Designing Structure for Future Deconstruction: A Dialog with Matt Woods
Matt Woods takes pleasure in “designing for deconstruction,” which includes creating areas and buildings that may simply be damaged down on the finish of a undertaking. This philosophy is influenced by the excessive turnover fee within the hospitality business, the place Woods regularly works. He considers elements similar to supplies and useful components that may be simply dismantled, similar to utilizing screws as a substitute of nails or glues. Woods additionally focuses on reusing supplies from previous tasks and collaborating with recycling firms to reduce waste.
A powerful sense of fashion can transcend nearly any design problem, whether or not or not it’s undertaking sort, funds, materiality, or sustainable concerns. Woods, the one-man crew behind the Killing Matt Woods studio, actually has that transcendent sense of fashion.
An award-winning designer based mostly in Sydney, Australia, Woods has established a popularity as one of the vital thrilling designers within the business, with retailers like The New York Occasions Fashion Journal: Australia highlighting his eco-conscious designs and considerate aesthetics. He has received awards like Finest Residential Venture within the 2020 Dulux Coloration Awards, Designer of the Yr for the 2011 Design Excellence Awards, and lots of extra honors.
What Is He Doing Proper? Behold, “Designing for Deconstruction”
An industrial designer by coaching, Woods calls his guiding philosophy “designing for deconstruction.”
In accordance with Woods, this strategy, in its easiest sense, is “a method of designing [spaces and buildings] in a method that they are often damaged down or deconstructed on the finish of a undertaking.” The design philosophy stems from the excessive turnover fee of companies within the hospitality business, a marketplace for which Woods regularly designs.
These concerns might be based mostly on supplies, like utilizing lime mortar over cement mortar in brickwork, or round sure useful components which are simpler to be damaged down. This may be so simple as fastening constructing components with screws as a substitute of nails or glues, or within the case of a more recent undertaking, a modular ceiling construction. “We’re experimenting on how we are able to reconnect and disconnect a ceiling construction. It’s a 500 square-meter house with this huge ceiling; it may doubtlessly be fairly wasteful,” he stated.
Woods can take supplies from previous tasks and reuse them for brand new ones, or, not too long ago, he’s been working with recycling firms within the Sydney space who are available in and take constructing supplies and use them for different tasks. In some circumstances, he additionally connects with these recycling firms for supplies on completely different tasks, making a symbiotic relationship.
“The development business is well-known for being one of the vital wasteful industries round, so I’m simply attempting to do my little bit,” he stated.
For these designers who’re additionally attempting to do their “little bit,” Woods gave three items of recommendation on the subject of designing for deconstruction:
- Give attention to element: “Any lack of element in your design results in builders making assumptions, and you may relaxation assured these assumptions received’t favor a deconstruction methodology.”
- Threaded fasteners are your pal: “Create non-permanent joints wherever doable. A screw or a bolt is best than a nail or glue.”
- Turn out to be mates with the builder: “Having a great relationship with the principal contractor or undertaking supervisor might be extra necessary than your relationship with the shopper; having an open dialogue about what can and may’t be completed will solely profit a undertaking.”
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The Vectorworks Benefit: Woods’ Software program of Alternative
Woods has been utilizing Vectorworks design software program for almost 20 years, and it’s the one digital design software program he makes use of. The designer praises the “flexibility” of the software program for working in a hybrid 2D and 3D setting.
He makes use of Vectorworks templates and symbols initially of his undertaking, which assist him keep a visible commonplace and m
anagement over 2D and 3D visuals. Utilizing these requirements, he’s in a position to simply repeat his approaches and carry element over from undertaking to undertaking.
Woods additionally makes use of Vectorworks for the modular designs and concerns when “designing for deconstruction.” The beforehand talked about ceiling construction, for instance, was deliberate with Vectorworks’ drawing instruments.
To study extra about Vectorworks, go to their touchdown web page.
