Monday summary

Hi everyone,

Here's a summary of what we discussed on Monday, minus my presentation.  If you want to see some examples of my work online, check out

The Way Ahead gallery

Getting a handle on the brief.

This is an exercise I do in my own practice when presented with a brief – lay it all out and then analyse what I’ve got to work with and how I feel about it.  It serves as a handy summary of all the things that need consideration, including building in personal influence and what is possible in time and materials.

What or who inspires you in your interior architecture practice, and why? (this is to help you identify your influences/direction)

What do you think the client wants? (It’s important to speak to your client as early as possible – and be clear about what your impressions are. Their opinion may be similar to yours - or be very different).

What kind of materials are available / possible to use?

What are your impressions of the spaces, good and bad? For weave, print, knit and fashion. Anything you can use? Lose? Cover up?

What about the existing elements (in this case, the building?)  Does it have any influence you might want/need to reference in your design?

Allocate responsibilities – who’s going to do what – i.e. drawing, make models, source materials, background research, do budget, take minutes of group meetings etc

Access hints and tips. These are essentially practical - but on Monday we also talked about how these elements can be used creatively.

Space and permanent features

• Room to move and accommodate wheelchair turning circles
  
• Avoid designing ‘bottlenecks’ where people congregate and block thoroughfare
  
• Floor surfaces – thick carpet can be difficult for manual wheelchair users
  
• Trip hazards – avoid trailing wires or things hanging that could trip people or be caught by a wheelchair
  
• Contrasting floor and wall surfaces can help define the room
  
• Floor surfaces – changes in texture or surface marking can help a person navigate
  
• Handrails on stairs
  
• Avoid heavy doors – use sliding or automatic doors
  
• Lower height lift buttons, door handles and entrance bells
  
• Lighting – avoid glare on reflective surfaces, low level lighting, or lighting that cannot be adjusted
  
• Diffuse lighting with no shadows
  
• Room surfaces – be aware of echoing or sound absorbing features
  

Furniture

• Moveable furniture
  
• Tables – height and clearance room underneath 
  
• Avoid heavy doors – sliding or automatic doors can suit everyone
  
• Trip hazards – avoid trailing wires
  
• Offer places to stop and rest, include varied seating options - lower height seating for children, higher seating for those with less mobile hip and knee joints, armrests to enable someone to get up more easily, higher backed chairs for comfort
  

Signage and information

• Tactile signage – Braille can be added onto lift buttons, door push-plates and the underside of handles to give information about the room someone is entering
  
• Audio information – recorded on a loop, or lightbeam technology which allows information to be given audibly when someone breaks the beam
  
• Take into account lower eye level for signage, displays and reception desks
  
• Clear signage incorporating visual instructions - may benefit learning disabled people, people who speak another language, BSL users when English is not their first language, small children
  
• Lower height lift buttons and entrance bells
  
• Positioning of displays – not trip hazards or blocking thoroughfare
  
• Visual fire alarms and alerts
  

Safe spaces
Quiet areas within larger rooms – some people can be overwhelmed by crowds, noise, lighting. Clubs have ‘chill out areas’ – why not other spaces?

Your next session is with Damian at Mithras House on Thursday 28th Feb from 10.00am.  

Caroline