Buying Vs. Building

Building Vs. Buying

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Getting a new home, in itself, takes a lot of time and is a lot to think about. Then you have the option to purchase an existing home or build a new one. Which is the best option? Which costs more? In today’s real estate market existing homes prices are becoming competitive to building a new home for many reasons. Many people get caught up in the idea that building homes will be more expensive when they are told by an agent that an existing home is a better value. So what should you do?

Our new home!

When looking at existing homes you need to look at all the potential issues you already have, and what issues are going to arise in the future. The lack of existing homes on the market is driving up their values making them more expensive regardless. Thus, making the argument about cost differences useless. Things that could make purchasing an existing home more costly down the road are, age of mechanicals, appliances, roof etc. When something can go wrong, it will. As soon as the home owner is in possession of the keys, if the air conditioning goes out, or pipes bust, it is now your problem. When a buyer has saved and put away money to cover the down payment, closing cost, and new home essentials, they are not going to be happy about having to shell out more money for repairs. Whereas, with new construction everything is covered and under warranty from the mechanicals, plumbing, appliances, electrical and structure of the home. One call and you can have someone out to your home and doing the repairs at no cost to you.

Basement in progress!

When clients walk through an existing home they are thinking about what changes they want to make to better suit their needs, and without a contractor there to see the project then there is no way of knowing if what you want to do is even possible or how much you will have to spend. “I always say, once you tear down an existing wall, this is when the truth comes out”. Has the home aged well? Or did you just find a leak that has been tearing away at the inside of the wall for years.

In relation to this, my girlfriend and I recently purchased our first home. Built in 1984, had age, but character. The home was flipped and
renovated sometime in the recent past. However, we’ve decided to finish half of our basement. Recently we have been overwhelmed with everything that goes into purchasing a home and renovations. While we have enjoyed becoming homeowners for the first time, it also came with a lot of stress unknowns. That is part of the adventure. Being an architecture student, it has help me to visualize a project from start to finish. Looking ahead, I think its is save to say we will buy purchasing land and building a house to our standards/preferences.

“Why Build vs Buy Existing from a Real Estate Agent's Perspective.” Home Builder MN | Woodbury, Eagan, Lake Elmo, Hastings, 26 Oct. 2017, www.michaelleeinc.com/build-new-vs-buying-existing-home-real-estate-agents-perspective/.

Ergonomics

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Like anthropometry, ergonomics studies the measurements and proportions of the human body but more closely examines workplace factors that inhibit or enhance interactions within that space. Have you ever considered how one environment may differ based on different professions? For example, an office professional who typically sits most of the day may benefit from a standing desk design where movement is encouraged. On the other hand, a dentist office is equipped with the proper design to allow movement of various instruments (lighting, chairs, room for rolling instrument carts, etc.). These examples are proof that ergonomics is a key principle that is often considered in commercial design. Not only does proper design in the workplace prevent fatigue and stress, but it helps create a collaborative space that lowers work associated costs as well.

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More studies reveal that standing desk designs support better posture and alignment, in turn, supporting healthier and happier employees. If an employee is in pain from constantly sitting, then their productivity at work will be diminished. If they are comfortable, then they are more than likely to exceed the demands of the job. Companies like Google, NBC, Yahoo, and Boeing have already noticed this and implemented this design into their offices. Forbes goes on to say, “When you’re trying to come up with an idea or solve a problem, you move around. A sit-stand desk just makes it easier, faster, and more convenient. It also increases your productivity” (Forbes).

In other professions such a dental office, design requirements may be different. The accessibility of instruments and devices must be readily available in times of need or emergency. For a salon, the hair stylist must be able to maneuver his/her way around the client’s styling chair and be able to have access to the equipment needed. My girlfriend’s mom, Susan, is a hair stylist at a retirement home. Her salon is set up in a unique way that accommodates elderly, disabled residents. There is room for wheelchairs to come and go and the bowls for washing hair have extensions since most of her clients cannot lean backwards. In both of these situations, the thought that went into the design process dramatically improved the working conditions for those involved.

In conclusion, the study of ergonomics influences workplace satisfaction. Most Americans spend 40+ hours at work per week. It makes complete sense to utilize ergonomics to create happier, healthier and more dedicated staff which in turn, promotes a successful work environment. 

Charytonowicz, J. (2000). Architecture and ergonomics. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society ... Annual Meeting, 6, 103.

Anthropometrics

Vitruvian Man

Have you ever thought about how things are made to fit the vast majority of the population? It isn’t just coincidence. It is anthropometry—the scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body.

