How do Architects Design a house?
How Is The Design Of A House Done?
The house design is done at the Schematic stage where ideas are first introduced by the client. There may be some inspiration they got from another house design. More often, clients come with different design references and ideas.
As the client discusses his ideas, the architect in turn makes a visual interpretation of all those ideas together. The appropriate design is carefully analyzed based on many consideration, the design, however is being translated into a hand sketch. As shown below. Having a good sketch can get your client’s approval very quickly.
This can be a series of meeting with the client to discuss further some of the requirements to build the house design proposal. A 3d model and 3d renderings can go further with the visual presentation.
The Planning process
Sketches are initially done at this stage of the planning process. This will start the story telling process in architecture. In theory, every line that the architect draws will tell a story. Every strokes and every line means a lot. Here’s how the story goes
The floor plan composition
While there are sets of exterior design character the client brings, the architect put it all together with the plan layout first. The manner in which spaces are arranged. This is key player in influencing the style of architecture. But this is done with the intention to solve the circulation pattern where the movement of people living and the functionality of each spaces are analyzed.
There are different process in doing the plan layout;
Determine The Space Requirements
The architect will list all space requirements need in the design of a house. This will match the client’s space requirements and the number of his family members. This will lead to the arrangement of the plan that will coincide with the other space requirements needed to function as a family’s dwelling place where they can inter mingle with common spaces like the living spaces, dining areas and play areas.
Group The Spaces According To Classification
Spaces are classified as public, private, semi private or semi public. It would be easy to group the spaces with these classifications. Which one that requires much privacy within and which one is a semi private. This part of the analysis will go deeper into knowing the family’s activities and personalities. Dad and mom may have different preferences as well as the children. Mom’s usually owns the kitchen, so the different arrangement should be considered with the personality of the person using it most though the whole family shares the space together. As well as the living areas, that can be supported by an adjacent terrace and the traffic flow pattern as a connecting link from outside to inside of the house going to different places of the house like the kitchen and dining to the bedrooms.
Functional Grouping - Arrange The Plan, Size of Spaces And Shapes
The space classification will be converted into a sketch of spaces that will be arranged according to Functional groupings, circulation and functionality, Sizes and Shapes that will affect traffic flow and accesibility of each spaces according to its related functions.
A Space diagram can help identify which spaces needs to be in a certain group from private, semi-private, public and semi-public
There are other factors that will affect the layout. The outside factors are the
- Sun orientation
- The terrain or slope of the site
- Vegetation or existing trees inside the lot
- Adjoining lots
Balloon Diagram
Before heading to the plan layout, the space allocation can be done in the process called balloon planning. This will guide the architect and the client in their decision making process. As part of the evaluation process, the architect will inform the client about the manner of arrangement and why it should be in that arrangement, as it is discussed, the client can give their inputs if the tupe of arrangement will be suitable and comfortable to all members of the family, if the arrangement is satisfied, then it will progress to the Floor plan Layout.
Floor plan layout
The floor plan layout is used in two distinct uses;
- Prepare for design development
- Prepare for construction
At this stage the plan layout should be developed in such a way that it will fix all sizes of the space. The basic framework will be drawn to create the outline of the plan. The grid line will serve as a guide to align all walls both exterior and interior. This will give a better means to calculate the total floor area of the house being designed. The placement of doors and window can also be done at this stage.
The major factor in deciding the budget requirement of the house will be more or less accurate. So the architect can provide an estimated budget per square meters. The design of a house is also determined if the client’s idea will be possible to achieved. With the design idea in mind, the architect can create a new and unique design solution.
The Plan layout is developed further as the architect prepares another step of the process in designing which the exterior design of the house.
Exterior Design
After doing the floor plan layout, the next step is to do the Exterior Design. This is a two-dimensional drawing that will show the 4 sides of the exterior layout of the house. The Plan is a visual respresentation where you will see the top area of the plan and determine the layout in relation to the activities of the end-user. While the Exterior Design is the beatuty and austhethics of the house. The exterior design represents the identity of the client and the character of the house. It can be characterize according to the influences of the different styles of architecture representing different periods. The level of details will determine the different styles of architecture.
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The Influences Of Styles In Architecture - The Building Envelope
There are many factors the architect will do the design, most of the clients' requirement are exterior design or the general outlook of the design. The different styles in architectural design such as Mediterranean, Classic, Modern or Contemporary are some of the significant styles obvious in any house design, just to name a few. These styles were derived from the different periods in the history of architecture. The design features are characterized by the details of architectural elements like;
- The Design of Roof and its Shape,
- Height and Details of Gutter Sections.
- Detailed Design and Shape of Windows and Doors
- Wall Treatment and
- Details of Moldings
The different types of roof
Depending on the style and functionality of the house, the different style of roof arrangement will affect the exterior design of the house. It can be a high pitched roof, gable or flat roof.
Gutter sections represent character and styles in different periods of style in the history of architecture. The style and proportion are considered in terms of functionality and proportion.
Doors and windows represent styles as well, the size and shape can give different character to the design of a house. It can be a casement type or sliding, full glass window and doors.
The wall treatment can give a major impact on tge design. Painted walls or with patterned finishes. This will be decided with the clients budget requirements.
Lastly, the mouldings and accessories required by the design especially in classical styles and other periods in architectural styles.
The Perspective Views
Part of the architects design process which plays a very important role in getting the design commissioned is the visual presentation. The presentation of the design can be explained by the architect in his design presentation. This presentation explains the full aspect of the design from evaluating the interpretation of space to space relationship according to the peresonality of the end-user. The arrangement of the plan will be influenced by their activities. Generally, the main functions are the Living Room, Dining, Kitchen and the Bedrooms. How they will be arrange will be different based on the preferences of each end-user. This will affect the arrangement of the spaces, sizes, shapes and the adjacencies. The perspective view is the ultimate visual presetation to impress the client, However, the challenge is to maintain the overall style of the house exterior regardless of the changes in space requirements. The shape of the plan can be based on the initial space allocations but it may change eventually after it has been presented to the client but may require to maintain the exterior design.
Here are some examples of the perspective views;
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