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For this part of the assessment process, you will need to learn from a couple of different already-established practices to understand what is good design for residential architecture. Design research and Precedent studies will equip you with the knowledge to design individual houses.
Learning Intention:
Apply Good Design Principles by Office of the Victorian Government Architects (OVGA) into analysing and designing residential architecture.
Understand and Analyse residential housing layouts.
Terminology:
Precedent
Precedents are examples of elements or designs that have been established over a period of time and can serve as a model for the development of new ideas.
Precedent Studies
Precedent studies help by aiding you in narrowing your design ideas and concepts to major and minor concepts. Then using these inspirations and not exact copies, you can create new elements or concepts to solve your design problem. We learn from them through a critical lens.
2. What is Good Design?
Good design comes in many forms and is defined by much more than how something looks. It starts from refining the purpose and aspiration of a project, improves how it works, creates additional benefits and elevates how people feel and behave in the final outcome. Good design creates inspiring places and greater lasting financial value. And of course, good design also looks and feels good.
Aspects that Influence Personal Notions
Aspects that Influence Personal Notions
Functionality: If and when a design serves its intended purpose effectively and efficiently, meeting the needs of the users;
Aesthetics: How a design looks. However, aesthetics in this context is subjective. Some people love the Apple Magic Mouse for its simplicity. Others love a huge gaming mouse, adorned with flashing lights, buttons and wheels for its apparent capability. I like a tulip, you like a thistle. The point is, designs that meet your aesthetic values are your idea of a good design
User-centricity: Does the product make you feel at the centre of the design experience? Questions such as, is it easy to use or is the progress through an experience intuitive? Are ergonomic concerns addressed well? Do the ethics of design, production and distribution coincide with your social, economic and environmental values? Does the product or experience project ideas about yourself in ways you want them to be projected?
Consistency and durability: Does the design function consistently, using consistent visual and physical elements? Does the design offer the same or predictable experiences each time? Will it continue to function as long as you expect?
Accessibility: Is the design inclusive and easily used by a wide range of users, including those with physical or intellectual challenges?
Innovation: For us in the design industry, we like designs that push the boundaries creatively. But not everyone does. Some people like products they don’t have to think about. They like products and experiences that conform to expectations gained from prior experiences.
Contextual Notions of Good Design
Contextual Notions of Good Design
Conceptions of good design are formed differently by their social and cultural, historical and political contexts. Different conceptions of good design can exist simultaneously in different social, cultural and political contexts. These are shown on the Cultural Axis above and below the centre, on the at different times. This is shown from left to right on the Chronological Axis in the diagram above. Conceptions of good design also change and evolve to reflect different social, cultural and political ideologies, beliefs and values held.
Aspects that Influence Contextual Notions
Aspects that Influence Contextual Notions
Cultural and Social Context: Culture and society, including embedded religions and subcultures, greatly influence people’s ideas about good design. Different cultures have unique aesthetics, values, and symbols that shape their understanding of good design. For example, minimalistic and functional designs might be highly valued in some cultures, while ornate and intricate designs could be preferred in others. Social norms, religious beliefs and community values also impact design, as it must align with societal expectations and cater to specific needs.
Historical and Artistic Influences: Design is not created in a vacuum; it builds upon historical and artistic influences. Past design movements, architectural styles, and artistic movements often define and shape contemporary notions of good design. Designers draw inspiration from the works of renowned.
Environmental Sustainability: In recent years, environmental considerations have become increasingly important in design. The growing awareness of climate change and the need for sustainable practices have influenced notions of good design. Designers are now expected to consider the life cycle of products, use eco-friendly materials, reduce waste, and prioritise energy efficiency. Designs that integrate sustainability principles are preferred and seen as forward-thinking.
Technological Advancements: Technological advancements continually shape design possibilities and expectations. The available tools, materials, and production techniques influence what can be achieved in design. For example, the rise of digital interfaces and interactive technologies has led to the emergence of new design paradigms and user experiences. Good design must leverage advancements in technology to create innovative and functional solutions.
Political Influences: Conceptions of good design are also influenced by political factors. The term ‘political’ is used here to refer to people or organisations that through their power and agency are able to influence others’understandings of good design outcomes or solutions. Influential structures and figures include the ideologies and values of societal systems and national identity, government regulations and policies and prominent, respected design figures.
