SCULPTING STRUCTURES
Designing a home from scratch is comparable to one of a sculptor , starting with an empty block , one of marble , the other of space . The designer carves and defines space delimited by boundaries such as walls and ceilings . However the beauty of their art lies in the details , the fine lines that are sometimes easy to miss if you don ’ t pay attention . In this article , Design Manager , Roberto Santella , provides an overview of the early stage design process and how “ MCM ” came to life in an architectural sense .
The early design process of each home varies from project to project . It starts with a design brief where the designer and client meet to discuss all facets of their lifestyle to help guide the creative vision . From these initial conversations , the design starts !
Design principals such as siting and topography are considered to maximise views and any negative aspects are highlighted to develop the appropriate design solutions . This stage plays like a dance between “ the practical and the poetical ”. Inspiration and restrictions guide the design with the infinity of imagination being limited by the “ rules ” that dictates reality .
The major design challenge of this home was to maximise a relatively small 400m 2 site and the amount of accomodation the client required whilst creating a home that felt much bigger .
Some key design considerations were utilising the expansive verge as an extension of the home ’ s landscape with established trees to create scale and giving the impression of being on a larger block . Minimal passages were used within the home so each room could flow from one to the next and glazing was key to help create long lines of style from inside to outside , building on the visual expansion of space , taking full advantage of the site ’ s properties and quirks .
“ Great design takes any possible negative aspect of a project into consideration and turns them into positives with creative design solutions .”