GregConstruction is booming and new buildings are being built all over the world. We would hope that most of these buildings would be solid and sturdy, but what really sets a building design apart? There are certain criteria that a well-designed building should always meet. By running through a few simple questions, you will be able to find out if the building is going to be a success well into the future.
- Is it environmentally friendly? This is perhaps one of the most important questions to ask, as everyone is trying to reduce their carbon footprint. A building that is classed as eco-friendly will use as many renewable construction materials as possible and will have used low carbon construction processes.
- Is it energy efficient? Eco-friendliness doesn’t end after construction. It needs to be possible to run the building without wasting resources and money. The building should be very well insulated and make use of natural light as much as possible. Look out for features like roof lights that will help reduce the need for artificial lighting.
- Will it still look good in 10 years’ time? A truly modern building won’t age too quickly. Designs do of course go in and out of fashion, however, a good architect will be able to achieve something that looks timeless.
- Does it provide everything required by the users? Facilities and indoor space should be completely usable and geared up to meet the needs of the building’s occupants. For example, an office building should have plenty of space to have flexible offices, conference facilities, a reception area, storage and anything else specified.
Measuring a building’s true success involves not just its users, but also anybody who lives and works in the local area. The most successfully designed buildings will have something to please everyone yet at the same time, will be completely suited to its intended purpose.