the right time to influence design

once when casually reviewing the renderings for the concept stage of a mixed-use project, a senior colleague commented that the best time you really are able to influence the design is in the very beginning of the process.

He suggested to avoid the 'deadline-is-approaching' temptation to throw something on to paper - this I firmly believe, is a recipe for mediocrity. He suggested further that everything should be designed to the highest standard at the concept stage, and all the extraneous rubbish that one would see during the detail design stage of a 'real' building should be massaged out in order to provide the best looking design representation possible. Things such as lift overruns and ugly services should be left out of the high-end renderings, and unarticulated masses of building roof should be drawn as detailed as time will allow.

good design advice is very hard to find. thanks to those out there that feel inclined to offer it. Our experience of making great buildings is all the better for it.