Designing Outward from Within

Many years ago, when I was being interviewed for admission to university, I was asked who my favourite architect was. Without hesitation I said Frank Lloyd Wright. A recent article in Archilovers quotes Margo Stipe, the Director and Curator of Collections at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. She cites key lessons taken from Wright’s design ethos. His focus on a holistic process, designing from within outward, is something that resonates with us at Edmiston Jones. Stipe shares four of the architect’s most compelling interior design mantras.

1. Bring the Outdoors In

When done well, a seamless integration of interior space with exterior space can promote well-being and creativity. For example, at Wright’s winter home Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona, the design blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor living, with framed views of the desert landscape celebrated throughout the space.

2. Design to Human Scale

Photo: Andrew Pielage

Human scale is the true building scale. An innate sense of comfort comes from fixing building proportions to human scale. This key concept is evidenced at Taliesin, Wright’s expansive laboratory for organic architecture in Wisconsin, where a study of wood and stone that opens to the outdoors appeals to the human senses.

3. Edit Out the Unnecessary

One of the most important principles of design is the elimination of the insignificant. Knowing “what to leave out and what to put in,” as Stipe says. The successful resolution of this challenge results in simplicity and repose. Neither is easily attained.

Photo: John Lewis Marshall

4. Retain the Original Vision

When building from the ground up, be sure to understand what drew you to the site, what charmed you about it, and then build so that you can still see those elements. For instance, at Taliesin West, natural light via an abundance of windows and luminous canvas roofs play a major part in the design, which celebrates one of Wright’s favourite characteristics of the desert: brilliant sunlight.

These principles speak clearly to Edmiston Jones’ culture and it’s likely that Wright's early inspiration subliminally informed the firm’s design approach. We describe our culture as connected, collaborative and considered and our definition of considered is ‘the right amount, in the right place, at the right time’. We believe every project should start with a clear vision and focus on human centred design. Our multidisciplinary team of architects, interior designers and landscape architect ensures that we design from within and outward.