Building learnings

[indigo_rose99]

In France I have learned several things that I plan to implement on any future building I build.

• A bed with artistically arranged pillows will never be as comfortable for sitting as a proper couch.
• Stools, while space-efficient, will not substitute for proper chairs.
• Never ever include saloon-style doors, no matter how cool they look.  Stupid things don't allow you to carry anything through, and shake the building as they flap back and forth.
• Think hard about line of sight and location of bathroom doors.  It should be impossible, for instance, to stand outside any building and see through the glass front wall, through the glass foyer wall, as someone walks into the women's bathroom to get a good look at the entire length of six sinks.  (Yes, seriously.  As I stand at a bathroom sink, the line of sight goes through two walls, beyond the parking lot to the road.  People actually driving by can see me standing in the bathroom.  This is just wrong.)

Comments

France = Form Over Function

[sclatter.livejournal.com]

It's everywhere there.

At least usually in the bathrooms they have the fully (floor to ceiling) enclosed stalls. That's something I would trade a lot for.

Re: France = Form Over Function

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

I do like the fully enclosed stalls, but I would give it up for the ability to not flash the entire planet every time someone opens the door. It has led me to a new appreciation for the way most US bathroom doors are designed. I used to think that whole "go through one door, only to see another door in front of you" was stupid.