New York School of Interior Design Fall 2006
Having selected a client and project, one is now ready to think about how design goals and client needs can converge. Before one can begin to think about design solutions, however, it is necessary to understand how the building type you are selecting actually works. Even the client does not necessarily know the optimum layouts and spatial flows of the type of environment in which they work; however, they will know when things do not work properly. To avoid the latter, designers must research buildings types to make sure they clearly understand the actually working needs of the client and the industry standards of their profession.
Part I, Identify your building type:
Identify the building type or types that your project fits into. For some projects this will be easier than others, as many projects may incorporate elements from various types (i.e. a cultural center with a gallery, restaurant and store will have elements of museums, restaurants and retail).
Part II, Distill the fundamental requirement of the building type:
Come up with a list of the fundamental spatial and functional requirements of the building type (i.e. what makes a library a library? It needs more than just the reading room and stacks that the public sees, it also needs areas for staff, conservation, reshelving, etc.).
Part III, Find precedents:
Select two examples of or parallels to the building type you wish to explore in your thesis. These can come from books, periodical articles or the World Wide Web; provide photographs, drawings and a brief essay on each building stating who uses it, its history, and how it relates to your proposed project.