HOW WE WORK
Our Methodology
Sylfaen Cynfin staff initiate and undertake a ‘participative design’ process with local people. Problems and issues are explored and design solutions drawn up, discussed, revised and worked through to a consensus with a range of local and statutory stakeholders.
A flexible variety of consultative forums focus on the functional elements and processes identified by clients through guided walk-abouts and meetings, and by our own site surveys, observations and on-street conversations with local pleople. We study the configuration of spaces within communities or in buildings - how spaces and places fit together.
For us, a constructive and confident working relationship with our client group is key to emerging projects. Our method reviews client needs, the requisite design provisions and the project’s diverse qualities.
At the end of the process, we have outcomes - ‘acceptable responses’ - that consolidate into a consensus of agreement.
This methodology of ‘Inquiry by Design’ was developed at the Joint Centre for Urban Design at
Inquiry by Design is an ‘iterative process’; design ideas are presented, tested and reprocessed until an acceptable outcome is achieved by the client group. Analyses and proposals are constantly under review as they have to be convincing to many consultees.
In our design methodology, two parallel processes interact. One strand is the Design Analysis, the preparatory background, research, surveys and design development; the other is the Consultative Process that oversees and tests the conclusions being drawn.
The consultative process is launched. We will engage with your project team and others, largely on your terms; to tell your story in your way, sometimes with site visits as appropriate.
Special interest consultations (planning and traffic issues, young people, property conditions etc) run concurrently and resolve issues raised in the other forums.
Consultations are often based on sketch drawings, gradually progressing to 3D colour images. We are amenable to the use of web-sites and in preparing more formal presentation material, including Powerpoint (or the like) as required.
The second element of the parallel process is our own (team) research and analysis, interpretation and design development.
We review the existing research base and identify the additional information requirements
We investigate the physical environment, including ground condition and services, adjoining buildings, public spaces and the natural movement routes that link surrounding streets and spaces.
Reports and recommendations begin to take shape and are made available as appropriate for review, throughout the commission.
The design framework and imaging are constantly under review: First, the base material and main references are assembled, to be developed, repeatedly tested, redrawn and regularly presented to the client group.
Design development moves from analytical to conceptual to technical. Whilst the requisite survey work is being assembled, the analysis and consultation progress and establish working hypotheses for space requirements and spatial composition. The design team can proceed with the exploration of design options, concepts and solutions.
Our methodology is to share that process as much as possible with our clients.