Architecture
What the Heck Is 'Good' Design Anyway?
We yearn for it and strive for it, but good home design isn't always easy to grasp. These 8 prescriptions from an architect can help
Houzz recently did a survey of some 30,000 homeowners and learned that almost all of the respondents who were considering a remodeling project or an addition were doing so to improve the design quality of their home. These results dovetail with another recent survey by John Burns Real Estate Consulting.
It seems that "aesthetics are more important than profit" when we renovate our homes and that "design is above price and rivals location" when we're shopping for a new home. It's no surprise to me, an architect, that good design is valuable. What is surprising is when there are verifiable metrics that prove this.
And I don't think this is a fluke. My wife and I have been looking into purchasing a villa in a small community on the Gulf Coast of Florida. We found two villas in the same community with almost identical floor plans, and both have wonderful views of the golf course. One is priced about 60 percent higher than the other. It wasn't hard to see why. One isn't very nice looking, with its faux mansard roof and complete lack of detail on the exterior. The other is well proportioned and finely detailed with a pergola, a hip roof and an entry courtyard that all provide curb appeal. Clearly, the latter cost a few dollars more to construct. But those few dollars translated into significant value and a nice return on investment — not to mention a more beautiful place to call home.
But what is "good design"? Is it that "artsy fartsy" stuff? Or is it something more tangible and measurable? While the survey results started to define what respondents think "design" is, we'll drill down a little deeper to come up with some prescriptions for achieving good design.
It seems that "aesthetics are more important than profit" when we renovate our homes and that "design is above price and rivals location" when we're shopping for a new home. It's no surprise to me, an architect, that good design is valuable. What is surprising is when there are verifiable metrics that prove this.
And I don't think this is a fluke. My wife and I have been looking into purchasing a villa in a small community on the Gulf Coast of Florida. We found two villas in the same community with almost identical floor plans, and both have wonderful views of the golf course. One is priced about 60 percent higher than the other. It wasn't hard to see why. One isn't very nice looking, with its faux mansard roof and complete lack of detail on the exterior. The other is well proportioned and finely detailed with a pergola, a hip roof and an entry courtyard that all provide curb appeal. Clearly, the latter cost a few dollars more to construct. But those few dollars translated into significant value and a nice return on investment — not to mention a more beautiful place to call home.
But what is "good design"? Is it that "artsy fartsy" stuff? Or is it something more tangible and measurable? While the survey results started to define what respondents think "design" is, we'll drill down a little deeper to come up with some prescriptions for achieving good design.
First, good design doesn't always have to cost more. Using scale, proportion, form, detail and the other tools in the architect's tool box creates wonderful and enduring design.
Start with a well-structured plan that includes the spaces and rooms that you'll want and will use. Then arrange these rooms in a hierarchical fashion that gives clarity and facilitates how you move through and occupy your home.
More and more we want our homes to have an open floor plan with group spaces that facilitate our coming together.
Our homes should incorporate private and secure outdoor living spaces. Rather than having acres of land separating us from our neighbors, we can achieve privacy and security through landscaping, landscape walls and fences. By getting the most out of the least amount of land, we keep our costs lower while achieving long-term sustainability.
As we've moved into smaller homes we've used our yards to make these homes live large. So a strong outdoor connection is an essential ingredient for a well-designed home. These connections are best when achieved with large openings, something that modern materials and manufacturing technologies make easier than ever.
There's been a move of late to a more contemporary aesthetic, especially with interiors — not surprising, as these interiors are more about the quality of the space than about all the objects within that space. Perhaps a reaction to our overcollecting and overdoing of the last few decades, it's a welcome breath of fresh air.
The homes that really speak to us are the homes that foster a casual and barefoot lifestyle. Though there are some among us that insist on formality, most of us, especially those with children, desire a home that won't look trashed if the childrens' toys are left out or if there's a bit of scribbling on the walls.
While there has been a rise in the popularity of urban living, the single-family detached home still embodies the ideal of the American Dream. Certainly what we've seen, and probably will continue to see, is the reduction in size of this home. This makes sense as land costs, commuting costs, and initial and long-term costs continue to rise.
Tell us: How do you define good design?
More:
How to Work With an Architect
Tell us: How do you define good design?
More:
How to Work With an Architect