Navigate the planet Earth as far as reasonably practicable. You will raise your awareness and gain invaluable experience through exposure to various contexts; cultures, wisdom, places, spaces and memories. Remember the 1966 photograph taken by Lunar Orbiter 1 or the 1968 “Earthrise” photograph of the Earth by Astronaut William Anders (Apollo 8 mission), these served as realisation triggers; that “there are no boarders!”
Exploring and experiencing particular context/ location(s) allows for a subjective experience of the terrain, the smells, the textures, the temperatures, the light and shadows, the colours etc. through the senses yet you can also conduct objective observation and record how people interact and navigate through the said space, the function and performance, the landscape and the architecture thereof.
These investigations and experiences form a collection of ‘parts or tools’ that you collect which will help reduce biased expectations, preconceived ideas and limitations of individual perception when designing the human built environment. Assumptions must be clearly identified and caveats expressed accordingly. The aesthetic is the fine tuned personal-subjective touch.
To summarise; as an architect you will carry out investigations and test ideas before presenting proposals and options. This material - research forms the basis of evidence which defines the reasons behind each specific decision. This method reduces risk, potential errors and is conducive to result in objective performance parameters which set the design. Once the requirements are determined you can pursue resolve and explore the opportunities and express your own novel touch.
Remember to travel, question and record.
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