By Nicholai Go
Since the dawn of humanity, our dwellings have not only protected us from the elements but also served as spaces where families can grow and thrive. Ancient civilizations used local materials, simple layouts, and prescribed methods to build their homes. Each era in the history of residential architecture reflects evolving technologies, materials, and societal values, creating a rich tapestry of styles and innovations.
Filipino residential architecture has followed these same trends, from simple bahay kubo structures—movable through the bayanihan spirit—to towering condominiums housing thousands today.
Building your first home is a universally daunting experience. One misstep can birth years of headaches and heartaches. As a professional architect, my role has always been to demystify this experience and guide clients through this process to successful outcomes.
To achieve this, we follow a rigorous and ever-evolving design process. I’d like to share this process with you, hoping it will help you on your journey to designing your perfect home. However, remember, this is merely a guide. Each client, project, and architect has unique approaches and methods.
Phase 1: Concept brief
The first phase of any residential design project, the concept brief, can be roughly divided into two major exercises: identifying the client’s needs and wants, and analyzing the site.
For the first part, we conduct a deep dive into the lifestyle and personality of our clients to determine their current and future needs and wants. We determine how much space each function of the house requires by simulating how it will be used, organized, and arranged.
At our studio, we provide clients with an extensive questionnaire. The data we collect is then organized into a document called the program, which outlines all the rooms and spaces for the project and their approximate sizes. This program is highly critical as it acts as the foundation and anchor for the entire project. It is important that the architect and client take the time to clearly define this before moving forward.
"Knowing the owner's needs is important, but understanding their personality and habits at home helps us create a more personalized approach in the planning stage." - SLIC Architecture
The second part of the concept brief is site analysis. This involves a thorough analysis of the site such as climate, social, regulations, and physical aspects of the site which drives the rest of the design process.
A key component is the sun path analysis, where one examines the sun’s movement throughout the year and its effect on the building plot. This analysis helps architects design and orient the building to make the most of sunlight and control solar gains.
We also perform a views analysis, studying the site’s perspectives both looking out and looking in. This specific analysis helps architects design the house to not only focus on the pleasing views but also maximize the sense of privacy for the inhabitants.
Without a comprehensive site analysis, designers risk creating homes unsuitable for their specific locations—you could end up with an igloo in the desert! If you’re environmentally conscious, this step is crucial. It is only through this exercise can you start to design an environmentally friendly house that is equipped with ample natural light, passive ventilation, solar and water harvesting, and vegetation.
Once those two parts of concept brief are completed, we at Pino Places create concept diagrams that consolidate the data and learning into either digital or physical models. These models are continuous works in progress as we continue to develop house design throughout the design process.
As you can see, the design process is highly iterative and requires collaboration from all parties involved. Depending on the size of the project, this phase typically takes three to four weeks to complete.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we explore the remaining phases of the home design process.