The difference between an ordinary building and an excellent building is the attention to detail. Well-crafted buildings sweat the details both in planning and execution.
Attention to Detail in Design
Often the pressures of time and limited fees tempt us to design the basic layout and “look” of the building and not worry about where the switches, drawers, and diffusers go – letting that up to the client and contractor to work out during construction. Often the persons that will live and work in the space are not the ones making decisions during construction. The result is work areas that aren’t efficient or devices located randomly on walls or trim and hardware that don’t match the rest of the building. A little care, or one more conversation between architect and client, could have gotten the fire alarm device aligned with the light switch or the extra file drawer needed in the nurses’ station.
A Quick Story
My favorite example is the client who wanted a “hip, cool” work space for his software company. He told us to “just give him a floor plan to get a permit” and he would work out the details during construction. We introduced some interesting angles and suggested how he could use changes in the ceiling and flooring to define work zones without using walls.
When we went to the grand opening, we congratulated him on the bold colors, bamboo floor and funky lighting. Then we saw that he trimmed the doors with colonial, residential molding and used Victorian-looking door hardware – we couldn’t decide if he was being ironic or didn’t realize the incongruity.
It takes a Skilled Workers
But even the best designed details need skilled execution. We’ve all toured the spec-built home where cabinet doors don’t align or bind or you can see the joints in the drywall. Some people may not be attuned to seeing details whether good or bad, but once a person’s eye is trained to recognize good craftsmanship, its absence is discouraging.
A simple building well-detailed and carefully built will always be more satisfying that an ambitious design poorly executed.
