how to imply action with design of architectural elements

Here are some photographs that show how we can read and understand the implied action of elements of the built environment, without necessarily having people in the photographs.

In other words, we can look at the designed elements in the photographs and understand how they could be used. Associated with this understanding is a feeling or emotion of what it would be like to do these actions, and a question about who would do them and why.

Practicality and imagination combine to allow us to understand.



A place to sit and contemplate the sea.... A place to wait for someone coming home over water.... A place to scale fish.... A place to diembark a boat.... A place to wash a child.

A place to dive into the water.... A place to load supplies into a small dinghy.

A handrail leading over some rocks into the sea.....or up some stairs towards an opening....or down some stairs into a chamber of silence.....

A spot for reading with a table just big enough for a book and coffee, plenty of natural light and a view to the ocean outside....A place to play cards.... A surveillance spot for a train spotter to watch trains and record details.....

(It just so happens that these photos all involve the ocean - the principles apply to designing elelements for all types of actions and situations.)

When you are designing, be very specific about what activity you are designing for and think about how that activity can be implied in the designed elements. The location of the activity is as important as the gesture made to facilitate the activity, particularly in lending an emotional content to the reading.