Our Approach to House Design
Designing a house or housing development is a very methodical process resulting in an in depth exploration of how we live and use spaces we enjoy. All projects start from a close look at the user(s) so that this process begins to inform the design brief and the initial concepts. Self-build has grown in popularity with increasing numbers of couples and families aspiring to create their own dream home.
Culturally the house and its hierarchy of spaces can vary enormously across the world. Perceptions of privacy, social spaces and connection to the outside sets up a very interesting design dialogue, which is personal to the user(s). Needs of the users also change over a period of time and the expansion of the home becomes a critical factor in adapting the design.
Design and construction
Our approach to design begins by looking at the site and its relationship to the surrounding environment, making observations and recording thoroughly all the constraints and opportunities that exist before any design intervention. Gathering other supporting information about locality, resources, climate, noise and population all serves to inform the process and contextualise the project.
Once the design brief is established concepts and ideas are generated and an exploration into the construction begins to emerge with emphasis on the ground condition, lightweight and heavyweight construction methods, and importantly the robustness of the external fabric of the building. The latter becomes a critical aspect determining the longevity of the building, and the life cycle of the materials used.