Method

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Integrity, consonance, and clarity have been the criteria for defining a beautiful, creative work since antiquity. Our principal architect, a student of ancient philosophy, was so inspired by this concept that he adopted it as our firm's motto and method for delivering architectural excellence.

By weaving integrity, consonance, and clarity into every step of our process, we ensure beauty is simultaneously woven into the fabric of the final work. What could be more invigorating and inspiring?

What Does Beauty as a Discipline of Architectural Practice Mean?

You may wonder what this method means to your project. We offer a Case Study showing how
the criteria for beauty can guide and inform the process and result.

Case Study: The Homestead

Beauty and its components—integrity, consonance, and clarity—are always in relation to what something is. The first question we ask for any project is, What is this project about? We start by defining its core concept.

The concept for The Homestead is a mixed-use community with both commercial and residential sectors. Its planning and development strategies are focused on the holistic health of the community and its members.

  • The planning strategy fosters social, educational, and protective functions through intentional scaling and programming.
  • The development strategy promotes the mental and physical well-being of the community through integrated approaches to the site's existing and proposed natural systems, including its ecology, geography, and climate.

The diagrams below describe different aspects of this concept and how the components of beauty guide and form the vision of the project.

Architectural site plan with labeled activity areas.

Integrity

  • Principle: What is beautiful will fully manifest the breadth of the concept.
  • Principle Applied: What kind of community life will fully express a holistic, healthy way of life?
  • Response: The illustrated vignettes in the diagram give life and expression to this vision.

Consonance

  • Principle: What is beautiful will have due proportion to the concept.
  • Principle Applied: What strategies are proportionate to the idea of integrating and preserving the site's geographical and ecological systems?
  • Response: This diagram highlights several strategies that preserve and emulate the site's natural systems.
Architectural site plan with landscaping features.
Architectural site plan with labeled zones.

Clarity

  • Principle: What is beautiful will magnify the concept radiantly.
  • Principle Applied How can the planning layout and programming magnify the concept of healthy social interaction?
  • Response: We replaced monotonous neighborhood row house blocks with social units sized to encourage interaction and bonding. These units are also connected to common commercial and recreational areas by pedestrian pathways.

Beauty is Our Discipline of Architectural Practice

Beauty as a method of practice is an objective means of analysis for a project.  Its goal is not an aesthetic, cosmetic, or subjective result.  The criteria for Beauty are three analytical tools intended to effectively and systematically guide the design process to arrive at the best possible solution that we may term a beautiful result.

Begin the Process!