Misconception #4
“Architecture’s value is primarily visual“
This article is part of The Second Studio Podcast hosted by FAME Architecture & Design.
Ark House by Johnston Marklee - Photography ©EricStaidenmaier
DAVID: Architecture is not just about designing the pretty stuff. It’s also about designing the program, the site, the flow, and the systems—the invisible aspects of the project that people don't think about or see. For example with a remodel that includes a kitchen, when clients imagine their new kitchen their first thought is about the materials and the appliances, maybe there’s a specific stone they want to use, but they don’t think about whether or the kitchen should even be located in that space and how it affects the feeling of the overall house. Honestly, though, a lot of the problems that exist with houses and why they don't feel as great as they should is because of these invisible qualities.
MARINA: I feel like oftentimes the media makes it seem like the architects are primarily focused on curating pretty views and photographs in publications when really we first have to understand why people feel a certain way based on many factors beyond attractive materials and views. As you said, a lot of people remodel their homes and while they have brand-new finishes and new furniture, it still doesn't feel right. And often it’s because the floor plan doesn't make sense. The space planning is wrong. When that’s the case, it doesn’t matter if you have the best designer or decorator, because you need someone who will look at the project with an X-ray vision.
DAVID: I think this ties into the idea that architecture is about being smart. It's not about throwing money at something. It's about intelligently arranging things with the means that you have to be impactful, and this doesn’t always require a lot of money. There’s an emotional value to architecture that can far exceed its financial cost if you design intelligently. Basic design aspects like circulation, space planning, and site response are probably the most important aspects of architecture but also the most undervalued. I understand why would be undervalued because it's not the thing you can photograph. It's hard to capture good circulation in a photograph.
Vault House by Johnston Marklee - Photography ©EricStaidenmaier