t have to be useful.
Sometimes collections of
things such family heirlooms or things collected on holidays may not be
beautiful on the outside, but having them around evoke beautiful memories of
people and places.
One person’s junk is another
person’s treasure. The collection of
materials need to be done carefully and justified otherwise it could be just
junk. It is no use buying a sink just
because you need one and its measurements fit.
The question has to be asked whether the sink is attractive and will
look right with other things.
5.Pay Attention to detail
I believe the beauty is in
the detail. Making choices of building
materials slowly when developing a plan can ensure every detail is correct and
not compromised on because of time.
6.Be sympathetic and in harmony with the environment
Taking cues from the natural
landscape and possible raw materials to design a home. This can also be experimenting.
7.Take responsibility for the environment
Taking responsibility for
your own survival, by growing and raising your own food and necessities, and
taking care of your own wastes. Being
self-sufficient can create a much bigger appreciation and of course a responsibility
to the environment rather than relying on Out of Sight
Out of mind mentality.
8.Multiple uses for spaces
Having multiple uses of a
space ensures that the space would get maximum usage. This would be
exceptionally good for small spaces.
I love Bill Mollison’s idea
in Introduction to Permaculture, of
having a combined greenhouse and chicken house, so the chicken’s heat provides
warmth for the plants, as well as providing fertiliser.
9.Involve both professionals, yourself, friends and family in the building
Professionals help in the
areas where others may have limited skills to get the details just right. The borrowing of friends and family to build
can be a productive social activity. In
the many times I have painted and made things, whether by myself or with
others, occasionally when I look at the piece I have made or painted, I recall
what I was thinking at the time or conversations I have had with people who
have helped. As long as these were
positive thoughts and conversations, these items seem to possess a positive
energy and a sense of pride. In the times I have made things from scratch with
limited skills, the finish may not be perfect, but in the process I have learnt
things.
