Week 03 // Reading Reflection : Shearing Layers

Diagram of the Six 'S's 

 

 



A building conceived as several layers of longevity of built components -

1. SITE -  the geographical setting, the urban location: site is eternal
2. STRUCTURE - the foundation and load-bearing elements : change is perilous and expensive so rarely attempted
3. SKIN - exterior surfaces and external cladding: change often due to improved material / systems technology
4. SERVICES - the working parts of the building : when change is needed outdated systems need to be accessible
5. SPACE PLAN - the interior layout of walls / ceilings / floors / apertures : can be changed with relative ease
6. STUFF - furniture and decor : can be easily and often changed

* Legitimises the existence of different design skills : architects / service engineers / space planners / interior designers all with different agendas.

* Longevity of buildings is often determined by how well they can absorb new Services technology.

* Design imperative: An adaptive building has to allow for the differently paced systems of Site, Structure, Skin, Services, Space Plan, and Stuff or the slow systems will block the flow of the fast ones, and the fast ones tear up the slow ones with their constant change.

An interior by iconic interior designer Tony Duquette : I interpret his "more is more" approach as an embracing of "Stuff" http://tonyduquette.com   Having completed studies in interior design and working as an interior designer and space planner over the past 7 years, I very much related to this reading identifying how the various layers that make up our built environment is important and relates with each other. The proposition that one should not go too far in embedding the six identified systems together as this leads to rigidity and inability to adapt to changing technology, climate and cultural expectations is an important lesson to consider.