The study of anthropometry has been traced back to as far as 1490 when Leonardo Da Vinci drew the Vitruvian Man. However, anthropometry wasn’t widely studied until the 19^th century. Studies traditionally compare the physical variation, such as weight, height, waist to hip ratio, and body composition between individuals. The vast amount of data is then used in various fields like design, engineering, architecture and healthcare. “Anthropometrics has been used to design everything from fighter jet cockpits to running shoes.” Anthropometrics is used in just about everything, from how car interiors are designed to video game controllers and shelving in a grocery store.

Small door with-in a large one

Even through decades and decades of research conducted on hundreds of thousands of people, and even being updated regularly to keep up with the changing populations, there are always going to be outliers. These “outliers” are the people that fall out of the range of the “normal” or most common measurements taken. Here in the United States I am not an outlier, however, when I lived in Peru it was very clear that the older places were designed for their demographic. A lot of Peruvians are of Incan decent or are a mix of Spanish/Asian. The average height of a Peruvian man is 5’ and the women 4’ 8”. As a shorter person myself I will admit it was nice feeling freakishly huge for a while, that is until I had to crouch through any doorway or stand in any traditional building with the ceiling only a few inches from my head.

When designing, it is important for the designer to be thinking about the end user all along the way. If you are designing for one client in mind, have them fill out a sheet listing their measurements and proportions. This way you can design something (living space, furniture etc.) that directly relates to that client’s anthropometric data. That space will fit the client and make it feel much more personal. By designing something at a much larger scale, you can use data from previously conducted studies to make that space fit the majority of the end users. 

Batchelder, Tim. (2004). Medical anthropology: Anthropometrics testing and design of human-compatible technologies. Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, (246), 152.

Prospect and Refuge has been a well-studied topic since the 1970’s. This theory examines the balance between aesthetic satisfaction in terms of safety and opportunity within a space. Have you ever thought about why you feel more comfortable in one setting versus another? Even in an unfamiliar setting, the design elements that were implemented may influence one’s perception of a space that make it more inviting or comfortable. Whether you realize it or not, the theory of Prospect and Refuge surrounds our daily lives and as designers, plays a major role in how we create spaces.

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Office and bedroom: Both rooms in my house provide the perfect balance of prospect and refuge. I have windows to see and hear out of, but also dark curtains to close it off when I need to feel secure. These spaces help me to unwind after busy days and aid in letting creative energy flow. This space is inviting and matches up to my needs/wants in a space.

Home in Costa Rica: My house in Costa Rica was villa style home centered around a court yard. Broken up into 4 sperate apartments/homes and one large common area/living area and kitchen, a large family could live together with a good balance of prospect and refuge. Everyone had the ability to hangout in one location or spend their time privately. The wall surrounding the home also made it feel closed in and safe, but you could look out over the wall and see up and down both the street and beach.

Car: Driving your car down the road you are exposed to the environments. You see many different people, places and events. However, in times of insecurity, your car offers a sense of refuge by simply locking the doors and rolling up the windows. This is important because you need to feel safe, but not too sheltered.

Sketch by me, hiding behind the wall
while watching my surroundings.

Cruise Ship: While on a cruise, you can interact with many people and see beautiful unobstructed views. However, you also have the privacy of your individual room to escape to whenever you want. If you opted for a room with a balcony, you have the perfect balance of prospect and refuge.

Most people do not notice or pay attention to this concept even though prospect and refuge is all around us, everyday. Designers should always have this theory in mind when designing new spaces.  When done properly you should feel equally safe in both familiar and unfamiliar environments.

Stamps, A. (2006). INTERIOR PROSPECT AND REFUGE. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 103(3), 643-653.

My Bubble!

The study of proxemics examines the movement and location of individuals in a space. As an introvert, I value my personal space as it gives me space to observe, listen and absorb everything without feeling too close to someone I may not know. I’m sure this is a common feeling among many. Whether it be choosing to sit in the stands versus standing floor admission at a concert, arriving to a movie theater early to get a good seat, requesting a corner booth your favorite restaurant or possibly even paying a higher premium to have extra room on an airplane—most of us have gone out of our way to make a certain space more comfortable.

The study of proxemics provides in depth information relating to you and another individual’s proximity to one another. An observational study conducted by Marek Hendrykowski proves that proximity is more than an abstract model, and instead, an ecosystem that influences daily life. He says, “When analyzed in terms of the proxemics of interpersonal relationships, the cultural ecosystem is not an abstract model but an operating system which governs the daily living conditions of individuals, groups and communities.

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One concert that I went to at the PNC Music Pavilion, my assigned seat was next to one of the large supporting columns. At first, I thought it was going to be annoying, but it turned out to be quite nice. There was no one sitting to my right, no one directly behind me or in front. Although, seating was still cramped, and I was shoulder to shoulder with my brother, but it could have been worse. Also, growing up out of the country I surfed a lot. Surfers have several “unwritten” codes. One of which directly relates to proxemics. Out there the water everyone tries to stay away from each other and out of the way. Rarely are you ever closer than 10 to 12 feet away from someone (depending on the swell and location). Sitting out on the water in isolation staring out into the horizon is the best feeling in the world.

