Architectural design is touchy feely.
Recently I had a client who wanted a house addition: a covered outdoor entertainment area. But I had an issue with the footpath to the house. Once through the substantial wooden pedestrian gate, you needed to step down slightly to the inside path. The path started as hit-and-miss slabs with Mondo between. Then, the side of the driveway swept in to become the path and then that changed into sandstone steps. Stepping down felt wrong, stepping onto the driveway felt wrong, and the material inconsistency of the path felt wrong. I hadn’t stepped into the house but already I was feeling uneasy.
I suggested they raise the path, separate it from the driveway, and use a consistent material.
It wasn’t immediately obvious to me what was wrong so I believe that most people would not know why they had that negative feeling. We all live by signals or signs that guide us in our everyday life. When they are correct, we feel comfortable in the space.
A separate pedestrian gate tells you how to enter the property, the nice path leads you to the front door. The front door should be of a design reflecting the house proper.
A hit-and-miss path is casual and of the garden. A glass front door can let you see into someone’s private life and make you feel uncomfortable.
paul@leuschkekahn.co.nz
021 894 895
leuschkekahn.co.nz
