Design
Design is what makes us human beings.
Design has its important role in the economy as part of the process of production. As this, its focus is spatial, material, social and aesthetic quality and value.
Our view is that design can do more than this. Firstly, design cannot be an elite or exclusive activity. It has to be accessible, affordable, and enjoyable by all, as part of our daily lifes. The purpose of habitation is to facilitate and enhance living.
Beyond this, design is a social process that relies on engagement with people. It is also a way of learning, of understanding and resolving social and urban problems, and consequently, a way of re-directing thinking (changing "mentality").
Design can be a powerful form of research with applications in understanding and developing communities.
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Design is a grounded thinking process, not a look. It requires imagination and broad knowledge. It is the ability to design that makes us human beings. Gall architects understand this and are able to integrate thinking and ideas to provide places that are functional and delightful.
Our design has never required exceptional budgets, nor has it been exclusive or unforgiving.
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Sustainability requires the design of places that are functioning parts of biophysical, social, economic, cultural and experiential environment. This generates all sorts of possibilities.
This is a time for thinking and re-thinking; a time to look to the future; a time for re-design; a time for designing simple, different, stimulating and better places.
- Design thinking and imagination brought to projects earlier for the development of brief, concepts and feasibility.
- Inclusive, multidisciplinary and integrative design process.
- A common application of thinking, process and ideas to a wide range of project types.
- An ecological/relational approach that sees projects in their biophysical, social and cultural context.
- Designing futures for people.
- Developing design as a process for learning.
- Establish relationships with people and organisations who share these ideas.
- These will enhance the qualities and intrinsic value of places where people live.
But is it Architecture? We are architects but we have always explored ideas beyond function and aesthetics and realised them through clear design and implementation frameworks.