12 Character
The visual and physical features that contribute to the appearance of a space.
The tone that is perceived upon entering a room reflects the character of a space. That character can be existing, such as in the case of historic elements or as-found conditions at a project or site, or evolve independently as part of the discussion with a client.
Character is closely aligned with a project’s design strategy to help clarify what makes a solution distinctive and compelling. It is occasionally referred to as style, but that terminology has a reductive quality based on a narrow selection of objects for a design based on characteristics, rather than on an eclectic or heterogeneous combination of objects and surfaces that create a cohesive whole.
In the process of design, character evolves with the existing conditions of a project. Design strategies can be developed to enhance the space with similar harmonious elements, or juxtapose elements by working in opposition to the character to create a design that revels in its independence.
A graphic wood-screened ceiling adds rich tones and character to the restaurant at the Blackbird Hotel in Bandung, Indonesia.
The lobby of the Standard Hotel and Lido Spa in Miami, Florida, conceived by Shawn Hausman Design, mixes Art Deco-inspired stained glass windows and furniture with a serene, airy, and beach inspired atmosphere. The hotel also incorporates their own signature scent into the ventilation to add to the experience.
A chair from Patricia Urquiola’s Lilo Collection for Moroso is inspired by a mix of Scandinavian style, mid-century modernist flair, and the work of Italian designer Achille Castiglioni, who Urquiola apprenticed with early in her career.