Theory Activity for Good Design
Objective:
Explore and analyze architectural precedents to understand and apply Good Design, Design Elements, and Design Principles in your own projects.
Task:
1. Review the 7 provided architectural precedents (previously established examples).
2. Select 2 out of the 7 precedents that you find most interesting or inspiring.
3. For each selected precedent, create an annotated moodboard.
Moodboard Requirements:
Each moodboard should include the following components and address these questions:
1. Good Design Analysis:
• Question: Do you think this is a Good Design?
• Task: Use either personal notions of Good Design OR Contextual Notions of Good Design to justify your reasoning.
• Instruction: Provide specific examples from the images of the precedent to support your statement. Highlight details and aspects of the design that align with the chosen notions.
2. Design Element and Principle Identification:
• Question: What is one Design Element and one Design Principle that you can see from the precedent?
• Design Elements to choose from: Point, Line, Shape, Tone, Form, Texture, Type, Colour.
• Design Principles to choose from: Pattern, Balance, Scale, Proportion, Contrast, Cropping, Figure & Ground, Hierarchy.
• Task: Identify and describe the selected Design Element and Principle visible in the precedent.
• Instruction: Explain the purpose of the Design Element or Principle in the context of the precedent. Discuss how it contributes to the overall design and its effectiveness.
3. Personal Learning and Application:
• Question: What did you learn from this precedent that you would like to incorporate into your own design?
• Task: Reflect on the aspects of the precedent that stood out to you.
• Instruction: Describe how you would integrate these learnings into your own architectural design. Be specific about the features, styles, or techniques you plan to adopt.
Additional Notes:
• Use high-quality images and clear annotations in your moodboards.
• Ensure that your annotations are detailed and provide thoughtful analysis.
• Each moodboard should be visually appealing and well-organized.
Submission:
• Compile your moodboards into a single document or presentation.
• Submit your work on Compass Learning Task: Assignment: Good Design Analysis, if you wish to do this task physically, please complete or glue the moodboards in your Visual Art Diary.
Below is a video instruction of the same task, your teacher has recorded it Term 3 2024 for Week 1 and 2, if you ever need to hear the instruction again, you may play this video. It is a comprehensive guide to the annotated moodboard task:
List of Precedent for this Good Design Analysis Activity:
Taylor Knights,
Fitzroy Terrace (2018)
Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia
Fitzroy Terrace is an intricate re-working of a previously run-down double-storey terrace in the gritty, northern fringes of Fitzroy.
The design itself represents a real ‘obscuring’ between the old and the new through the deliberate play of thresholds and vertical journeys through the internal spaces. This in turn responds to a restrictive site, the solution for which is perhaps best captured in section. Updating the home for modern living was a project of love, one where the owners sought help to retain the features and style while refreshing the interior — with light a central focus.
Frank Lloyd Wright,
Home and Studio (1889)
Oak Park, Chicago, Illinois
The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio is a historic house. This home is where the style he helped found and popularize – the American Prairie Style – took shape.
The exposed brick and shingle structure doubled up as his studio and as an ongoing architectural skills lab. With complete control over this structure, he modified and expanded it several times during the twenty-year period that he resided there with his family. He also experimented with the interiors, responding to the popular movements of the time like the art movement for the American middle class.
Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt,
Claywood House (2020)
Hampshire, England
The Hampshire House aims to make life easier for a wheelchair user, while not compromising on design quality. Rather than creating a building that looks like a disabled person's home, the architect has produced a family home that embraces contemporary architecture.
Organized over two storeys, the building's layout is loosely organized into three zones. On the ground floor, living spaces are clustered together at the south end of the building, with a glazed wall that allows dining to extend outside. The first floor is mainly for bedrooms; there are five in total, plus a small home office. Throughout, the house carefully integrates a number of accessible features such as level thresholds, extra-wide corridors, lift access, and specialist furniture.
FIGR Architecture & Design,
Brighton House (2021)
Dendy, Australia
Like many dwellings from this period, the home has been a building site more than once during the course of its existence.
