Design Approaches in Architecture

As within any field, there are numerous ways to approach architectural design. The way you approach an initial design will shape the entire project as a whole. Therefore it’s crucial to decide upon a design approach and follow it through until the project is complete.

As an architect, your design approach and thought strategy will depend on a variety of factors - from a client’s vision to the external environment. Here, we’ll guide you through some of the most common architectural approach examples to give you an idea of the current trends and strategies.

Here are 3 of the most common design approaches in architecture.

The Sustainable Approach

One of the most common architectural approaches in the last 10 years is the sustainable approach. Everyone wants a green, eco-friendly building. And to achieve that, you need to incorporate sustainable design from the very beginning.

A sustainable architectural approach involves designing buildings to minimize any negative environmental impact. This can involve anything from incorporating sustainable energy use to building placement. Overall, you want to make your building as environmentally friendly as possible.

This approach is oftentimes validated by a LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

The Experiential Approach

This approach to architectural design is extremely immersive. The experiential approach takes into account the end user's experience. In this design strategy, a building is designed as an experience. It incorporates every impression that a visitor will have on the building - creating a fully immersive experience.

The immersive design approach will guide a visitor through the experiential inner-workings of the beautiful piece of art that is your building. This design approach is first and foremost about aesthetics.

The Practical Approach

Arguably the most used approach is the practical design strategy. This strategy is just how it sounds, practical. Within this architectural approach, the architect is using the most practical materials, the most efficient design, and overall a traditionalist strategy.

This is the most cost-efficient approach to architecture. Sometimes a client wants a bold architectural design, but more often than not, the practical approach is most popular. A practical approach is a reasonable solution to design everyday buildings.

These are just 3 architectural approach examples in a world of many. These 3 basic approaches are unique in their own ways and provide endless opportunities for architects to design freely. If you’re looking for a versatile approach to architecture, reach out to the expert architects and developers at Focus today!