To what extent does intuition (or ‘gut feeling’) play an important role in the creative practice of architecture? That is a question that researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University's Centre for Enterprise have set out to answer in their most recent AHRC-funded project - with a little help from Lisa Raynes and Raynes Architecture!
Research Associate, Dr Lucy Wright, has been working closely with Lisa since June 2014, as part of the project, which is titled ‘Gut feeling’ in Designing and Developing New Products in Small Creative Companies (www.mmucfe.co.uk/what-we-do/gut-feeling-in-designing-and-developing-new-products-in-small-creative-comp).
This has involved regular interviews and observation of Lisa at work. In particular, the project has focused on Raynes Architecture’s unique and innovative home consultation process, which offers clients an on-the-spot, hand-drawn assessment of their current space. Clients work with Lisa to explain and demonstrate the key features and challenges of their property layout, and to explore the ways in which their space might be optimised.
Lisa says, “I do all the drawing with the client… that’s probably when I use my ‘gut feeling’… We work together through all the different ways, until we get to a solution that’s best.”
By the end of the session, clients can take away a series of drawings showing a range of proposed changes and improvements to consider. For many, this is the first time they are able to see a structured, visual plan of a much-desired renovation project. “The best kind of feedback is when clients say ‘I’m really pleased, we’ve worked through a lot of ideas!’” Lisa concludes.
The research is set to be disseminated via an article in Design Studies Journal and a forthcoming event at the Design Council in London.
by Dr Lucy Wright
Click here to find out more about the Home Consultation....