To tell the truth, as a practitioner, I have faced a core issue over and over again that can be very related to disappointment: the need for the exact replicas of the designs which the clients have found on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or any other internet platforms. I am fully aware of these desirable picture-perfect spaces, though, and it is really important to explain why this approach is not only impractical but can even be a drawback to the successful implementation of a project.
The Uniqueness of Each Project
All the architectural projects have a make-it-or-break-it kind of nature. This is why:
- Site-specific conditions: Every place is characterized by its own topography, weather conditions, and the environment;
- Client needs: Every customer has dissimilar aspirations, preferences, and ways of living
- Budget constraints: The thing that can be included into one budget and scale may not be available in another
- Local building codes: Rules differ in every place and the design may be majorly affected
- Available materials: Not all materials are easily affordable in every area or even according to the climate present in such a place
The Illusion of Internet Perfection
Live pictures can result in disappointment for several reasons:
- Staged photos: A lot of them are done meticulously and do not cause one to feel the same way as seeing real live conditions;
- Edited images: Picture editing can produce the wrong expectations in the viewers
- Lack of context: Images do not display the whole process of the project and the problems of the project
- Incomplete information about the mentioned topics: The important information about material, cost, and building methods is often half presented
The Importance of Original Design
To merely choosing a to get designs, is a huge damage to the architects’ work:
- Missed opportunities: The custom designs can be more detailed and perform better under specific site conditions
- Legal issues: Copying designs often infringes copyrighted designs to the detriment of the copyright owner
- Lack of innovation: Innovation gets choked by the fact that the replication kills creativity and architecture advancement
- Lack of local character: The designs that are copied may not comply with the architectural traditions in that part of the world
The Role of Inspiration
Copying a particular thing is erroneous, although inspiration may be the perfect pointer:
- Utilize images as a base to discuss the style and preference for the clients
- Pinpoint the things that are touching you more and see how you can fit them in the project in an imaginative way. Make it personal.
- Go to the principles of the aesthetically pleasing designs and not at just an artistic level
Final Thoughts
To sum up, the internet platforms have a lot of ideas that can be helpful for inspiration but let’s not forget design is not only the imitation of existing designs but also the creation of new ones. By the fostering of a team approach and inspiration through originality, we can design spaces not just attractive in looks but also useful and meaningful for our clients.
