Solving Design Contradictions: from Concert Halls to Hospitals
| |
Image: dps | Flickr
Image: dps | Flickr
The big challenge for architects designing concert halls is to design the architectural acoustics to meet the needs of varying musical styles. (1)
WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM CONCERT HALL DESIGN
The design challenge of a concert hall is at first glance contradictory — to foster closeness and, yet, to surround listeners with the life and essence of a music’s sound.
Different levels of intimacy and aliveness vary depending on music style. What makes this even more difficult is that, intimacy and aliveness are very difficult to quantify — thus, design for. (1)
Such contradictions exist in other architecture types. For instance, hospitals must design to cater to as many patient needs as possible while striving to keep hospital costs low. In office buildings, the need for both individual work and team work is vital – the contradiction surfaces when considering how interconnected the two should be.
SOLVING FOR CONTRADICTIONS
Timing is everything (well, almost.)
A great hospital design could, in fact, help to meet just the right patient needs at just the right time in their healing process. This yields faster recovery and; thus, less hospital cost since patients stay for less time.
The secret is not to meet every patient need, whether they need it or not, but to meet individual patient needs at just the right time and in just the right way.
The key is to fine tune your design so you can orchestrate not just how it works, but when it works.
Instead of trying to solve two separate problems, find where they might interrelate — often, by getting to the root of each problem, you will uncover that the two are not as far apart as you once thought.
Often, what may seem to be a contradiction is really not.
(1) Thompson, Craig. Architectural Acoustics. Illumin.usc.edu.
Join My Newsletter and Get a Free Copy of my Book Sign up for the FREE Sensing Architecture Newsletter to achieve breakthrough insights that will expand the way you think about architectural design. This is a great way to set your work apart from the rest. Plus, get free immediate access to Bringing Architecture to the Next Level, where you will learn how to shift your mindset to reach breakthrough ideas, meet and predict occupant need using sensory design, leverage your design process to get more with less, rethink technology to unleash your innovative edge, and so much more.  Sign-Up Now for Instant Access * Your information will always be kept confidential. |
Print This Post
Hi, I want to know more Hospital Design such as Neorology,Cardiac, Mental, Pediartic and Orthopedic.
Gashaw,
As you drill down into more specific and focused patient hospital needs it helps to really understand things in greater detail like patient treatments, symptoms, hospital-to-home care transition and so on. Each hospital “division” (like neurology, cardiac, mental health and so on) will have their own design “similarities” and “contradictions”. Take a very close look at the patient’s “journey” through each of these department types. Begin with their condition before even arriving at the hospital. Look at what they need during treatment while at the hospital and what they will need as they begin their recovery process — whatever that may be for each department type. Think outside the box and look for opportunities where design can solve a problem, prevent a new one and prevent the patient from having to come back to the hospital for a repeat visit and treatment.