Reflections for Studio

In the lead up to the next couple of weeks a considerable amount of consideration needs to be be given to a wide variety of factors that affect the design of units. As such and as I have mentioned previously it is important to use the extensive range of precedents and information available out there to assist the process, provide inspiration and give working examples of how to design residential flat buildings.
One of the very big aspects that needs big improvement is for everyone to have a wider reference field and know a lot of architects (the good ones!) to become more literate and versed with architectural expression, presentation, planning, massing, composition and form.
So to kick start I have listed, as a reference and not all specifically for flats, although all have done them, some well known contemporary architects whom you need to become more intimate with their work and ideas. They push boundaries, have strong ideas and strong formal responses to site and context. These are some of the best around currently and are not all mega names (which you should be cautious of anyway!), but produce solid work. Let their work influence you.......just spend some time browsing the net for their work, even enough to enter name in Google and use images to get an overview. Its just a start.....

Alvaro Siza, Eduardo Souto De Moura, Bevk Perovic, Herzog and DeMeuron, Bolles and Wilson, Baumshlager and Eberle, Barkow Leibinger, Elenberg Fraser, Alberto Kalach, Smiljan Radic, Enric Miralles, Carme Pinos, Paulo Mendes da Rocha, Josep Llineas, Aires Mateus, Fritz van Dongen, Mecanoo, Mansilla and Tunon.......

and older (mostly dead!); Luis Barragan, Josep Antonio Coderch, Le Corbusier, Meis Van Der Rohe, Alvar Aalto, Hans Sharoun,


Another very good reference point is Arch Daily residential housing section of the website. It has a huge number of very decent building of this type across a wide range of architects. Importantly they have drawings; plans section and elevations all very nicely drawn, with excellent graphics. I cannot state more clearly that what you see on the website in terms of drawings is the norm, that is the standard you need to aim for. As such you can use them as templates, try to get your drawings 'looking' like those by the end of the studio. But you need to start now because the following needs to happen in the process;
1. look very closely at the unit layouts and types including window placement, room locations, types of furniture represented etc.
2. circulation and relationship of unit types to the circulation area
3. building articulation and formal resolution of parts
4. Materiality and expression in different parts of the building, change sin materials etc
5. relationship to context, orientation, private and public areas.

THEN....try to integrate these into your design, try to work with what you see, if something takes your attention or you are grabbed by it, use it and work it in and in that process you have to go through understanding what you are drawing. Because at the moment most of you are exhibiting random thinking, a good building is consistant and cohesive and held 'together' by all of the above aspects.

give it a go and you will see it will be of assistance in the design process.