Restoration Architecture and Design

Architectural Restoration and Design

It is an Architecture design theory which deals with the process of reviving the material, historical design integrity of the heritage structure.

Restoration of the structure will help in prolonging the life of the structure and also make it functionally usable for the future. This can only be done through planned interventions.

The aim of Restoration Architects is to revive the age old Architecture and make it functional to be used in the future.

The external facade of the historic structure is the functional value of the structure which is very important to be restored to maintain the aesthetical integrity of the structure.

Krnov Castle | Before restoration
Krnov Castle | Before restoration

What is the first thing to be done when working on “restoration of a structure”?

Assessment of the building is to be done in terms of its historical significance as well the structural technology used in those days.

Why is “Building Assessment” important?

Every heritage building has its own historical importance, its own character. Studying the character of the building makes the designer get involved into designing. It helps strengthening the imagination of the designer to achieve the results.

The knowledge of the life of the building is essential with architectural point of view. If the life of the building is studied carefully, you would get a complete idea of its features and problems of the building.

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Station Design Guide | Architectural Design Considerations

Design of Rail Stations | Architecture and Design

In our previous article, “HSR Station design Guide“, we listed out some of the core station areas and discussed the design considerations to be taken while designing “Station Crossings” and “Platform design”.

Important Station areas to be designed:

Now we will move on with our discussion on the design considerations to be taken for the following station areas (elements):

  • Platforms doors and screens
  • Entrances and Exits
  • Direction of the opening of doors

Design of Platforms doors and screens

Modern metro systems have incorporated glazed screens along the edges of the platform.

This system of designing screen doors was incorporated in cold countries in order to maintain the temperature of the station.

These kind of screen door systems have been used in Europe and America. The underground station in London is pretty popular. The extension of the underground station has been worked on with a point to introduce the platform screen doors. See the picture of the Canary Wharf station in London.

Design of Station entrances and Exits

The width of the entrances and exits should be large enough to allow efficient circulation of a large number of passengers in and out. They must be designed keeping the emergency conditions in mind.

Every country has its own safety codes for the design of entrances and exits.

Apart from concentrating on the width of the entrances, it is necessary to remember that we are architectural designers and making the entrances aesthetically appealing is also our aim.

The number of entrances have to be carefully designed so as to cater for the different sides of the railway route and at the same time, the design should be economical. It should not exceed the calculated budget.

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Designing a Holiday Resort | Architecture and Design

Design Considerations for a Holiday Resort | Architectural Planning

‘Holiday Resort’ is an essential part of tourist places. Everybody prefers a good resort and expects good services.

A good ‘Holiday resort’ is one which satisfies all the requirements of the customers and for this purpose the first essential thing is the design and planning of it. The most important person responsible for creating and designing that space is an “Architect”.

People visiting the holiday resort are generally the tourists and they can be from any part of the world. It is therefore the responsibility of an Architect to design it considering various requirements of various classes of people suiting different habits.

Holiday Resort
Holiday Resort

The success of every resort is influenced by the following seven factors:

  1. Good Location
  2. Attractive appearance (Aesthetic appeal of the structure)
  3. Good landscape
  4. Quick and pleasant services
  5. Cleanliness
  6. Maintenance
  7. Food quality

Let us move on with the discussion on some of the most important factors that are necessary to be considered while designing a “Holiday Resort”.

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