SPACE PLANNING - Does Form Follow Function?

I would like to impart the importance of the phrase “space planning.” It is a simple concept that states that a person should begin with a plan and identify exactly how they intend on using the space.

Most people’s focus immediately goes to the aesthetic and decor; “What colors should I use?” typically comes to mind. Often, that is the first question I’m asked upon walking through the door for a first time design consultation. Questions about the sofa, tables, chairs soon follow.

But, without a plan and a good idea of how you will use the space, you might end up with an overcrowded room full of furnishings, that is neither appealing nor functional.

       Form vs. function; is an age old debate amongst designers and architects. If you where to follow the example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater home, you could definitely say, form comes first. 

Fallingwater

Yes, it is one of the most spectacular works of concrete cantilever design ever seen, and it is one of my all time favorite structures in architecture. However, an ongoing struggle continues to this day to save the home from “falling” into the water; Wright sacrificed the advised structural stability in lieu of the ideal picture perfect design form, ignoring the most basic imperative of a building: that it stands up.

Some functionalities to consider when planning your space.

Will this room get heavy daily use, or few times a year as a showroom for special occasions?  What type of lighting is required; ambient, task, general? Will the furnishings and hardscape materials be easy to maintain? Does the space require multipurpose use? What are the storage and organizational requirements for the room?

Of course, as an interior designer, I am strongly drawn to the aesthetic which is how most judge the final feel and look of the room. Our environment plays out our emotions.

Ultimately though, I find that when practicing interior design, one must consider both simultaneously to create the perfect balance between the aesthetic and the application. After all, it is balance we strive for in our day to day lives. Good interior design should follow the same principals we apply to our lives. Design reflects living.