All architecture starts with a concept. If you're struggling to find one, are curious about what a concept is, or are wondering how architects start their projects, this short course will walk you through the process I use and some of the techniques I rely on to develop architectural concepts, all illustrated using one of my residential projects.

Design is a dialogue, and concept gives you something to talk about. In this video I explain the exact steps I take at the beginning of each project and how these steps lead me to an architectural concept.

Before we can develop the concept, we first need to understand the practical constraints. My design process only begins after I have collected and assessed all the parameters given to a project. This is primarily three types of information. There is information that comes from the site – things like the local climate, prevailing winds, solar radiation, vegetation, neighboring buildings, the history of the site and any special risks or opportunities. The site also, of course, brings with it a legal framework for development that describes where and what we can and cannot build.

The second type of information we collect is information from the client. Each client has a set of cultural beliefs and biases, preferences and intentions. Of course, we want to determine their budget and understand personality traits and organizational policies that can also influence the design. The client and the building type together determine what architects call "the program," which is essentially a detailed listing of all the spaces the building will contain.

And the third type of information I gather is related to the building typology – for example, is it a museum, a residential building… or a school? To learn about a building typology, we often conduct an analysis of notable or relevant historical precedents. We want to know the essential problems that these types of structures struggle with. Understanding the history of the archetype allows us to approach a problem from a new perspective.

All of this is necessary information that we collect for each project. This inventory can also serve as a starting point for the design concept – our basic idea. And instead of hindering creativity, these limitations often stimulate the creative process.

Concept inspirations discussed:
– Website
– Client
– Narrative
– Materials
– Structurally
– Main Festival
– Formal

Like a good film, it's the setting, the characters, the cinematography and the plot that make it what it is. It's the experience you'll remember, not the concept itself. Of course, the concept is what gets the film going and is the starting point for everything that follows. But that concept – the one or two-line description – can't possibly capture the richness and depth of the finished film… or in our case, the architecture. Without it, however, the work is unsatisfying, and so it should be clear that the concept is necessary to all our work as architects.

// EQUIPMENT I USE //

DSLR CAMERA:
* Canon 70D: http://amzn.to/29klz7k

LENSES:
* Canon 24mm f2.8 lens: http://amzn.to/29l7ac5
* Canon 40mm f2.8 lens: http://amzn.to/29x2QcI

AUDIO:
* Rode VideoMic Pro (with hot shoe): http://amzn.to/29qlNM3
* ATR-2100 USB (dynamic microphone): http://amzn.to/2dFDaKp

ARCHITECTURAL EQUIPMENT:
* Prismacolor markers: http://thirtybyforty.com/markers
* Time-lapse camera: http://thirtybyforty.com/brinno
* AutoCAD LT: http://amzn.to/2dxjMDH
* SketchUp PRO: http://amzn.to/2cRcojz
* HP T120 Plotter: http://amzn.to/2dBGf1O
* Adobe CC Photography (Photoshop/Lightroom) plan: http://amzn.to/2dhq5ap

STARTUP TOOL KIT:
* Toolkit for architects and entrepreneurs: http://thirtybyforty.com/SPL

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Please see: /"Creating a Site Model – The Outpost Project/"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?vVsJrDScS5ZI
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