Generating Concept 3
Sometimes design is said to be confirming to a "theme". This is a very limiting thought applied to a wide canvas. Architecture is a factor of Time, Place and People. Mere adherence to theme results in cosmetic treatment of spaces or embellishments. Clearly, a deeper thought process will involve in concept generation. Resulting work will be a true representative of its time.
Coming back to the basic question, how does an architect generate concept? This is a very slippery question. Concept generation is a factor of creativity, imagination, dedication, perseverance, one can add to this list his or her own favorites. But, above all it is a quest for excellence. Quite often average projects are those where architectural concept is too feeble to get noticed. Such projects are simply the logical arrangement of structurally feasible spaces.
Concept generation is not a formal subject in the education (to the best of my knowledge). Though, it is one of the main professional responsibility of the architect. Architect is supposed to generate concepts utilizing the knowledge that he has gained all these years about- History, Theory of Design, Landscape, Structural Design etc. But this seldom happens. Concept generation is a part of design studio where it is merely a poorly understood area.
Edward De Bono has emphasized deliberate creativity. Similarly, concept generation could be a conscious effort on the part of architect and not a stroke of chance, as a layman would believe. Still, the personal input will vary greatly depending on the humane qualities of the architect.
Concept is at the core of architect's intellectual contribution to a project. A qualitative contribution makes a concept richer.
..........to be continued
