Context. An explanation.

What is context? How does it impact the way we design and plan homes?

Really good questions.

Context is how the home relates and responds to it's environment, the climatic influences of the site and the way in which the past influences built form. That's the external factors. Context is also the current trends in design, the juxtaposition between old and new and how people are influenced by the built form and the emotional impact of the design.

How does it impact the way we design and plan homes?

Simply, all good designers will consider carefully the environmental and present architectural features of a location and understand what the new home will bring to support and enhance the place in which it sits. Homes are expected to stand for a minimum of 50 years. The building regulations stipulate this and require all construction to be of suitable construction to meet this standard. Therefore, it is likely all the homes I design will be here after I leave the veil of this life. It is my legacy and so, as a designer, I have a responsibility to my clients and all future inhabitants of that home to do my role diligently and with consideration of all factors, now and in future. I will advise more detail on this concept later in another blog.

Plan homes. Well, in simple terms, the design of a home is subjective and objective. There are 2 opposing principals and their diverging nature demands a constant in home design. Truly good home design finds the "happy medium" between two conflicting requirements.

• Design a home to meet the clients needs now and with a vision to future changes in lifestyle. This may mean designing a home that can easily be future proofed (in an accessible way, for example).

• Design a home that adds the maximum value possible with the available budget, while saving cost where possible, but adding increased value to a possible sale later.

• Designing a home that fits within the budget, but has enough volume to comfortably accommodate the clients possessions and spatial requirements.

• Design a home that is buildable, but challenge the design aspect enough to make the home attractive and special.

It is this "conflict" where pure design and building come together. That can cause some issues through the design and construction process, but elegance in the outcome is driven by this contradiction. "yin and yang", "light and dark" "textured and smooth". The successful delivery of home design has balance. It's a bit of each, to find equilibrium and I think it's why the really good designers seem so unique. They have to deal with this constant conflict of thoughts and analysis. Some designers are very erratic in their thought processes and I think this is why they are so good. They test everything in their head and thoughts.

Signing off,

Revell.