Using a scale model, a form of prototyping, to test design concepts (my photo)
This is another in my series of posts inspired by 1000 Awesome Things,
the Webby Award-winning blog written by Neil Pasricha.
The series is my meditation on the awesome reasons why I was and continue to be
attracted to the art of architecture.
While iterative prototyping is a vital tool for
design and innovation in many industries, the use of prototypes is severely
limited in the production of architecture. Each new building stands alone as a
culmination of ideas, adaptation, and continuous improvement at the time of its
design. Effectively, every building is its own prototype, a unique example of
its kind.
Full-sized, operational prototypes offer a
range of benefits that virtual representations alone cannot fully replicate.
These benefits are particularly significant for the automotive, aerospace, or
consumer electronics industries, where physical prototypes play a crucial role
in design and testing. Full-sized, operational prototyping holds immense value
when amortized over the entire production run of manufactured products. While
the upfront costs of creating these prototypes can be substantial, the
long-term benefits they provide throughout the production lifecycle far
outweigh the initial investment. Prototyping reduces the likelihood of costly
changes once mass production begins, helps validate assumptions regarding the
user experience, and can identify inefficiencies in production processes.
Prototypes in flight: The YF-16 and YF-17 aircraft,
competitors in the U.S. Air Force’s Lightweight Fighter technology evaluation
program of the early 1970s (photo by Air Force Camera Operator: R.L. HOUSE,
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons).
On the other hand, full-sized, operational
prototypes are impractical for one-off and program-specific architectural projects
due to the unique challenges posed by the complexity, scale, and price tag associated
with buildings. Buildings vary widely in scope, design, and context. Each
project responds to a distinctive set of user requirements and the
peculiarities of its site. The customization inherent in architecture makes it
challenging to develop a one-size-fits-all prototype that can accommodate
diverse project needs. In theory, architects could benefit from creating prototypes
to identify flaws, make improvements, and arrive at a final design that is both
functional and economical. Prototyping is a fundamental tool for innovation in
many industries, but the world of architecture operates under an entirely different
paradigm, one in which time, finance, and sustainability are hefty considerations.
Instead of prototyping, architects rely on
alternative methods—including computer-generated simulations, augmented reality,
scale models, and other design visualization tools—to test and refine their
ideas before construction begins. Stand-alone mockups of building components
are likewise valuable tools for focused testing of ideas and assessing
performance of specific systems in a far more cost-effective and practical manner
than complete building prototypes.
Reviewing a full-sized, stand-alone mockup of the
integrated, exterior wall assembly for the Lane Community College Health
Professions Building, currently under construction (my photo).
Several well-known architects developed their
design theories and visions over the course of multiple projects, using each as
a steppingstone or prototype to refine and evolve their ideas. Notable examples
include Le Corbusier, who expounded on his “Five Points of Architecture” through a series of projects that effectively
served as prototypes for his design philosophy. Likewise, Louis Kahn progressively
refined his notions on monumentality and light with projects like the Salk
Institute, Kimbell Art Museum, and the National Assembly Building of
Bangladesh. Both Corb and Kahn used successive projects as testing grounds for
new ideas, materials, and concepts.
So, every
building is a prototype, not for its own sake but rather for that of the projects
that follow it. Completed projects provide architects with an AWESOME
opportunity for continuous improvement. They serve as valuable sources of
knowledge to be drawn upon to help refine design strategies and improve the
probability of better outcomes in future projects of similar types. This
knowledge is often the result of feedback from users and other project
stakeholders. All the lessons learned help architects anticipate and mitigate
risks associated with design decisions, construction methods, and unforeseen
challenges.
Next Architecture is Awesome: #33 Happy Clients
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