Architects today have access to an impressive array of tools to make sure the execution of their designs goes off without a hitch. They are typically given a very specific brief by business owners and use the latest technologies, such as BIM (building information modeling), to be certain they don’t misplace a window or put electrical outlets in the wrong place.
But according to Guzmán de Yarza Blache, Director of the Master in Strategic Design of Spaces at IE School of Architecture and Design, there’s one major factor a lot of architects overlook: the people who’ll actually be using the space.
Office managers might not necessarily understand the day-to-day behavior of employees. College deans could spend most of the day in their office rather than the classroom. And retail managers are likely to tell architects what they want rather than pay attention to what shoppers need.
