IN architecture, sections are equally as important as elevations, and, for concept-driven projects, sections are referenced even more. Sections depict some of the most intricate details that explain how to construct a structure. It is interesting to see how these drawings are detailed on paper and how the user’s lifestyle and habits change according to how these sections are designed.
I was at a friend’s condo recently and found myself observing the habits of these vertical residential dwellers. As the sun set and dusk turned into night, I observed how the building came to life as lights were turned on. It was enchanting to witness a static structure turn into a living organism, as if revealing its internal organisms. Some units turned on their lights; others, their television sets, or were in the kitchen preparing dinner, or in the living room entertaining friends or having family time together. It was just alluring to see how different people adapt and change their lifestyles based on how developers and their architects design these urban spaces. Condo units are identically laid-out, save for a few changes in configuration, such as the number of bedrooms, but, as I sat there that evening and watched how each space was used and how each was decorated differently from the other, it became readily apparent how creative people can be—sometimes, even without them realizing it. They are able to customize the space according to their lifestyle. They are able to work around set conditions and adjust to the parameters dictated by the units themselves.
The same is true with the office spaces that I routinely pass by on my way to the office or a meeting. The only difference is the usage and the function of the buildings. In office spaces, instead of couches, TV screens, kitchens and bedrooms, desks piled with paperwork, conference rooms and rooms brain-storming fill each window. It is fascinating to see how even the lighting preferences differ among people. Some use warm white, while others prefer daylight. They have different minds of their own.
As we go about our busy days, it can be rewarding to look at things in different perspectives and different situations. Sometimes, the insights you gain from these musings become your daily doses of wisdom. Looking at different perspectives make us realize what life is all about. There are always insights that we can extract from these experiences—we just have to be sensitive enough to take in and process these to make us better creative individuals, perhaps even better people. These are instances, thoughts and perspectives from which we can draw inspiration as we continually study the habits and lifestyles of people that we, as designers, need to take into consideration when it comes to designing for communities that work.
Image credits: Artwork by Nikki Boncan-Buensalido