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The sheer pleasure of good design

From the Royal Festival Hall to Windermere...



Recently I visited two iconic buildings for non-work-related reasons. What a pleasure it was to be reminded of the difference that good design makes, as an ordinary user of these spaces.

Firstly, I attended a concert at the Royal Festival Hall. This is a building nearing its 70th birthday, yet it felt as fresh, new and successful for its current audience as it must have done when it was first built.

This struck me because of the easy flow around the building, the light and airy spaces, and simple access between them. It gave the impression of a calm and unhurried space, an oasis in the hustle and bustle of one of the busiest cities in the world.

When I took my seat in the auditorium, the thought and consideration in the seating layout, materials and viewpoint was obvious. The natural wood of the interior seemed supremely fresh and contemporary. The sound was clear and immersive.

I particularly admired the attention to small details as much as the larger statements that we rightly expect from a public building. The wide handrails on the stairs, with a groove and shaping to make it easy to hold, seats that folded into the panelling for the door staff to sit on during the performance. I felt full of affection for the building and am already looking forward to the next time I have chance to visit.

In a completely different landscape, a few days later I experienced the newly completed Windermere Jetty: Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories. In this building, the design facilitates the flow of people around a collection of artefacts, rather than the convergence of a static collection of people. It’s all about connection with the community, the landscape and the interaction between inhabitant and environment. The design reflects the beauty of the lakeside backdrop and the industrial heritage of the site.

I was impressed by the simplicity of the museum’s buildings, formed so that they don’t detract from but enhance the exhibits within and the landscape without. Again, the small touches – lights that resemble portholes, semaphore flags as visible protection on the windows, the selection of materials internally and externally – enhance the experience almost at a subconscious level. They also demonstrate the considerable amount of thought and care that goes into the design of such a building.

In my everyday practice (when I’m not visiting museums or listening to concerts!) I like to deliver the same level of consideration to my projects. I may not design iconic public buildings, but the houses or small community buildings that form the backbone of my practice are even more important to the lives of my clients. So why should the design of their buildings be any less considered and well thought through than more famous constructions?

It seems to me that we pay much less attention to the design details of our everyday existence than we do of buildings we recognise and revere, but rarely visit.

Let’s celebrate the comfort, pleasure and attraction that good design can bring to all our buildings, and give priority to the surroundings that affect us most regularly. It doesn’t need to be saved for special occasions - we all deserve to enjoy it every day of our lives.

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