The aims of design

From the outset of a new project, the designer’s preliminary work can be based on very limited information which may be sufficient to justify putting forward ideas for consideration. However, it is very unusual to find that the finished design materialises effortlessly, translating initial ideas into reality without any revision. This quote from Karl Popper ‘An Evolutionary Approach’ sums up the situation concisely:

The elements of building design

It is always easy to criticise of course, and with the advantage of hindsight, every building would be perfect. It is said that ‘history is a good teacher’ and everyone involved in creating new buildings would do well to study past successes and failures so that the same mistakes are not repeated. This can only be achieved by understanding as far as practically possible the true requirements and purposes of buildings so that significant elements are not ignored or forgotten.