dream House Design Project

interview

        I learned that my client, Leo, prefers simplicity over grand gestures and extravagant things. During our interview, he mentioned that he lived in France last year, which I found fascinating. It was interesting to hear about his experiences with both cultures. Between the two, he prefers living in America because he finds the people friendlier. His perspective gave me insight into how cultural differences shape personal preferences.

        This led me to ask Leo why he thought America was a better place to live compared to France. He explained that America has more suburban areas, unlike France, where many homes are small apartments close together. He prefers open spaces and larger areas rather than compact living. Because of this, he envisions his dream house as a spacious home in the countryside rather than a small city apartment. His love for big spaces and nature strongly influences his ideal living environment.

        With this information, I was able to think about how I could apply Feng Shui, the design principle I chose to take into considertion, into Leo’s ideal home. Feng Shui is a traditional Chinese practice that focuses on arranging spaces to promote harmony, balance, and positive energy flow. Since Leo values open spaces and a connection to nature, I could use Feng Shui principles like natural lighting, minimal clutter, and an open layout to enhance the sense of tranquility in his home. Placing furniture strategically to allow energy to flow freely and incorporating elements like wood could further align with his love for nature. By applying these principles, I can create a space that not only matches his preferences but also promotes well-being and comfort. 

        I applied the empathy phase of the design thinking process by actively listening to Leo’s preferences and experiences to better understand his needs and desires for his ideal home. Through our conversation, I learned that he values simplicity, open spaces, and a connection to nature over compact city living. By putting myself in his shoes, I considered how these preferences impact his daily life and well-being, helping me make design choices that would truly resonate with him.

This was my initial design at the very beginning where I only had the layout and a few windows started. It contained the basic structure of what I was going for but it was still in its early stages of production. I asked Leo what he thought of the layout so far and he liked it and explained that he just wanted an open space in the living room and kitchen area, so I mainly focused on making that as accurate as possible.