Since I began my Journey as an Architect a little over a year ago, I have been working simultaneously on architecture and design projects in order to achieve my goal of completing thirty projects by the end of May 2020 (the date I will turn 30). I have completed 16 projects and am currently working on three more. I can honestly admit that I struggle as much as any other creative person to start a project. I indeed spent most of my time developing a solid concept at the start because it gave me clarity on the rest of the project. These are five tips that I have used to start my architecture projects.

1. Create your interpretation of the brief

In any competition, there is always a long brief that includes the major details, information about the site of the project, suggestions, or questions that provoke thought, as well as a list of requirements for each participant. Many architects learn to work in this way in architecture school. It’s an effective method for getting people interested in a particular project. Universities, state agencies and large-scale organizations or companies will also distribute a design brief to interested firms.

This brief will not be provided if you are working with a small company, person, or individual on a private project, such as a residence. It’s crucial to ask the right questions and guide your client in providing more information.

For every project I begin, I read the brief carefully and note key phrases, words, and paragraphs describing the purpose of the project. To design the projects that appear on this site, I create a brief for a personal project. This list is used to brainstorm design ideas, and I draft a response that will guide me throughout the rest of the project. This interpretation of the project brief serves as a constant reminder of the design intent for the entire project.

2. Understand the site context of your project and research it.

After I have written my interpretation of the brief, I begin my research by using the Google satellite map and viewing the building or vacant land from above. After determining the general shape and size of the parcel, I used Google’s satellite map to look at the nearby buildings. I can then analyze the building materials, forms, scale and layout.

Then, I consider other aspects of the site that could impact the design. What is the direction of the wind? How does the path of the sun look over the site? What shadows are cast by adjacent buildings on the site? We must design for the climate we are given. How can we passively heat and/or cool the site?

After I have a good understanding of the project, I use Google Street View or drive there if the site is local. Then, I navigate the neighbourhood, looking for features that might inform the building design. How far are the buildings from the street setback? What is the transparency/opacity of the existing facades? What are the closest local hotspots?

3. Consider your options

After I’ve gathered enough information on my project’s location, it’s now time to determine the other constraints. This will usually come from an analysis of the building codes for the type of architecture I’ll be creating, along with a code of zoning. This will determine what I can design on a specific parcel of land. It will also define the scale of the building and the materials that can be used. These constraints will help ensure the building can be occupied safely and give you some direction for your design.

When I am working on a project for a competition or even a personal one, the constraints are provided in the brief. This makes it much easier to grasp the possible design options. Use these constraints as a guide to design your project. Some design competitions have restrictions that refer to specific areas of the site or design features.

Your client will likely give you a list with all the programs and suggestions for where to place them. Clients may also include a list of spatial relationships among specific programs. Ask them questions that will help you understand their programmatic relationships and aesthetic preferences. What type of architecture do you admire? What materials are they using in their home? Use this opportunity to narrow the design options in your head by giving some examples.

4. Case studies and research precedents

After the constraints are set, and I have an idea of the aesthetics, form, scale and other design features that could be used, I begin researching case studies and precedents related to the project. To start with precedents, I use Pinterest to create a board and collect related projects that have similar design features to what my client and myself were imagining. I don’t spend too much time looking at each photo, rendering or diagram. Instead, I pin 50 different projects to learn more about them.

After choosing two or three examples that I like, I look up the projects on the websites of the architects who created them. This allows me to see the architect’s interpretations of the design brief and gain insight into why he made certain design decisions. You can do more detailed searches using books, articles from journals, newspaper clippings, and other sources. This collection can be saved as a reference for the conceptual design phase.

5. Sketch, sketch, and sketch again!

After I have gathered all the information and notes about the project, I reduce it to specific ideas. I then put pencil to paper and begin sketching as soon as the ideas come to me, without stopping to review or critique my sketches. I ignore that part of my brain that says I’ve drawn a crooked line or that I need to refine the shape I’ve just drawn. My mind constantly thinks of new ideas as I drag and push the pen across the blank page of the paper.

I must point out the ignorance I had about my self-deprecating thoughts and the negativity I used to have when sketching because I used to feel like my sketching skills were terrible. I used to overthink each line I drew on paper, and I told myself that I was never going to be good at drawing. I was able to develop ideas and explain them to clients, friends, and peers after gaining confidence and avoiding overthinking. Remember, to end this ranting section, that sketching is about being able to disregard your self-doubt and hesitation.

Iterative sketching allows you to combine or discard some ideas. As I begin to visualize how each idea will look in my sketch, new ideas start to emerge. Eventually, 12 ideas turn into 6, 6 become 4, 4 become 2, 2 become 1, and so on. After I have a single idea, the next step is to model it in BIM to refine it.

Conclusion

Each architect has their way of starting a project, and we each have our exploration mediums. Being a creative professional means that you can choose the process that works best for you. The possibilities are endless. You can start with a design brief and then immediately create a 3D model. Or you can work through massing models. Getting more experience through constant practice of architecture will allow you to find your design process. As you progress as an architect, your design process will change.