My Design Philosopohy
As a designer I strongly believe the measure of a successful design relies not only on form but the sense of place that a design expresses, and its value to the local community.
Contextually focused design promotes an ownership and respect towards a landscape, securing its lasting legacy and sustainability. It is this connection to local environment that embeds meaning and depth into landscapes and link considerations of context, program and form into a coherent and legible design. Through past community volunteering it has become obvious to me that simple program such as tree planting creates a bond between nature, design and people. It is this unique connection to landscape that my designs aim to promote through the inclusion of contemporary design layers involving community groups that set the scene for future landscape activities.
Whilst as a designer I like to make bold moves in a landscape I feel these have to be justified according to the context and style of the site, whether it be topography, architecture, community or phenomena. It is these bold
moves and contextual considerations that lead the way for the creation of considered landscapes that push contemporary design in a new and sustainable way.
Communities are the users of spaces and therefore have a vital role in the design process; commonly being strong leaders in the creation of program and form in a way others can’t express. I believe the acceptance of a design by a community is the test of its validity. Any landscape can be classed as aesthetically pleasing and contemporary but it is the designer’s role to push the definition of successful design to question the sustainability, value and meaning of a landscape to its local area and community.
Only when a design successfully addresses all aspects of contemporary form, program and community value do I feel it can be classed as a success. It is this validation of landscapes that I strongly believe is important in distinguishing a space from a place.