Design Concepts and Programming Flashcards
Design Concept
a specific physical response that attempts to achieve a programmatic concept.
Programmatic Concept
a performance requirement related to methods of solving a problem or satisfying a need.
5 Step Processes used in “Problem Seeking” by William M. Pena and Steven A. Parshall?
Establishing goals, Collecting and analyzing facts, Uncovering and testing concepts, Determining needs, and Stating the problem
Establishing goals
- What does the client want to achieve and WHY?
- This establishes the direction of your program
Collecting and analyzing facts
- Facts are the existing conditions and requirements
Uncovering and testing concepts
- Develop abstract ideas that could be used to solve the clients performance problems. These are known as programmatic concepts.
- Programmatic concept – a performance requirement related to methods of solving a problem or satisfying a need.
Determining needs
- This balances the desires with the budget or establishes the budget
- Define the wants vs. the needs
Stating the problem
- This is the bridge between programming and the design process
- There should be a minimum of 4 statements for each of the 4 major considerations – form, function, economy and time.
4 Major Considerations
Form, function, economy and time
MC - Form
existing conditions, physical/psychological environment, quality of construction.
MC - Function
people using the space, activities to be performed, and the relationships of spaces to each other.
MC - Economy
money, initial costs of the interior, operating costs and life-cycle costs.
MC - Time
ideas of the past, present and future as they affect the other 3 considerations above.
PC - Priority
establishes the order of importance of things such as size, position, or social values.
PC - Hierarchy
relates to the idea of the exercise of authority and is expressed in physical symbols of authority.
PC - Character
a response to the desired image a client wants to project. May later be expressed in design concepts using materials, lighting, space layout, and other physical responses to project character.
PC - Density
low, medium or high - may relate to how a space or group of spaces are used to respond to goals such as efficient use of space or the desired amount of interaction in an office.
PC - Service Grouping
mechanical services such as mechanical systems and other functions that support the use of the space.
PC - Activity Grouping
states whether activities should be integrated or separated and compartmentalized.
PC - People grouping
degree of massing people in a space and is derived from the physical, social and emotional characteristics of the group.
PC - Home base
related to the concept of territoriality and is a place where a person can maintain his or her individuality.
PC - Relationships
affinities of people and activities
PC - Communications
a response to the goal of promoting the effective exchange of information or ideas.
PC - Neighbors
how a project will promote or prevent sociability and how it will relate to its neighboring spaces.
PC - Accessibility
the idea of entry to a building or space and to making the facility accessible to the disabled.
PC - Separated flow
segregating the flow of people, service access and other activities of a building or space.
PC - Mixed flow
a response to the goal of promoting interaction among people.
PC - Sequential flow
required for both people and objects where a specific series of events or processes is required.
PC - Orientation
providing a point of reference within a space or building to help prevent people from feeling lost within a larger context.
PC - Flexibility and the (3) components
expandability - how a space can accommodate growth or expansion
convertibility - how a space can allow for changes in function through the conversion of spaces
versatility - provides several different activities with multifunctional spaces
PC - Tolerance
allows for extra space for dynamic activity (one likely to change) instead of fitting the space precisely to a static activity.
PC - Safety
focuses attention on life safety and the conceptual ways to achieve it.
PC - Security controls
ways both people and property can be protected based on the value of the potential losses - minimum, medium or maxium
PC - Energy conservation
can be achieved several ways: keeping the heating area to a minimum, keeping heat flow to a minimum, using materials produced using low amounts of energy, using recycled materials and using recyclable materials.
PC - Environmental controls
explores the kinds of controls necessary to meet human comfort needs, including air temperature, light, sound, and humidity.
PC - Phasing
determines if the project must be completed in stages to meet time and cost schedules.
PC - Cost control
explores ways to establish a realistic preview of costs and a balanced budget to meet the client’s available funds.
4 methods for information gathering
client interview
questionnaires
observation
field surveys
client interview
Most valuable ways of collecting information - combines observation, a structured process, the ability to clarify ambiguous questions or responses and the opportunity for extemporaneous exploration of needs and ideas of the user not previously considered.
these take time though
questionnaires
written forms that people fill in with requested information - can be verified with an interview
observation
Most reliable way to gather information - by observing what people do rather than by listening to what they say.
field surveys
part of the due diligence site investigation and will provide important information regarding the existing building and/or site information
Checklist of required information
Goals and objectives
user requirements
activity requirements
furnishing and equipment
adjacencies
space requirements listed by activity area and square footages
time and money requirements
Every program should include at the very least what information? (3) and bonus (4)
1 - A statement of goals and objectives
2 - A list of client requirements and special needs
3 - A list of spaces and their square footages
May also include:
Survey of existing conditions
Budget requirements
Scheduling constraints
Expansion requirements
