“One can not expect that what they did in one space is going to work in another. One can not lump all project sectors or even project locations together. Especially things like academic libraries, the students themselves and the course subjects make a massive difference in how they want to use the space. I've worked in libraries for law students who really want single private desks to sit down at. Where as, you'll get the art school students who need collaboration space, large layout tables and specific computer software stations.” - Rachel Codd
Rachel Codd, Interior Architecture Student
Overview
Mile Long Trace speaks with Rachel Codd to explore the concept of designing for public spaces and place based design. We discuss a diversity of project sectors to talk about the importance of post occupancy evaluation, and how we can inform the design of public spaces using place based strategies.
Guest Summary
Rachel Codd is working on her MA in Interior Architecture and Design at Heriot Watt University. She brings with her a background in illustration design and spent a decade working as a research librarian. While working in the library, it occurred to her she has a passion for how the built environment could be better through post occupancy evaluation and place based design strategies.
In this episode we discuss:
Why Rachel decided to get a MA in Interior Architecture
What her experience is like studying in Scotland
How her background in illustration design has shaped her approach to the built environment
How ones mindset has to shift when working in different project sectors
Why it is important to close the loop and perform post occupancy evaluations
How a place based design mindset can elevate ones design practice
We even dabble in the value engineering (VE) process to discuss holistically what impacts the success of a project.
“You feel it when it is a successful space. This means the right people were at the table to set the vision and make the right decisions throughout the design process. Each piece of the pie has to come up together. It is magical when it happens and very challenging. It takes a lot of investment at each phase to really make sure you're continuing to ratchet and dial in the design. I don't think that is what people see from outside the profession. Through out the project we have to work with our clients to make hard decisions. Sometimes those decisions impact the performance of the space such as acoustics, lighting and finishes. A designer can make recommendations to the client to advocate for the success of a space but if the bottom line is that the project can only cost x amount of dollars then something in the project has to give. As a project team with the client, one sometimes has to make really hard decisions that you know will effect the vision and success of the project.” - Elizabeth
Curious to know the rest of the details from our conversation, listen to the full episode to find out.
Till next time keep designing yawl.
Credit
Photo provided by Rachel Codd
Photo by jim Divine on Unsplash