Designer
ELEVAR DESIGN GROUP CINCINNATI
Form over function or function follows form — what is your philosophy on the subject?
A: I believe functionality should definitely drive aesthetic appeal. It should drive decision making, and the aesthetics are kind of the cherry on top. I believe when you’re a good designer, you can make anything look good depending on what’s around it. The functionality is what should be focused on first.
Q: What are some specific challenges you face as a commercial architect in general or in the Cincinnati area?
A: Right now, there’s a big push for sustainability, to incorporate it on an affordable level and keep it in the project. Sometimes, with big commercial products, it’s the focus at first and then the value is driven out of it or the value is engineered out when expenses pop up. But sustainability should be pushed throughout the project and it should be a main priority, especially in the times we live in now. Before, sustainability was just an option if we had the money for it, but today it should be one of the major driving forces.
Q: Regarding commercial design, are you seeing a major shift in businesses’ design strategies?
A: Oh yeah, definitely. Due to COVID-19 and people working from home, the flexibility of space is a design program focus right now. Buildings are being retro- fitted for different uses. For example, I know, due to the coronavirus and ecommerce, there are a lot of commercial retail places, such as strip malls and entire malls, that are vacant throughout the city. This is a current trend throughout the nation, too, and business owners are considering how these empty buildings can be retrofitted for residential use, especially in light of the housing shortage.
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