Proximity can be understood through several zones based on measurements from your core.

·         Intimate Zone (0” to 18”): Ex- Greetings

o   Some senses such as sound, smell, body heat, and bodily movements are heightened in this zone.

·         Personal Zone (18” to 48”): Ex: Interview

o   Sensory awareness is apparent, but not heightened. You are close but not too close.

·         Social Zone (48” to 12’-0”): Ex- Conversing with friends

o   In this zone, sensory awareness varies depending on closeness. Depending on the setting, you could be conversating with friends/family or overhearing a distant party’s conversation.

·         Public Zone (12’-0” to 25’-0”): Ex- Concert

o   Sensory awareness is almost indistinguishable.

Sketch by me

Personally speaking, I understand how the study of proxemics affects how individuals go about their daily lives. Many of those who are like myself sometimes go out of their way to feel comfortable in a space. By understanding the key concepts of this study, it will help myself as a designer to create spaces for likeminded people.

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Marek Hendrykowski. (2015). Proxemics: A study on cultural anthropology. Przestrzenie,
 Teorii, (23), 39-51.

Control Over Your Environment

Not just for the client or the designer, but as a human it is important to have control over your environment and how you are involved in it. Personally, I go out of the way to make the environments around me more comfortable and just make it feel like I belong in that space. As a designer one can always reference the Foundational Theories of Environmental Psychology (Integration, Stimulation, Control and Behavior-Setting) to make that space feel just right. Control Theory is key to keep in mind when making sure the client is getting what they want. As a designer, you can manipulate certain aspects of the design while the client remains in control. James Averill proposed that the control theory should be broken into three subcategories: Behavioral, Cognitive and Decisional.

My house in Costa Rica
Walls all the way around for a private oasis or open the gate up right onto the beach

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        Behavioral Control- Ability to change the environment

o   Design environments in accordance to how people behave in that space

§  Ex: Lighting in a fancy restaurant to set the mood

§  Ex: Libraries cause you to change your behavior the moment you set foot inside

§  Ex: The way your retail space is laid out influences consumer buying behavior

·       

            Cognitive Control- Ability to change the way in which we conceive of an environment

o   Design environments that even in an uncomfortable situation, allows the mind to be at ease

§  Ex: Design work-spaces/classrooms to enhance collaboration and engagement instead of isolated spaces

§  Ex: Hospitals utilize white noise to keep worried minds active

§  Ex: Clubs play upbeat music to get people up on their feet

·      

          Decisional Control- Ability to choose how you respond

o   Design environments that have multiple outlets

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§  Ex: The ability to leave a scary/uncomfortable environment

§  Ex: The choice to decide level of involvement

Ultimately, the Control Theory directly influences how we respond to situations within certain environments. It affects us all daily, but as a designer, we must do our best at utilizing this theory to provide spaces that satisfy our clients’ needs and wants.

Design Philosophy

Traveling the world from a young age planted roots of curiosity, inspiration and awareness. I was 8 years old when I left America to live abroad. Learning to adapt to a completely new culture, language and environment at a young age is a feeling encompassed by doubt, fear and loneliness. However, looking back, I can honestly say that my time living outside of the United States played a great role in how I perceive the world and its surroundings.

Curiosity: Figuring out who you are is tough. As for me, I’ve changed my major 3 times since I began college. But if I go back to my childhood roots, my passion for curiosity, inspiration and awareness were right in front of me all along. My dad was a real estate developer for luxury beach condominiums in Costa Rica. I grew up being involved in everything—from first drafts to finished developments. Isn’t odd how finding yourself takes you back to passions you held as an 8-year-old who knew nothing about the complexities of life?

Age 9, Jaco, Costa Rica

Inspiration: Design philosophy allows the creator to incorporate a piece of themselves into every project. Even though you can deliver the wants and needs for a specific client, your work will be recognized by specific traits that reflect your own design philosophy. Unique to every designer, it distinguishes us by showcasing individualism and specialized talents. As for me, my upbringing in South America directly influences the way I think about all things design related.

Web Image: Design Philosophy

Awareness: Looking forward, I am hopeful that I can put my touch on projects that I am a part of. I want to be aware of the conditions that make a space feel inviting and like “home.” I want to be aware of the conditions that make a space transpire happiness, love and where memories will be made.  I want to be aware of the conditions that make a space feel like your own.

My Design Philosophy 

Design surrounds us all. It will be interesting to see the approach I take as I embark on my journey as a designer. “Bloom where you are planted.” 1 Corinthians 7:20-24