A User-centric Approach For The Buildings Of Future
MONDAY JUNE 04, 2018
“Design is more than perfume, aesthetics and trends”, says Richard van der Laken, founder of annual social design conference ‘What Design Can Do’.
Lantern’s assisted living facilities in Ohio, US defines an empathetic relationship with the Dementia and Alzheimer’s patients residing there. The corridor that runs through the doors of each home imitates a suburban street - reflecting an environment that helps patients to connect with their past memories.
It is not easy to design a human-centric building. But it is not difficult either if we understand the end-user’s needs well.
This simple philosophy is going to be showcased more transparently at the highly-renowned Australian Smart Skyscrapers Summit 2018 happening on June 26-27. The summit is one of the most anticipated events in Australia, within which stands some of the most iconic high-rises rest, including the EY Centre Timber Tower at 200 George Street. Pioneering designers, architects, engineers, building developers, skyscraper experts and urban planners from across the globe will take the lead to inspire the audience with their momentous speech and panel discussions.
The Day 1 panel discussion on ‘How to Best Design Human-Centric Buildings’ invites six eminent speakers from the design industry to act as a powerful, knowledge-sharing collective. The panellists will provide key insights on designing buildings that accentuate social synergy and collaborative productivity, while also maintaining a sense of environmental sustainability and pleasing aesthetics. Mark Giles, Senior Associate at PTW Architects, will be moderating the panel discussion, drawing from 25 years experience in the construction industry and 9 years of experience in structural engineering. Giles is well-known for his broad range of global-level projects comprising mixed-use, educational, residential and public-based constructions acknowledged with more than 30 international design awards.
Giles will lead his fellow panellists in discussing the various elements that play a role, either separately or simultaneously, in creating a healthy, wellness-enhancing environment for tenants. Mike Horne, Founder and Director of Turf Design Studio, will join Giles in discussing the challenges surrounding the creation of advanced level, human-friendly landscape architecture in urban settings during the panel discussion. Horne will share the expertise that he and his Turf team possess, evident in the complex projects they deliver, which resonate stunning ecologies even in the smallest office blocks that help to facilitate productive work environments.
An element that cannot be overlooked within tall-building design is the quality of light entering an interior. The ability of lighting, if not managed properly, to negatively impact the work performance and sleep patterns of tenants is crucial to human-friendly high-rise design. Thermal comfort that establishes a controlled temperature, thus providing a warm environment is another key element that will be discussed during the panel discussion. Even the acoustics and physical space can directly impact an individual’s behaviour. Essentially, the underlying concept of individualistic design correlates with the psychological, physiological and physical aspects of a human being and their behaviour, thus solidifying the importance of forming a dialogue around human-friendly building design.
BVN Architecture’s Laurie Aznavoorian is a zealous architect, thinker, writer and speaker who will be sharing her thoughts on how human-centric structures can be benefited by intentionally designed interior spaces. An organisational designer, her work philosophy relates to transforming a space into an active combination of culture, technology, process and physical environment. Aznavoorian will draw from this philosophy to explore how commercial spaces can be transformed into business tools that enhance the potential of workplace performance, social trends, and community attitudes alike. The panel discussion will also welcome Philip Vivian, Director of Bates Smart, who has worked on projects that have won a number of awards in Australia. His work effectively balances the complex array of elements that help to form cohesive and humanistic tall buildings that maximise efficiency for residential and office spaces alike.
With human-friendly design, it is also important not to overlook the innate beauty of a building, both internally and externally. Aesthetically pleasing high-rises often come about due to the presence of greenery within the structure, and their connection to the natural environment. Koichi Takada, Principal at Koichi Takada Architects is a perfect addition to the panel due to
his nature-inspired architecture and interior design, which often invokes a unique mixed Japanese and Australian approach. Design expert and Partner at 3XN Architects Fred Holt will join panellists in sharing his depth of knowledge, on the significance of human-centric design and architecture in constructing iconic, eye-catching buildings.
The various elements and innovations necessarily for the successful completion and maintainence of a human-friendly high-rise building bring with them an array of challenges and opportunities that will deeply resonate with delegates attending the 2018 Australian Smart Skyscrapers Summit. The Summit will set the wheels in motion by showcasing technically feasible and financially viable building capabilities for a sustainable yet livable future for human-centric structures.
Photo Source: http://koichitakada.com/projects/sydney-by-crown/
