Design is Personal and Complex, the Aesthetic is in the Eye of the Beholder

Design is Personal and Complex, the Aesthetic is in the Eye of the Beholder. There are so many considerations to keep in mind while keeping to the client’s brief and requirements. Research is important to keep us focussed on today’s market, new trends and current planning and building regulations.
The fundamental design principals, however do not change, our challenge is to entwine fundamental design with specific client requests to create a good product while responding to site constraints and council policy. These are the ingredients for a good design outcome.
There are important considerarions to be made to provide ample daylight throughout different times of the day which include: appropriately sized windows and orientation to living and bedrooms.
At times, we need to explain to clients that too much glazing in a dwelling can have the reverse effect and result in an Energy Report that is under the six-star requirement.
Sometimes, improving the insulation to the entire structure may still not provide the minimum energy rating for the building. This then results in the building being redesigned at a later stage which may delay the construction of the development.
Further, in order for the client to understand space and dimensions, we recommend the client physically measures the spaces allocated during the sketch design stage, as well as the layout, to visualize and understand the design response. Furniture layouts are incorporated in the design at this stage, with clients sometimes wishing to retain some favourite furniture items, to see how it all works.
There is a client wish list that we work through, but at times not all ideas can be incorporated and decisions need to be made. We work very closely with the client to provide the most appropriate design to suit orientation of buildings as well as a position of rooms within, with the use of window strategies to allow cross ventilation where possible and incorporating landscape design, ensuring the energy rating, planning and building requirements comply.
We are also conscious of the building method that will be adopted down the track for the development. Sloped sites have their own challenges, as do large open plan spaces and we design as best we can with a concept of structure, to ensure the design during building documentation stage does not result in complicated engineering that may raise the construction cost of the project.
We, as designers take the responsibility to facilitate and navigate the client throughout the role of design, to ensure the client is satisfied at the end of the process.