Archinect - Features

Understanding a City’s Image: Exploring New York Through the Spatial Experiences and Perceptions of Its Users

2023-03-31T12:45:00-04:00

For our latest installment of the Thesis Review series, we connected with New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) M.Arch graduate Jay Patel to discuss his project, Urbanary — Enjoy the City While Moving.

Patel explained that his work reflects the perception of urban spaces. He uses the city of New York as a reference to investigate "how a human-oriented city image is formed with people’s perceptions to design and define future cities and spaces." Patel's thesis project aims to explore a concept that "emphasizes how each urban location has a distinctive character that has been shaped by human interaction."

In our interview, he discussed his motivations for exploring the topic of architectural perception, urban usability, how Kevin Lynch's work influenced his research approach, and he shared his own path toward licensure in both India and the U.S.

The Psychology of High Ceilings and Creative Work Spaces

2020-04-15T14:03:00-04:00

Published last year, registered architect Donald M. Rattner wrote My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation to help creatives optimize their home environments in a way that heightens their powers of creativity. Pulling from years of psychological research and countless case studies, Rattner takes the reader on an educational and enlightening journey. The book offers 48 spatial strategies that help facilitate creativity in the home. Covering everything from which colors lead to peak creative performance to how smells can influence problem solving, My Creative Space is an intriguing exploration during this time when we are all confined to our homes.

Patrick Lam Discusses the Search for Complexity Through Simplicity

2019-05-13T12:04:00-04:00

Hong Kong is known for its skyscrapers and busy urban landscapes. However, within the dense complexity of the city architect Patrick Lam uses Hong Kong's crowded landscape as inspiration to creating simple design solutions for residential living. Skilled in both architecture and fine arts, Lam's design firm Sim-Plex taught him to think of every possibility a small space could offer.

For this week's Studio Snapshot, Archinect chats with Lam about art, living in Kowloon City, and what it means to expand the possibilities of limited space.