Good designers think out of the box, even with small details.

Some answers to design considerations are just too routine (placing railings is one of them). In dealing with a situation already encountered before, some are quick to reuse solutions instead of pondering for more effective ones. Let’s have a case study.

“You’re designing a  house on steeply sloping terrain.  For one reason or another, you end up with an open decked space overlooking a magnificent view. However, the deck terminates at a dangerous cliff; safety of the user is of utmost importance.”

A common design move to respond to this would be to place a railing at the edge of the deck. While this certainly deals with the issue of safety, look at its other implications.

If the user would want to kick back on a chair and enjoy the view, think of how the railing would spoil the experience. Chances are, the top member of the railing is directly blocking your horizon.

Consider a different approach to this problem.

One ingenious design move would be to incorporate a shallow reflecting pool terminating at a strip of shrubs.

Think about it. Which of the 2 is more effective? Innovative? Which one shows that you’re thinking like a true designer?

You decide.

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