Longevity in architecture is both paramount and challenging. One way to ensure timelessness in architectural design is to draw from the surroundings. This means that in both urban and rural settings the surrounding fabric of buildings and terrain can influence the design. A recent Nordic Spa project aspired to have people reconnect with both nature and themselves. Quiet simple interiors with expansive glass allowed the users this connection with nature and eliminated distractions from thought. It may not have been obvious at first, but the natural surroundings are what inspired the design. For timeless design keep your eyes open and draw from the surroundings.
It is best said by Coco Chanel, “Fashion changes, but style endures.” The best designs are classic and timeless. As a designer follower of biomimicry, I believe in learning from nature as a guide to healthy designs for buildings of the future.
Architectural Designer at Bradfield, Richards, Rhodes & Associates Architects, Inc.
Answered 2 years ago
Simply iterated by Louis Sullivan, "Form ever follows function". Cultural trends and material exploration transmute as the seasons change. The program of a building not only drives and directs the design, but it helps develop it's purpose to it's users and it's surrounding context. Renovations are inevitable, but the "bones" of a building are what make or break the timelessness in the design.
Sustainability in Architecture is at the top of my mind as we go into the future of architectural designs. In Data Center design as an example, the final product is less about the aesthetic being timeless and long-lasting, but the function. Structures should be made of durable and recyclable material while simultaneously leaning into Louis Sullivan's infamous quote "Form Follow Function" to guide various market sectors in the industry towards the most sustainable future. We must think not of the form in the present, but how can this building be most fungible in the future to ensure its longevity and timelessness.
Taking care of the planet we live on and one another is the basis for understanding sustainability. Everything we make - cars, homes, everything, was once a part of this planet. Please support people + planet + profit sustainable behavior. Buckminster Fuller once said, "We are all crew members on Spaceship Earth." The news over the past decade describes how some are committing mutiny. You can help. Everyone counts.