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Use a professional design process
for major improvements
by Roger Faris
I have a problem about giving advice on careful planning and doing a project right. Every morning I bend down to see what effect the hairbrush is having and I think about how I could have designed the dormer to have just a little more height for the mirror on the bathroom wall. This is a mild example of what happens when you take a shortcut from a good design process. It causes a minor pain in my neck and an occasional bad hair day. I'll give the advice anyway.
Take time for careful planning before investing in a major home improvement. A successful project should meet your needs and provide a good financial return when the home is sold. I've seen a few which were so poorly planned that the result was a decline in the the value of the property. I've also admired home improvement projects with impressive aesthetic and functional details. In these cases I usually discovered that someone with professional design skills had played an important role.
During a recent Well Home Program class, Architect Steve Sartore described the essential elements of a design process which can consistently find the best solutions to home improvement needs. Some of the terms sounded pretty technical, but his talk was filled with practical guides to addressing the basic design questions of Why, What, and How. Understanding and following these steps can make it possible to work smoothly and confidently with design professionals and contractors, to do our own work and attain professional results, and to avoid costly mistakes or regrets. As Steve said, "It's easy to revise a thought or drawing, but hard to move a door or wall."
The design process begins with the question of why a project is being contemplated, and what elements need to be considered to ensure that the needs are met. Later, questions about how the project will be put together are explored in great detail, but the work begins with the gathering of information. This step is called programming. The assembled information resembles a giant shopping list which is reviewed carefully to help define and prioritize needs and desires. At this stage we are not designing the project or limiting the options. As Sergeant Friday used to say, "Just the facts, Ma'am."
Programming requires careful examination of existing conditions in and around the home. Limiting factors such as building and zoning codes should be discovered early in the process. Another constraint might be money. It's important to decide how much you are prepared to spend.
The accumulation of facts is only useful if they are organized and easy to use. Steve showed us how most of the information can be sorted into the categories of image program, activity program, and technology program. The image program is more than what meets the eye, although inspiring photographs and shelter magazine articles are usually part of the collection of materials. The image needs could involve all of the senses. There may be special acoustical requirements for a room. Particular characteristics of the site, such as the orientation to the sun or a view, are also reviewed in this step. Establish the goals to be met by the design.
The activity program describes existing and desired circulation and location functions. For example, the old kitchen may have doorways leading to the basement stairs, a bathroom, the back porch, and the dining room. Possible goals might involve restricting the flow of traffic through the kitchen, and providing space for simple meals or keeping the cook company. At this stage the facts, relationships and goals are described, but design solutions are not yet proposed.
The technology program involves construction, structural, mechanical, and electrical considerations. Details of the existing structure are noted, and goals for meeting the image and activity needs are reviewed. During this step it makes sense to become familiar with the quality and prices of any appliances, fixtures, cabinets, or components that may become part of the plan.
After enough information has been gathered, organized, and digested, we move to the next step, called schematic design. Quick and undetailed drawing techniques permit exploration of basic design options which are based on the program. The idea is to avoid prematurely "locking in" to one design solution. Bubble diagrams show the relationships between different areas and activities. Schematic diagrams provide outlines of the size, shape, and location of the various spaces. Schematic plans include a simple view from above, and help to locate windows, doors, fixtures, and other items. As the best design solutions become more apparent, more information is added. Schematic drawings begin to show interior and exterior elevations, structural detail, preliminary lighting plans, and other information. Through these efforts the scope of the project becomes more clear, and preliminary cost estimates are both possible and necessary.
The third step in the design process is design development. The right scheme has been discovered. It is time to invest in a full refinement of the plan, and to work out every detail. Accurate scale drawings anticipate the exact appearance of the project. All fixtures, furnishings, and equipment are shown. A complete plan emerges, but there is still more work to do.
The final step is the completion of working drawings. The requirements for obtaining a building permit include submitting drawings and calculations which demonstrate that the project will comply with all codes and regulations. The local building department can provide you with sample drawings and other printed information. A different set of working drawings shows contractors exactly what is expected, allowing them to make accurate cost estimates. In the case of fixed bid contracts these construction drawings and specification documents need to include every conceivable detail. Major home improvements are stressful, so it's important to anticipate problems. The source of most mistakes and misunderstandings is easy to find. Look in the mirror.
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