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I break the design process into smaller steps in order to make it more manageable.
A sequence of steps is a shorthand version of weighted rules. High-priority rules get decided first. An expert architect (or software) can hold all the rules in their head at once, but most of us can't, so we chunk it into steps.
The rules at each step have to be understood together because that's how we weigh them against each other to determine their priority (because they often conflict). Do we orient a room toward the best view or toward the best sunlight?
We don't want to lock in a decision that won't work later on, so we use placeholders for early approximations. A 12'x12' room works as a placeholder because it accommodates most furniture layouts, so I don't need to worry about furniture until I get there.
1. Find the right area.
Context: Town, Neighborhood
Study the town to find the right area. Each neighborhood has unique advantages and disadvantages. Should the neighborhood be dense or rural? Should the style be modern or historic? Choose an area that will benefit from development. Fill in empty lots. Prioritize the pedestrian experience. Find houses nearby that you like.
Knowledge: Urbanism Rules
In order to make reasonable decisions during the site-selection process, it helps to have general knowledge about:
2. Site the building.
Context: Street, Site
Once you find the right area, site the building on the lot. Approximate its size based on your program requirements. Locate the house to shape space with neighboring houses. Preserve the best parts of the property (views, sunlight, trees, etc.). Consider site access, parking requirements, future additions, accessory buildings, etc. If the building interferes with the neighbor's rights, check with them first. Test the dimensions on site using stakes in the ground.
Knowledge: Urbanism Rules
For deciding how to site the building, it helps to know:
Formal Codes: how much space is needed for a house, for a driveway/garage, for a yard, for a garden, how to shape a cluster, how to position a house for sunlight
Dynamic Codes, such as privacy requirements (setbacks from the road and neighbors), easements for the sun and important views, rules about plants and trees
Negotiated Rights: ways to negotiate shared space with neighbors
3. Determine the building's massing and style.
Context: Site, Building
Once you site the building, determine the building's massing and style. Take photos from multiple angles, and imagine how the façade would look. Determine the main massing, roof type, window coverage, etc. Consider views from inside the house. Add sub-masses, such as dormers, chimneys, bay windows, and porches.
Knowledge: Architecture Rules
To determine the building's massing, it helps to know:
Formal Codes: rules about density, rules about building types
Massing Rules: rules about proportion/scale
Style considerations: what elements are necessary to convey its architectural style, its function, style compatibility, etc.
4. Lay out the interior.
Context: Building
Once you determine the building's massing, lay out the interior. Prioritize key moments. Locate the main rooms first (kitchen, living, dining) based on access, privacy, adjacencies, sunlight, views, etc. Should the dining room be combined with the kitchen? Should the living room have access to the backyard? Locate the stairs early on because they constrain the upstairs configuration. After figuring out a schematic layout, redraw the plans with more precision.
Knowledge: Architecture Rules
To lay out the house, it helps to know:
Spatial Rules like general sizes for most activities, rules about circulation, rules about privacy, maximizing sunlight and good views
Programmatic Rules like important adjacencies, different user groups, what activities are prioritized given available space, how to combine uses, find equivalent uses, etc.
5. Add color, materials, and furniture.
Context: Interior, Landscaping
Once you lay out the interior, finalize ideas about furniture, materials, finishes, etc. Even though you can change your mind during construction, you should have an overall vision for the house. The reason for visualizing the final design before construction is that it becomes the driving force behind making decisions.
Knowledge: Architecture Rules
It helps to know about construction methods, materials, HVAC, structural rules of thumb, furniture layouts, technology and appliances, finishes and detailing, etc. Style Renders offer a quick way to visualize ideas.
Get the drawing set for permitting and bidding. Give the builders a list of instructions of when to move forward at each stage. Check with the builder on site.
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