The clients have owned this Brighton property going back to the 1970s. And as their family grew so did their needs and eventually, they commissioned an extension in the 1990s which was designed by architect John Cuthbert. What began as a ‘small update’, this project is yet another rebuild iteration based on an emerging set of life circumstances centered around a retired lifestyle, periodic family gatherings, and entertaining grandchildren. The extension looks to replace the cellular rooms of the existing home with a more open-plan zonal arrangement, capable of expanding and contracting in response to the changing needs of the occupant.
Austin Maynard Architects,
RaeRae House (2020)
North Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia
Responsive, contextual, and strategic, this is a functional home with nuanced moments of surprise and discovery.
RaeRae House is a five-bedroom family home that incorporates the front of two pre-existing terrace homes. A glazed entry, set back between the heritage buildings, unites the two and forms the gateway to the new build, surprising in light and scale. The entry leads from the front garden, through to a lounge, kitchen, and dining room. Above the kitchen is the parent’s bedroom, with a walk-in robe and ensuite. Beyond the dining room and concealed laundry room, is the two-storey kids zone, with three bedrooms and a bathroom accessed via a spiral staircase. The front room of one of the existing terrace houses is now a self-contained guest suite, including a separate entrance via the original front door. The other terrace is now a home office and, located behind the other front door, a garden shed that leads directly through to the central garden.
07BEACH,
House in Kyoto (2019)
Kyoto, Japan
The house is for a couple and their three little children, located in a quiet residential area in northern Kyoto city.
The site environment is where neighbour houses are standing at the edge of the east, west, and south boundary, and houses are lined on the other side of the north narrow road. The client preferred a simple and open plan and also they must keep watching their three children constantly moving, the house was designed as one big space, placing the double-height living room at the centre so that they can see where and who does what.
Le Corbusier,
Villa Savoye (1931)
82, Rue de Villiers, France
Completed in 1931, Villa Savoye is one of the most important houses of the 20th century, a landmark of the International Style of Modernism.
Le Corbusier realized a house that expressed his Five Points of architecture – the key features he felt necessary for Modern architecture, and the belief in the home as a "machine for living in". These include pilotis that lift the building up above the ground, a flat roof that could serve as a garden and terrace, open-plan interiors, ribbon windows for light and ventilation, and a free facade independent of the load-bearing structure.
A Complete Example of the Annotated Moodboard
A Complete Example of the Annotated Moodboard
Activity:
In a group of 3 or 4, rank the given 5 different pieces of architectural precedents, from the worst to the best (1 for Best and 5 for worst). Your teacher will provide the correct answer at the end of the activity.
Activity:
What are some of the Good Design and Bad Design you have observed in SWSC?
Brainstorm 1-3 Good or Bad Designs based on your daily experiences at school. Your nominated design does not have to be architectural (but architectural is ideal), write them on a posit note and stick to the centre table.
Activity:
Highlight the principles that you think our school has met, and discuss your reasons behind your decision based on your experience.
Glossary of Architectural Terms
Glossary of Architectural Terms
Atrium:
Atriums are similar to interior courtyards but they are typically enclosed and conditioned as opposed to open to the elements.
Balustrade:
A balustrade is a railing or wall on a staircase or balcony. It is made from individual posts, called balusters, topped by a rail.
Canopy:
A canopy is the cantilevering coverage of an outside area.
Circulation:
In architecture, circulation refers to the pathways that people use to get around a building.
Context:
In architecture, context refers to the area around an architectural project. (it might talk about a building’s relationship to historical context)
Elevation:
An elevation is a horizontal orthographic projection of a building that represents one façade of a building.
Façade:
In architecture, a façade is a side view of the building. (In most cases, "the façade" is the front view of the building)
Floor Plan:
A floor plan is the representation of a work from above that cuts through walls to show the clearest representation of all spaces.
Louvers:
Louvers are a design element used to keep light from entering a building.
Ornamentation:
Ornamentation is simply any form of decoration on a piece of architecture.
Cladding:
Cladding is a material that is attached to the exterior of your home's walls to form an outer weatherproof skin to the home.
Ramp:
Ramps are sloped pathways used both inside and outside buildings.
Verandah:
A veranda or verandah is a roofed, open-air hallway or porch, attached to the outside of a building
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