It’s all about communication
Mood images are an effective means of communication between the client and the architect. They are not intended to be used to plagiarise.
At briefing stage they can help us to quickly gauge the preferences of the client. Effectively getting to the nub of the design direction. We actively encourage prospective clients to share their Pinterest boards before the initial meeting. Pinterest also provides a useful tool for us to show what inspires us as well.
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/djaneocy/joa-inspirations/
When it comes to the concept design or feasibility stage, mood images provide an invaluable tool to communicate design intent.
Case study:
Structural design intent
This particular client has a desire to avoid columns in the plan and create clean simple design for their home extension. With two storeys of building above to be supported, a careful approach to the integration of the structure is required.
We see this as an opportunity to work positively with the structure, creating light play and rhythm in the new roof of the side return. This new roof is to be a simple glass structure (with some opening lights). The fixings hidden and the joints of the glazing positioned to sit above the new beams creating the illusion of a continuous sheet of glass above.
The use of ceiling fans would help support the natural ventilation – a device the client is more than familiar with, from their Caribbean childhood.
Using a standard material in a non-standard way
The client asked for an exposed brick wall, sat beneath the new glass roof. By using this familiar building material in a more considered way, we can create texture that, in turn, will play with the light from above. Casting shadows which are ever-changing.
Using standard building materials doesn’t have to mean a standard and dull design. We sourced mood images to show how differing the bond, colour and specification of a brick – as well as the mortar – would create texture, interest and identity.
In turn there are further opportunities to play with a more open bond in the external brick walls of the landscape design , to provide both screening and light play.
Our discussions led onto the colour the brick might be and why?
Fortunately we still have time to produce mortared sample panels before settling upon the final selection.
Due to copyright laws we are unable to show the images the boards we used, however you can see some of the images used at concept design to support our designs on the project Pinterest board
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/djaneocy/ceilings-and-brickwork-mood-images/