Design void and ignorant of context is, in many ways, a failed attempt at placemaking. Understanding and reinterpreting the elements that contribute to a site are the crucial foundations for the design to come. It is the duty of care of each architect and designer to acknowledge and respond to three fundamental elements – time, people, and place – to uncover purpose and meaning through design.
“Appropriate design is a solution that respects the past and embraces the future,” Templeton Architecture founding director Emma Templeton maintains. “In our studio,” she adds, “we often refer to a hierarchy of materials which simply means selecting the appropriate material for the context of the project.”
Matilda by Templeton Architecture | Photography by Ben Hosking
Matilda by Templeton Architecture | Photography by Ben Hosking
Matilda by Templeton Architecture | Photography by Ben Hosking
In forming any brief, the client and user are the conduits for their own needs, and the existing natural or urban landscape provides the other cues. “The location and history of a site are at the centre of every design decision we make when commencing a new project,” Emma says. In doing so, she adds, “This is where design finds relevance, honesty, and appropriateness.”
With a body of work that intuitively and intimately connects to the surrounding language already in place, Templeton Architecture consistently responds with sensitivity. “The natural environment and the existing architecture will inevitably influence how we assess the appropriateness of the decisions we make when selecting a material,” Emma says.
Sussex House by Templeton Architecture | Photography by Rory Gardiner
Sussex House by Templeton Architecture | Photography by Rory Gardiner
Whether from the varying tonal palette, existing heights or a sense of scale, continuing that rhythm within which any design is placed is key. “This also applies to form and scale,” she adds, “As we critically assess the proposal’s appropriateness, the cues are often different and dependent on the project’s context and client. Through our work, we want to respect the existing proportions of the dwelling or place and ensure it sits comfortably within the original fabric.”
Working in rural and suburban settings, Templeton ensures each is given due respect and consideration in the resulting architecture. “If you consider the selection of rammed earth for the remote granite hills that Matilda is in as an example,” she says, “there are distinct contrasts between – as another example – the brick façade that was added to the suburban 1970s extension to Georgina.” Commanding a different response again, the Sussex House sees the original Victorian details reinterpreted through contemporary detailing as an evolution of the original.
“When we consider time or timelessness in design, we are not wanting to create something that is without place. Rather, we are seeking to achieve a design that has a deep connection to the location and its history.”
– Emma Templeton
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Sussex House by Templeton Architecture | Photography by Rory Gardiner
Georgina by Templeton Architecture | Photography by Sharyn Cairns
Georgina by Templeton Architecture | Photography by Sharyn Cairns
In folding in the personality of the residents, or an expression of place, the enduring nature of its comprising parts has a lasting effect on the legacy of a building. “When we consider time or timelessness in design, we are not wanting to create something that is without place,” Emma summarises, “Rather, we are seeking to achieve a design that has a deep connection to the location and its history, ensuring that the design remains relevant and forms part of the place’s narrative.”
“The location and history of a site are at the centre of every design decision we make when commencing a new project. This is where design finds relevance, honesty, and appropriateness.”
– Emma Templeton
Georgina by Templeton Architecture | Photography by Sharyn Cairns
The post The Importance of Responding to Context with Templeton Architecture appeared first on est living | exceptional living.