Articles
Date: October 2005
Publication: Auditoria magazine
Author: HOK Venue
Architecture, perhaps more than most other design-related fields, deals with simultaneous and intense problem solving. Between the client's functional, operational and budget needs, the contractor's schedule and constructability requirements and mother nature’s unyielding forces, it's a wonder the designer has the opportunity (or time) even to consider issues such as art and beauty.
For that very reason, many owners are willing to sacrifice their building's beauty for optimized function and operation. Likewise, designers too often accept that the functionality, efficiency and/or building cost can be compromised rightfully to achieve a beautiful aesthetic. Truly great design weaves all the problems of function, operation, budget, schedule and beauty together into one perfectly balanced solution.
Unfortunately, balance often is confused with notions of compromise. In truth, a perfectly balanced great design actually minimizes, if not eliminates, the need to compromise.