Form or function? This is a commonly debated question when designing and building a new home. Form and function can either conflict or coexist harmoniously. It takes a combination of innovative architecture and design, in addition to careful consideration of the behaviour of those who will be residing in the house, to achieve a balance of form and function. Creativity and practicality or reason are often cast in opposition, however, in architecture and home design, there is a need for these to factors to work together.
Form is the outer surface of an object; what people see and interact with. In home design and construction, form is the architecture and appearance of the building. Of course, the aesthetics of a home are important, but to what extent? There’s no point in having a beautifully designed home if it’s not functional.
Function refers to the way rooms are positioned and used. Function should reflect the needs and wants of the people who will be living in the space. The layout of a home for a retired couple would differ greatly from a young family as they have different needs, wants and purposes for the space. A home should encourage a free and harmonious flow of movement and traffic.
Design trends are constantly changing and is something that is easy to update, however the function of a home is much more difficult to change.
For form and function to harmoniously coexist, both aspects need to be considered carefully. It’s important that the occupant’s priorities, needs and wants are established with the builder in the planning stage, before any building has commenced.
To find the right balance between form and function, the design and building process needs to be personalised. To make it personalised, the builder or designer needs to be asking the owner the right questions. By asking questions, the builder or designer can identify things that will influence the form and function such as which rooms of the house will be used the most, whether they enjoy entertaining guests or prioritise quiet reading nooks, and if they prefer a modern or vintage style home.
The answers to these questions will determine the size of the rooms, the placement of doors and windows, amount of storage space and more.
If you have previously rented or lived in a home that you didn’t design or build, you can understand that while a building itself may be attractive, it can have faults in functionality, which can interfere with your day-to-day life. Awkward spaces, doors that can’t fully open, small rooms, or a lack of storage are all factors that impact the practicality of a home.
For a home to be liveable, form and function need to complement one another.
When you’re working with a quality and experienced building and design consultant, there’s no need to compromise. The desire to build a home that prioritises both form and function is achievable.
Yarrum Designer Homes offer a personalised service, allowing you to live in a home that’s built just for you, taking into consideration your lifestyle, behaviour and priorities. We use the highest quality products, the best tradespeople and add the best inclusions – we don’t compromise!
Contact us today to talk to us about how you can achieve the perfect balance between form and function when building your Newcastle dream home! Call us on 02 4938 1345 or email info@yarrumhl.com.au.