Real spaces through mental places : an intuitive design process

Abstract: In this thesis, I investigate different views on design and design methodology in order to understand a conflict that I have experienced during my time as a student on the landscape architecture program. Looking at how we work with design in our studio courses, there seem to be a belief that design should come from a place and that gathering information about a place is therefore necessary as a starting-point in order to understand a design problem. Personally, I have always thought the idea is problematic because it signifies that places themselves would give an accurate picture of a design problem, which I find far too narrow regarding the complex meaning of place. Moreover, I have always had a hard time with knowing how to treat the gathered information of a place and how to relate it to my design in early phases of the design process. This conflict gave me reasons to look for and approach alternatives to the design methods that I have come in contact so far. Through literature studies, I was introduced to Kathryn Moore, which compared to many other authors has a focus on a more intuitive side of design. The results of my research show a design process that is much inspired by Moore, where I design intuitively and from only limited information of a place. The results are presented in three phases and demonstrate an intuitive and self-reflective design process, where I explore and develop initial ideas based on my mental picture of a public place. In sequences of sketches, I let ideas frame the investigation of the place and I use interpretation through sketching as a tool to transform different sorts of information into principles and strategies that I can use as a base for the design. In the reflection, I look back at the conflict I had experienced in education and reflect on how I have been working differently with design in this project. The major differences I found and which I want to highlight in this thesis are the importance of interpretation and negotiation. I experienced that information and ideas become much more useful when you explore them through interpretation and recognize them as more than just plain facts. Ideas and information need to be weighed against something, to certain criteria in order for a negotiation to take place. It is the negotiation, the iterative process, and the close relationship between analysis and synthesis that help pushing the design process forward.