Peter Spittler Architectural Services
Today we talk to the team at Peter Spittler Architectural Services about the role of urban planning and how it matches up with an architect’s mission. Peter Spittler Architectural Services has spearheaded numerous urban planning projects around the country.
Interviews and News: Thanks for taking some time with us today!
Peter Spittler Architectural Services: Absolutely, we’re happy to oblige.
Interviews and News: What are some basic tenets of smart growth?
Peter Spittler Architectural Services: Smart growth is based on mixed use of land, walkable neighborhoods, joint decisions in development, and building attractive places to live and work, with a strong, centered sense of purpose and place.
Interviews and News: How does the design of each building fit into this?
Peter Spittler Architectural Services: We’re always mindful of a building’s purpose and lasting impact…
Interviews and News: Specifically how, though?
Peter Spittler Architectural Services: A building is a permanent thing that needs to hold up over the years, aesthetically and functionally. We try to marry up visually-striking design with features that are built for practicality and a low energy footprint.
Interviews and News: Interesting. Aren’t these some pretty old notions, though?
Peter Spittler Architectural Services: Absolutely. They really date back to Roman Times and Vitruvius’ Ten Books of Architecture.
Interviews and News: Can you elaborate on that for us?
Peter Spittler Architectural Services: Vitruvius posited that a building’s requirements were commodity, firmness and delight…
Interviews and News: Meaning what?
Peter Spittler Architectural Services: Commodity means how well a building functions for its everyday purpose, firmness for its construction and ability to weather the elements and time, and delight for its aesthetics and the reaction it draws.
Interviews and News: Those are indeed timeless values.
Peter Spittler Architectural Services: Yes, and in the 21st century we can use modern ideas toward those ends.
Interviews and News: Shouldn’t they reinforce each other?
Peter Spittler Architectural Services: Yes, really, any building design should be cognizant of those three standards supporting and backing each other.
Interviews and News: And sustainable design is part of that?
Peter Spittler Architectural Services: Absolutely.
Interviews and News: In what regards?
Peter Spittler Architectural Services: Things like recycled and repurposed materials, orientation of the building to make the most of natural light, shade and prevailing winds, and so much more.
Interviews and News: You’ve given us food for thought…
Peter Spittler Architectural Services: Often, it’s the things that people never know or notice that are the most important in building design.
Interviews and News: Yes, we’ll be thinking about that the next time we see a new building going up…
Peter Spittler Architectural Services: Glad to be of help!
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