As a verb, the word design can be loosely defined as a plan or action taken to achieve a certain goal. However, design also serves as a noun for certain set of skills or attribute that describes the intention of an action or plan. In other words, design can be defined as a connection of a beginning and an end.
Design connects and strenghtens the interaction between the environment and human beings. It encourages users to explore a deeper understanding of functions and space, either through visual cues, and/or physical experiences.
Design can be defined as a creative, meticulously laid out plan in order to surpass the intended solution of the problem.
To design is to carefully observe a problem, and with a creative vision, produce a solution that surpasses the basic intended outcome. A product or solution that only manages to provide a basic solution cannot be considered a design but rather an engineered solution. This is an echo to the Bauhaus School founder, Walter Gropius’, statement: “architecture begins where engineering ends”.
However, a “creative” solution that does not solve the problem is worse than an engineered solution. These kind of solution is usually an aesthetic solution, where “design” is used to cover up unsightly engineering solutions but does not contribute to the overall performance of the goal. Many people, both generally and professionally, have this confused as design but in reality, it is very far from that.
Reconsider Gropius’ words, “architecture begins where engineering ends”. Without engaging with the background and the philosophy of the author of these words, one may simply understand these words as “architecture’s role is to beutify the engineering components so that the design will be aethetically pleasing.” In other words, architecture’s role is just of ornamentation rather than a comprehensive one.
With the roles of interior designers and interior decorators on the rise in the construction scene, an architect’s role is just to “design” the shell of a building and prepare any official paperworks for the submission and construction of these buildings. Thus, in order to boost their business opportunities, architects turn to the same strategy as interior deccorators by offering aesthetically engaging “designs” that do not have any other motives than decorative ones. The more visually regurgitating a building is, the higher chance it is for an architect to score a project.
That said, there are also “designs” which are equally mundane but sold as minimalist, cost saving, or practical. Again, the role of architecture is reduced to the role of rolling a blanket over the engineering bones of a building. Furthermore, rather than resolving some simple issues through the architectural design process, architects are much more willing to let another engineering solution resolve such issue in their place.
Again, we turn back to Gropius’ statement. The true meaning of that sentence, which eludes many modern architects these days, is that architecture plays an important role to elevate engineering solutions to a creative, artistic, and sculptural level through the synergy of arts and science. It is the role of an architect to step out from their duty as an over-glorified draughts person and push for better solutions by understanding and fusing the different disciplines of art, science, and engineering.
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