Simplicity

 I found an interesting design book in the library at FCH. Opening Spaces, Design as Landscape Architecture,  Revised and expanded edition, by Hans Loidl and Stefan Bernard, publ Birkhauser, Basel, June 2022

"Reduction is focusing on essentials."

This is like an anthology of design themes and concepts and can be leafed through and skim read as they eye falls on a relevant topic.  Everything will be relevant from this book at some time but some paragraphs relate to what a designer is considering at that time. Probably best described as food for thought whilst also providing  a road map of what to consider and how to evaluate it.

Amongst the many topics covered is "Simplicity." pg 168 (I could have picked any topic as they are all interesting but I wanted to choose one that is relevant to practical design as we have a North Place design project).

They tell us that the "age-old, less is more rule, is still indispensable here" "Simplicity , as reduction (and thus focusing) on "less", "automatically" enhances the significance of a form creating process."

Reading such ideas help a designer not to be tempted to throw everything in.

I wondered what simplicity means to me.  I think it is clean and clear lines, not too many designs or items competing but flowing seamlessly from one to another.  It means making choices to leave things out.  Black and white embody simplicity to me but sometimes colour is needed.  Thematic and blending of colours is easier on the eye than clashing or too many colours. A clear theme that helps me understand the function and purpose of where I am.  A terrain that is well lit and easy to negotiate with clear views and entrance, exits and toilets! Toilets indicate an understanding of the basic requirements of life as does seating and cover.

Final thoughts from the book on Simplicity

"If you have three things, choose just two.  If you can take ten, then just take five. In that way you will be able to handle everything that you take more easily and surely." Picasso on his way of making sculptures from found objects."

"Design simplicity is the key to lively diversity." "For landscape architecture in particular, simplicity is a fundamental, unavoidable quality criterion: open spaces are objects for "contemplation" only in exceptional cases, three-dimensional pictures (eg conservatories); in fact they (think that they is a misprint and should be there) are almost always built parameters, instructions for how to proceed and stimuli for (often very different) people. Realized and used open space therefore contains (we hope!) "automatically" a lively variety of human behaviour and traces to show that it has been happening."

Sensory perception we are told is "impossible with too much aesthetic stimulation."