What is a Concept?

The concept for a design provides a way of making decisions, for example it can help when choosing between types of benches or plants as well as in the layout of the site. The group explored examples of a concept by referring to the work of the Architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The first set of pictures below show paintings of the natural world and landscapes he did. The second set show buildings he designed where the shapes and proportions he saw in his paintings are used when he designs every aspect of a building from the facade through to the details of chairs and mirrors.

Garden Concept

A number of potential Concepts were identified by the group. The most discussed were:

Area History – Farm Land, light industry

Library – the site to mirror the Library 

Library

The Library was chosen as the basis for the concept with the garden reflecting some of the features of the library. The chosen uses and character of the garden link with those of the library. Other elements defined by the Library were drawn from its materials and shapes, again linking with the character and uses. In particular words were used to define the concept:

Quiet

Organised

Natural Materials

Curves

Smooth