Building science for architects

One of the main issues designers face when approaching a project is, ‘how big should it be?’ This is determined by the intended use, number of users, circula- tion needs, furniture, and equipment requirements. Once these are accounted for the question becomes, ‘How much individual space do the people need?’

There are resources that can assist in determining the typical size and arrange- ments of people, furniture, and spaces. The human body has been measured and statistically averaged to provide information that can accommodate most of the population. This does not mean you shouldn’t measure your own sur- rounding environment and decide whether or not you think it’s adequate, but these resources can help with understanding how others have solved these same problems.

Another primary issue that designers face is when it’s appropriate to ‘redesign the wheel’. There are arguments for re-examining problems without knowing the standard approach, because that allows for new ideas to emerge. Many times, however, there are problems that have been considered many thou- sands of times and those solutions are available for your review. Always starting from scratch is impractical, always using the standard approach limits creativ- ity and progress. Be aware of what information is available, and then decide what to use and what to discard.