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Lately, I’ve been diligently working on various design projects. Rather than merely dealing with spatial issues, it often feels like I’m interacting with a diverse array of people. When it comes to architectural design, it’s almost always about designing for people.
Sometimes, during the design process, we reflect on the traces left by people in the past. However, more often, we address the challenges faced by present users. And then there are the people who will inhabit these spaces in the future—they are the driving force and ultimate goal of our design work. In moments like these, we sense the depth of our connection to humanity.
Different types of projects involve different individuals. Whether it’s public projects, private commissions, high-profile endeavors, or even less glamorous design tasks, each person brings a unique perspective. Observing their reactions, analyzing their explicit or hidden thoughts and attitudes, we discover distinct entry points for each event. We then strive to objectively reconsider the relationship between design work and these individuals. At such times, we feel the breadth of human involvement in architecture.
It’s precisely this intricate interplay of diverse perspectives that outlines the most authentic contours of spatial design. While we may hold pure and ideal design concepts in our hearts, the “reality” often requires us to set aside part of ourselves, creating enough space for our team, clients, investors, and collaborators. Perhaps, upon reflecting on the entire story later, we won’t find it to be our most satisfying achievement, but it should be an ending that leaves us feeling content.
Costs, profits, stability, careers, dreams, status, vanity, hope, emotions, and perfunctory efforts—all these intertwine in the minds of everyone involved, creating a unique dimension within the realm of architecture. Here, there is no absolute right or wrong; design is the key that governs everything.