On Design

Glass R L . On design[J]. Journal of Systems and Software, 1999, 52(1):1-2.

For many kinds of reasons, it has become increasing difficult in recent years to make a statement about the ground rule on which ,in general ,building design criteria  should be based .Its reason mainly is the present people the construction style development has the different viewpoint to the new engineering factor under; Designs the personnel facing to have a big string to be possible to use for to solve the structure question method, but also has massively may supply the choice the building material. The result is frequently the architectural complex is chaotic, the detail layout is rough. In the past, choice was extremely limited, the people through diligently raised the architecture knowledge level and the accuracy for a long time avoid designing roughly. In the 18th century, this national George dynasty time housing project clear surface understands these characteristics. In also preserved has  these

project place, 200 year after today these projects still had the very strong compatibility and the usability. In large measure , the George dynasty -like scale partial node ratio house to a great extent conforms to Arab League experience Alex Gordon said the architectural design should achieve four goals.

They are :

1. To modify climate ;

2. To support patterns of activity;

3. To add to our resources

4. To provide delight

Certainly, he also may add one: Any design must relate to an overall financial commitment .

During occurred petroleum crisis in 1974, people's response was saves the fierce rise by any means possible in the room the energy expenditure. Gordon has initiated a design proposal. He set the following design instruction goal in this design proposal------- long life ,low energy ,loose fit.—with the intention the following telling directive , Its goal in and through reduces the fuel consumption and the service cost which the construction does not have, causes its change the use which changes unceasingly in the adaptation to reduce building the revolving fund. Has the sign to demonstrate this year these principles are obtaining people's consideration, and present some constructions have reflected these constraint condition to a great extent. Utilizes the limited choice building material the guiding principle to design is of great advantage. Although imitated the George dynasty type housing in the past 3 years to have the small revival amazing, but this solution could not propose any true answer, moreover does not have any real significance now in this not worthy of mentioning scale. However the 20th century 20's Will article garden city finally applies the new George dynasty type construction style to have the very big merit actually, in the construction proportion, the construction form, the construction color and in the detail understanding demonstrates the very high knowledge level.

There was an available stock-in-trade in the general simple plan dignity of solutions which came from the Beaux Art traditions of axis and symmetry, and in the understanding of the standard details of windows , front doors pediments, which might have been dull and even inappropriate but were never vulgar or exhibitionists . The designer , within this chosen idiom , sketched out his plan solutions on the basis of a convenient matrix of accommodation , recognizing  the(simple) constraints of place , usage and the standard byelaws , codes and regulations of the time . Sections and elevations nearly automatically built up from the resultant plan, and could be very accurately worked out by draftsmen wonderfully skillful in element design in detail . The whole design , measurement , specification , contract and production  , though the work of recent masters, Le Corbusier , Wright , Mies van der Rohe , and one or two others not quite so prominent , retains the vestiges of the confidence resulting from these earlier techniques.

The temptation to refer further to the more recent 20th century history of building design must be resisted because others have written with great authority  about the many sided planning and architectural activities of the last 50 years . In   general , the traditional vision of the scholarly architect serving the cultured client has faded , along with the confident autonomy of both . They now rely upon the additional skills of many specialists. A new world of building developed in the 1920-30s , much influenced by the world wide collapse of the economy , particularly in Germany and its neighbours . One of its manifestations was the International Style .We had to build within a new framework of requirements , for which old style designs seemed inappropriate . Official clients , the public need , increasing urban populations and cost accounting were all influences . And within more rigid regulations , technical developments of light frameworks and structural facing concrete were becoming available.

Now our buildings are  fashionable , speculative , and either of geometric and sculptured intricacy , or anonymous and  componented . There is a multitude of structural gymnastics and immature material  innovations . At one end of the spectrum the public buildings , and university and prestige commercial buildings(all very self-consciously designed) and at the other , the component assembled building , providing the social needs of schools , housing , offices , work and industrial buildings.

This dichotomy of basic approach to design and construction remains with us , and highlights some of the disparities of the social and technical goals of the times . We have in the world of building reached one of the great divides—straddled between contradictions:

Simple tent enclosures             High indoor performance

Solid wall                         Light frame work

Privacy                           Community

Low density                       High density

Vehicles                          Human good channel

In this kind of fierce jig-saw patterned being in a dilemma, we must process good design and the operational performance two key between relations correctly now.

May accept the solution as if is carries on the discernment and the analysis to beforehand preferred plan, then decided again whether supports the resolute change. Has the necessity to clarify very much the deep transformation to have the tremendous influence to beforehand plan compatibility, is which new restriction factor does enable it to use once more. Changes continually the theatrical effect does not adapt for the long life is constructing an artificial product.

This meant must realize is advantageous for the humanity to the humanity to the dwelling first request to move, the essential feature being the quality of roofing ,Isaac Ware’s maxim fits very seemingly the requirements of today :. “ the  art of building cannot be more grand than it is useful nor its dignity of greater praise than its convenience ”:

“If construction art important the usability is again unimportant, in many cannot surpass comfortable praising to its grand praising which provides to it.”

To move more closely to this logic , we need to develop the new design method, in order to have the confidence to the question which many will conflict mutually to discover present and the future answer. Is seeking continuously does not have the ready-made plan on the way, but the goal must be a continual - - a satisfactory design producing an efficient and rewarding contract.