Design & Sight Lines

Good architectural design is about more than making a room function as desired; it takes into account all of the intangibles like how it feels to be in the space, and how the space connects to the remainder of the other interior spaces as well as the exterior.

While good transitions are important, the designer also takes into account the “visual axis” more commonly known as sight lines.

A sight line as it pertains to different types of design such as roads have a purpose of easing navigation and safety. With regards to home interiors, we want to use the alignment for multiple purposes. In the 2015 kitchen pictured, there are multiple lines of sight. The wall between the family room and kitchen previously had a simple post and was open to the family room the length of the kitchen. By framing an opening above a new set of cabinets and closing in a door way the space has an axis of sight in four directions from the island and offers more purpose to the doors leading to the exterior. This floor plan is every bit an open floor plan, while giving each place its own merit.

While the strict visual axis relies on a line with balance on both sides (say a window at each end of the sight line), there are times when the line of sight can be more interesting and mysterious if it leads to an anchor point. In an upcoming project we have an opening from the public area (kitchen, family dining) to the bedrooms and baths. The current concept view leads to doors to rooms which may or may not be open. In the new design concept, we will move the doors to create an anchor that reads as an architectural buffer and an invitation to see what lies beyond.

May your view from where you are offer something of interest while also making your surroundings work for your lifestyle.