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All Around The House

Thoughts and Advice from the experts on Improving your existing Home.
Tags >> Construction Services

Sense of Scale

Posted by: Michael Ullrich on Apr 6, 2009

Scale - no, I am not talking about that thing we all dread stepping onto in our bathroom or at the gym.  I am talking about proportion and the spatial qualities of an object or entity in relationship to its surroundings.  Scale is measurable, but more importantly it has a sensory component.  When you walk into a room, how do you feel?  Does something seem off?  Maybe the windows are too small, the room is too narrow, and the couch blocks circulation paths.  Everything around us acts to define scale, and therefore, has an affect on our sense of it.

If a room feels too big; architectural treatment of the ceiling and floor planes might be incorporated to create different zones within the space.  If a room feels too small; large window openings and strategic removal of vertical wall surfaces offer new views and a sense of openness. 

Scale can also establish a hierarchy and create focal points.  Like a road map, inhabitants and guests are lead by these architectural cues, and drawn through the spaces of a home.  Proper understanding and manipulation of scale informs every decision that goes into a successful design.

That room you walked into earlier... the one that seemed a bit off.  Imagine how differently it would feel with large windows that flood the space with sunlight.  A boxed bay widens the room creating a niche for the couch, restoring the natural circulation paths into and through the room.  Adjustments like this have the power to modify your perception of a space, redefining its scale.

Thinking outside of the Box

Posted by: Michael Ullrich on Mar 22, 2009

Welcome to my blog.  I am Michael Ullrich, AIA, an architect dedicated to residential design and remodeling in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia.  I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you…

“Thinking outside of the Box”

    It seems everywhere I turn; I am constantly reminded of the downturn in the current economy.  Instead of talking about how bad things are, I would instead like to share a bit of optimism.  I see this downturn in the market as a great opportunity for architects to be “CREATIVE”.  Exquisite design and quality construction should not be limited only to projects with unlimited budgets.  This requires a concerted effort from professionals within the architecture and construction industry.

    We must task ourselves with effectively guiding clients through the design process, and thoroughly explaining how every decision affects their budget.  We must challenge our own preconceptions about design, looking for economical solutions that do not sacrifice intent.  These challenges do not hinder us; instead they fuel creativity and lead us to superior design solutions.

We must also use trade professionals and the ever expanding web to search out cost effective materials and products that do not sacrifice quality.  This again, provides us with a great opportunity.  Simple materials, when detailed and installed properly, can produce magazine quality results without breaking a client’s budget.

    Opportunity is all around us. With effort and ingenuity we can prosper and improve ourselves and our homes… if we just “think outside of the box”.