Monday, October 12, 2009

The difference between buildings and architecture

Talk to any business coach and she will tell you to systematize your practice. Develop procedures and checklists for others to follow so you can go on vacation and your business can function without you. But how to you capture creative process? It’s like putting a snow suit on a 12 month old baby. They twist and wiggle and after many tries it is still backwards. Impossible!

Or is it? How about a simple four-step check list that when applied will result in a good design every time. Guaranteed. Let’s try.

WHAT IF is the fundamental question. WHAT IF challenges the obvious and generic.
WHY fights the arbitrary. WHY is responsible for a strong and well executed concept.
HOW MUCH asks “is this the best solution that the budget can buy?”
HOW is about technical expertise. HOW is what makes a building a building.

So how do you measure a difference between architecture and a building? Ignore the first three points of the check list and you will end up with a building. It will stand up and house the functions it was intended for. Depending on level of technical skill of the designer, quality of execution by the contractor and the budget it can be a very successful building. Nothing wrong with that.

But WHAT IF we try just a little bit harder? WHY? – because it’s worth it. HOW MUCH is this going to cost? – No more than a building. HOW? – One project at the time.

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