As an architectural practice, Scenario Architecture is a full-service architectural consultants, encompassing design and project management. Significant to Scenario’s methods is its special attention to patterns - or scenarios - of everyday life and how these can be utilised as generative forces for design. The practice invests a lot of time into research and is specifically interested in human simulations in relation to environment and space. Scenario identified a lack of digital analytic tools for visualising, simulating and evaluating the way people live and move around a space, which led the studio to embark on a 3-year ongoing research project tackling this very subject. The results were quite staggering and resulted in a complete software system analysis, which enables integration of habitants’ movements into the architectural design process to create ‘living models’ of proposed schemes. Scenario is working towards turning the analysis into a new architectural programme - and thus a new way to approach architectural design. Scenario believe the ability to experience and evaluate space virtually, alongside clients, by simulating everyday use of the building, enhanced with new technologies such as stereoscopic 3D modelling will open entirely new possibilities in architecture. Maya Carni and Ran Ankory live with their young son in a Victorian terrace house they have transformed to include two of their key pieces, Focal Shift, and Lightrail - a fireplace and balustrade respectively.  The overall effect they have accomplished is airy, light and open, in what might be a typically spatially restricted house.

What is Scenario’s philosophy for design?

Scenario’s architectural approach is honest, simple and functional. We see ourselves as spatial problem solvers, and typically create simulations of ‘habitation scenarios’, looking carefully at dwelling patterns and interactions habitants have with their space and surroundings. In our design process, we try to let go of all conventions and preconceptions in order to allow the essence of human and environmental forces to generate the architecture they really call for. Working from the inside out, we believe that appearances and beauty really do come from within. A performing space is a beautiful one. 

We find inspiration in the simple daily routine of clients, in their waking up and coffee-drinking habits in building regulations, space, budget and technical limitations.  Facing rather than avoiding the ordinary Scenario tries to surpass it and find ways to operate architecturally in a realm much deeper than forms, styles and trends. The core of our inspiration is a pure fascination with the archetypes of dwelling; elusive, organic, beautiful and intangible.  

How do you see the architecture industry changing over the next 10 years? What is in store in Scenario’s future?

We believe that future architectural design processes will incorporate analytic user simulations, that is to say, ‘habitation scenarios’. These are the missing link in the virtual environment we currently operate in. Architects today increasingly accept both environmental and structural considerations as generative and form-defining forces; the same will be true for simulated habitation scenarios, which will take architecture to a whole new level. However, the necessary digital tools are not yet available; Scenario would like to see itself at the forefront of this change.

Our in-house research developed whilst we were working on residential projects, and as a result created a method that we are now eager to test on larger scale projects. We believe this method has a specific potential for the hotel / resort industry as this sector incorporates dwelling aspects in a particular way.

As an architect, how do you manipulate light and space successfully, considering space restrictions?

Light and space as ‘stand alone’ concepts are meaningless for us. We never ask questions about light and space separately from the users and their habitation patterns. 

For Scenario, light and space manipulations are always a result of specific habitational needs. If one likes to have his coffee in the morning while enjoying sunlight we will create an opening to allow that. Spatial gestures like the Focal Shift fireplace (http://scenarioarchitecture.com/project/focal-shift) are a manipulation of space designed to achieve distinction between kitchen and sitting areas in an open plan Victorian terrace. Again the habitational need preceded the spatial manipulation.

How have clients responded to your 3D consultation service? Is it a benefit to both client and architect?

Our design process is user oriented; this means that our clients have greater and unique involvement throughout the process. Our clients see 3D virtual versions of themselves performing their daily activities, and depicting the way they would like to see themselves using the proposed design. This process inevitably brings about basic questions of lifestyle, and sometimes deeper questions and expectations clients have from architecture and the changes it may bring about.

From the architect’s point of view this process is also unusual and extremely challenging; the traditional role as an independent creator shifts towards a closer and more interactive relationship with clients. Working within this process we sometimes feel closer in approach to psychologists, sociologists and engineers.

Tell us about your new software development technology…

What are the main advantages of this new 3D experience?

Background

Scenario’s unique design process, combined with the absence of suitable software called for development of new digital tools. Seeing this opportunity, the studio embarked on a three year research project (2006-2009), developing an analytic digital design platform where designers can create, visualize and evaluate environmental and living scenarios.

Main Advantages

• Ability to experience and evaluate space virtually alongside clients by simulating everyday use of proposed schemes.
• Ability to incorporate human and environmental aspects early in the design process.
• Facilitation for rapid design-analysis feedback loops, by integrating seamlessly flexible design and analysis within a wide platform.

Status

Keeping to our natural role as end users for architectural software, we have developed detailed requirements and a full system analysis for the project.

We are currently in the process of identifying suitable software development companies to take on the actual programming and marketing of the application.

Scenario’s method for architectural user simulation and user-oriented environmental analysis is currently US patent pending.