SURfACE

Careful planning breeds confident building. Every Architecture firm aims to plan and design the perfect building for its clients. The way it gets there, though, can vary greatly. At Surface, the design is approached like an outline. There are bullet points that are common to all projects, but beyond that, the design is a fluid, creative process that brings ideas together from clients and designers.

The site may be the single most important piece of the design equation, though it is ignored all too often. At Surface, all design consultations begin on site. There we can determine the proper building location; proper orientation for views and to utilize the sun's path and prevailing winds for comfort; whether trees can be preserved; proper building height; areas for outdoor living; and what the proper foundation type will be for ease of construction, lowering excavation and construction costs.

There is some overlap with the Site point, as the orientation and location of the built environment have a say in the comfort level of a space. But here we dive deeper into passive heating and cooling strategies by proper window location and sizing, as well as operation. This also includes proper insulation specification to keep the space a comfortable temperature, and showing proper moisture barrier placement to avoid moisture problems and bolster indoor air quality.

Stylistically, opinions are all over the map. This we know, of course, because no two people are alike. Whichever design "style" suits your eye, the prettiest building in the world could not make up for poor space planning. The function of the space is of the utmost priority, and we find that the look of the space falls into place from there. This design phase includes properly examining the spaces for usability, code-compliance, and, again, comfort.