“Of all the arts, architecture has the most profound effect on how we live. It gives form to our environment, gives expression to our collective identity, and gives us all the opportunity to be inspired daily. Poor architecture doesn’t just blight the lives of those condemned to live and work in ugly buildings, it cheapens the lives of all those who encounter it. The consequences of poor building design are borne by us all.”
If our environment makes such a profound impact on us and our well-being, why do we still come across poorly designed buildings and interiors? It might be easy to assume that these drab designs are simply outdated or born in another era, however, there are poorly designed modern spaces plaguing our communities as well.
With so much of our time being spent indoors, it’s surprising that we don’t hold our immediate environments to a higher standard. You, yourself, may be wondering why quality architecture is so important.
Here are four reasons why quality architectural design matters:
Reason #1 – Economics
What attracts people to certain cities? What makes certain metros more appealing than others? The answer is the cities and the quality of their architecture; the design of their building and space in between; the collective identity they create.
Bottom line: great architecture attracts tourists – attracting economic investment!
With more tourism, comes more business, which then gets funneled back into the city and its buildings. Anyone in development or architecture knows that good design does not come without spending a pretty penny first. However, the best architectural design is one that won’t cost much, but will still continue to drive economic growth.
Creating affordable architecture is more difficult and therefore becomes the reason for ignoring quality design decisions. Balancing affordability and quality involves entrepreneurship on the part of the architect and upfront investment to invent an affordable solution that the masses can afford.
Reason #2 – Quality of Life
We are greatly affected by our immediate environment. Color, form, and lighting can enhance or diminish the quality of the interior or exterior construction and our experience.
Color has such a remarkable impact on creating the psychological mood or ambiance that supports the function of a space. As noted by the Center for the Study of Art and Architecture, “the architect must consider the color effect of every element of a building’s construction, from the earthy colors of primary construction materials like wood, stone, brick, and marble, to the expansive variety of colors available for paint, doors, windows, siding, and trim.”
Colors like blue will induce a more calming or relaxing effect, while colors like yellow and orange convey warmth and excitement. You will typically see blues and greens used in hospitals as a way to instill calmness in the staff and their patients. On the contrary, you will typically see bright colors such as yellow or orange in fast food restaurants or children’s play areas due to the stimulation of such energizing colors.
Another factor to consider is the impact of lighting, specifically natural light. Daylighting is the practice of placing windows, other openings, and reflective surfaces so that sunlight can provide effective internal lighting. When properly executed, not only will it be visually enhancive, but it will also result in sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. Researchers have found that a well-daylighted space can also have a positive psychological impact on a person’s circadian rhythm.
In working environments, good design increases productivity and encourages people to reach higher standards. Bright, open, and uncluttered spaces allow the mind and body to relax, while dark and gloomy environments incite tiredness, fatigue, and overall dissatisfaction.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many people began home improvement projects in order to create a more stimulating and enjoyable work environment while working from home. This was a major step towards understanding how our space affects us at large.
Another element that impacts our mood, behavior, and health is having access to green spaces. Studies have shown that having access to parks, playgrounds, community gardens, and public plazas can lower depression and anxiety and improve overall health.
Whether you’re the developer or the architect, it is important to understand how all of these factors affect the user of the space. The way you treat an office space is different from how you would treat an apartment building. Taking steps to understand the user and matching their needs is a must for quality architectural design.
Reason #3 – Creating Flow
Is the space functional? Is the design going to create efficiency in the lives of its users?
Parallel to quality of life, creating flow has a profound effect on the way we go through life. Our buildings need to be easy to move around in and easy to navigate. Think of how much money homebuyers put into renovating the kitchen in an older home, just to improve the function of cooking and family time. Good flow makes people’s lives more efficient and more enjoyable.
For example, well-designed hospitals ensure that patients are treated quickly. Each lane leads to a specific corridor which leads to a specific operating room, which typically avoids high-traffic areas – creating the most efficient way to treat someone in critical need.
Well-designed schools create better learning environments. And workplaces with good architecture experience higher productivity.
Good design also ties the individuals of a community together. We’ve been discussing mainly interior design and its effects, however, the way each community is designed also has an impact. Great design takes into account how each neighboring community or business relates and functions.
Are there sidewalks available to the residents of your newly constructed multi-family apartment complex to the neighboring coffee shops and businesses? How do they interact with the rest of the facility? Is there a community space where residents can interact with one another?
These are all great questions that can lead to better quality architectural design.
Reason #4 – Societal Progress
We are rapidly evolving nowadays with new technologies and new changes at every turn. Value drivers (see below) are defined differently according to the era, technology, culture, and society. And as a society and social life develop, the spatial requirements change due to lifestyle, needs, and technology. It is our prerogative to adapt.
Good architecture progresses with the times and encourages us to adopt healthier, more efficient habits. As an architect, some foresight is needed in order to accurately predict the needs of the user over the next several years. What will those needs be? What changes are already happening that we can design for?
Consider this too, the full development process can take several years to complete, with several more years added on once construction begins. If buildings are not being designed for the future, they will be outdated by the time they are completed. The lifespan of a building is more enduring with societal progress in mind.
We briefly discussed Value Drivers above, however, due to their relevance, it is important to define those drivers and illustrate that quality architecture is not exclusive to higher budget projects and can in fact be achieved within any constraints.
As seen in the illustration below, design excellence is evaluated by three drivers:
- Build Quality
- Functionality
- Impact
Where these three meet in the middle is where design excellence is achieved.
Source for image above: https://www.irbnet.de/daten/iconda/CIB8975.pdf
Closing statements:
At Holladay Ventures, we take pride in delivering high-quality architectural design within the confines of maintaining affordability for our end users. It is possible to achieve quality on a “budget” and we urge every developer and/or architect to consider the impact our space has on our well-being. What we design ultimately affects the lives of others today and for several years to come.
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Our “Big Hairy Audacious Goal” here at Holladay Ventures is to provide attainable homes for 100,000 families. So, why not start now? Why not proactively start investing in attainable options for current and future residents of Nashville?
We always seek to partner with impact-driven investors, or as we like to call them, IMPACT INVESTORS. Together, Holladay Ventures and our impact investors have the power to create options for the working-class residents in our community. This is a call for massive change, and as an investor, a call for major return on investment.
Interested in Impact Investing with Evan and Holladay Ventures for recession-resistant returns and having a positive impact with your capital? Set up a call with our investor relations team to see if it’s a good fit: https://holladayventures.com/investors/
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