Most people who want to build something, whether it is their home, an office building, a factory, have one thing in common: they want to get the most out of the money invested in construction.
Architect Pavlo Peker, author of the material
I encountered various customers - both rich and those who risk their last money; with dreamers and pragmatists, with large companies and startups, people of different races and religions. And I never once heard the phrase, they say, Pasha, I want such a building that N people liked it on your Instagram. Or no one said: "Make me such a project, for which you will receive the Pritzker Prize." Or, let's say: "I want to invest money in the construction of an architectural masterpiece."
Everyone says something else: "Here's the budget, here's the deadline, here's my 300 workers for whom I want to build a new office building." Or: "I will serve Ukrainian cuisine in my restaurant, the check will be 2 hryvnias for two, and I need to create such an atmosphere that people will come back to me." Or: "There will be production of such and such products here, and I need people to be safe here and to work efficiently."
Feel the difference? Architecture is important to architects. A clear, appropriate and efficient space is important to people.
Human based is an approach that takes into account the interests of people and enables them to use the created space in the best way.
Modern apartment building. Berlin, Germany. Photo: Jonas Skrivet
How to create architecture for people?
Here are some principles that guide Peker & Partners.
1. Be able to hear the client, formulate for him what he REALLY WANTS, and present the best solution. For this, you have to study all the details of his request. If this is a project of a private house in which the client will live with his family, it is necessary to get to know everyone and find out their expectations. If it is a project for a business, then we understand all its nuances, study technologies, get to know employees and customers, learn about the needs of everyone who will interact with the business.
2. Build a relationship of trust with the client. The client must trust the architect as a doctor. Customers usually remain our friends. The client needs arguments, explanations of architectural solutions. And more often than not, these arguments are based on what people who will use the design object will get. In order for the client to trust us, we must be open and honest, practice responsible handling of money, deadlines and documentation.
Architecture is important to architects. A clear, appropriate and efficient space is important to people
3. Pre-discuss the entire work process. Our client has access to processes at all stages of design. Depending on the complexity of the object, we use different ways of providing this access. However, all of them are based on the fact that the project is created in BIM - Building Information Model. This makes it possible to model objects as accurately as possible without errors. The same applies to traffic calculations - the routes of people's movement, what they will see, what they will interact with, and the client gets access to a model where he can follow the design process. Thus, the process and result are predictable, which is the key to peace and good relations.
The complex exterior of Tuletorget creates an interesting game of shadows and reflections. Sundbiberg, Sweden
4. The attitude towards the architect is based on his competence. There is a direct relationship between how bold and innovative ideas an architect offers and how wrong these decisions can be. Everyone makes mistakes. And we are not afraid of it. Our task is to detect and correct errors in a timely manner. To do this, we model, test and question every step. We check to what extent this or that solution corresponds to the customer's business model. And how safe, efficient and comfortable people will be in each designed space. Variability creates the most successful solution, for which we are responsible.
5. Responsibility for the project at all stages of its creation from idea to implementation and for a certain period of operation. It is necessary to control the process of building and launching the facility.
The sooner we are involved in the project, the more profitable it is for the customer. We carry out an analysis of the area, and sometimes this becomes a reason to abandon a previously unsuccessful location for the project. Various factors can influence here — from the urban planning situation to problems with how the business model fits here. For example, I was once approached by a customer who wanted to organize production in the premises on Khreschatyk.
After analyzing her business and determining the logistics, I noted that standard delivery boxes would not fit in the old elevator, and numerous cargo couriers would be in traffic jams on the eve of the holidays. This led to the fact that the customer refused the premises in the center of Kyiv and chose a location in the suburbs. Seems like obvious things, but notice how many restaurants are closing, how you refuse to go to a business meeting or to the gym because "it will take half a day" and "you have nowhere to park."
If architecture works for people, it is good architecture
Together with the customer, we draw up a so-called design assignment. This is an important document, from which everyone is repelled in the future. In accordance with this task, we create an architectural concept or preliminary design. Everyone immediately imagines beautiful visualizations with evening lighting in the rain. Yes, it will certainly be beautiful, but the customer is not primarily looking at this. And not even for planning. And not on the general plan.
First of all, he is looking for the TEP plate (technical and economic indicators). This is the only convincing argument. Here he will find clear numbers - total and usable area, number of people, construction volume and, most importantly, the expected cost of project implementation. And only after exhaling with relief that everything is taken into account, in a good mood will look at planning solutions and good visualizations.
Of course, it would be wrong to assume that the design object is a set of documentation. An important realization is the construction of the object. The construction process itself is a stress factor. And the cause of stress mostly lies in the discrepancy of the result with expectations. To avoid this, the detailing of the project must be as high as possible, all construction processes are taken into account and controlled, and the customer must be aware of everything that is happening at the facility. During the construction process, we hold meetings with the customer at the facility and in the office, and explain the decision.
As a result, we get an architectural object where all factors are foreseen, directed and taken into account. All paths are optimal so that a person can get from point A to point B by the shortest path, and if the path is long, so that he can enjoy it. The intended lighting parameters: light temperature, brightness and mass are aimed at allowing a person to concentrate and not fall asleep at the workplace or to relax and rest in a restaurant.
The acoustic properties of the spaces make it possible to exclude noise and echo, everyone who wants to communicate can hear each other well and do not disturb others. The materials are pleasant and appropriate: a massive wooden table in a good restaurant or a practical artificial stone in a snack bar set the tone for the entire establishment, and ceramic tiles or carpeting on the floor indicate the level of the hotel.
If architecture works for people, it is good architecture.
Text: Pavlo Peker
