INT351

Post 10 Commercial environments include every kind of space that is non-residential, such as: offices hospitality ( like hotels and restaurants) retail (clothing stores) institutional (schools) health care ( hospitals)] others       Designing for commercial environments is different from designing residential projects as we have seen precedently. Designing for commercial environments, is challenging in a lot of ways because the design is served to please a good number of people, and not just one or a few. In all of these distinctive commercial spaces, there is a need to balance well the private/personal and the public/interactive spaces ( we need to look at the proxemics to evaluate that aspect). This describes the study of proxemics. But there is also a need to serve well the staff, the clients, the visitors, the patients, teachers, students, etcetera. Plus not only do we have to serve well all these people, we also have to consider "the ...

Post 09 Nussbaumer's Chapter 9 Summary: This chapter is the commencement of the application of what we have learned previously  ( the human factors) into projects, which begins first with residential environments. We have already discussed the main design strategies and best options for residential environments with Rengel's book. However, Nussbaumer add and brings a new perspective to the subject. It is necessary to adapt the residence for the clients to use ( retrofitting), especially if those future occupants need to have certain accommodations and certain provisions for alternative ways to access steps via ramps or lifts due to physical limitations (barrier- free design). It is also necessary to provide a home design that will last a long time, especially if it is a young couple or a family that purchased the house and plan to live in there for a lifetime, which means that they will age, probably have kids, etcetera. It is then better to provide...

Post 08 Rengel's Chapter 8 Summary: After talking about residential design, this chapter focuses on the non- residential design which is the office space, the store space (retail), and the restaurant. Designing for these kind of spaces, is not the same as designing for residential projects, because it does not only serve one client, a couple, or one family, but its purpose is to serve the workers, the visitors, the community, which is mostly everyone. Work environments: We have to be able to provide a space where workers can focus on work and be productive. Plus, these days, more and more companies want their workers to work on teams. There is a need to balance private and public spaces. However the privacy is not the same as the privacy in a residential project where people are completely isolated, but it is shown in a subtle and thoughtful way (semi-private with workstations). We also would want to provide rooms where the company can have group meetings with eith...

Post 07 Rengel's Chapter 7 Summary:      This chapter focuses on residential design and overall Roberto J. Rengel gives us tips on how to have a successful space planning for this particular type of design, especially for smaller scales and spaces. We have to better understand the dynamics of living in shared spaces, and for that, to start the process, we have to look back and see with our own experience ( the houses/dorms/apartments we have seen or lived) since we are familiar to residential design, and examine what are the preferences and habits of our clients ( we have to make an assessment with them of their needs and ask about their lifestyle). All of these, especially the assessment will help to establish what kind of furnishings and spaces will need to be provided in order to accommodate the particular functions they needed. There are some design considerations that are universal too, in the residential design aspect such as dividing the ove...

Post 06 Rengel's Chapter 6 summary: When taking a project, we are of course involved in the space planning process. And to make a project successful, we have to make it as simple as possible, cohesive, practical (functional) and efficient for the users.   And for me, the most important characteristic that will help the space be more successful by responding to these qualities is the flow ( the circulation within a space). Circulation is actually hard to achieve, especially if there are different types of rooms involved such as an open space and a closed room, or different functions in a room. The interior designer needs to have a clear circulation system and there are different ways to achieve that. This building offers corridors with stairs to circulate from floor to floor. lighting makes the corridor interesting and pleasant. different types of circulation to think about. There are also different elements th...