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fixybopixy
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this might sound a little silly, but I was wondering if someone could help me clarify the differences between different types of architecture, because sometimes I am not sure I am correct. if someone says they specialize in "commercial and institutional architecture" i am not 100% sure what that means:
institutional - architecture related to a specific organization or establishment, like hospitals, jails (or are they civic buildings?), nursing homes, etc
commercial - architecture related to commerice, like stores, banks, etc. or are banks instiutional? is this word synonymous with "retail"?
retail - same as commerical (it doesnt just refer to clothing, right? it refers to anything that can be bought or sold)
civic - having to do with a city, like police station, jail, etc (police station is also institutional)
mixed use - commercial + residential
any thoughts?
Feb 23, 09 1:36 am
lesov
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institutional is schools, hospitals, and the other programs you mentioned.
commercial is office space. (not stores)
retail is goods for sale, shopping, not just clothing.
you have civic correct. also can include arenas and rec centres.
This is all based on how the firms i've worked for have defined their work. Hope my 2 cents helps.
fixybopixy
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but the word commercial just means having to do with commerce. and stores are commerce, right? so retail = commercial, no?
what are banks?
what about public vs private? are civic bldgs always public?
what are museums? they are both commercial and instituional, right? or does that depend on who is funding the museum, whethers its a private museum or its funded by the city?
outed
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fixy -
i've always broken it down like this: institutional, be it public or private, almost always deals with programs which are of a non-profit (literally or perceptually) type. the literal and perceptual is the key - most of these started out as non-profit once upon a time, but are not necessarily there any more. examples include:
museums and their derivatives (almost every museum is privately held, whether or not a government contributes money to their operations).
hospitals (although these get lumped in with healthcare these days)
libraries
parks and recreation (governmental types - although these get lumped into 'government' more and more)
schools - secondary and university
non-profit foundations
commercial is, as implied, anything to do with commerce. it could be office (say for a law firm) or a shopping mall. retail is a subset of commercial, but not all commercial counts as retail.
civic buildings can be public (caltrans) or private (disney concert hall). for me, that's a kind of catchall for buildings which are publicly accessible - meaning, like disney, i can go there when i'd like. that's not true of the harvard club in new york, though, so i'd leave that one in 'institutional'.
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treekiller
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The difference IMO is between if the client is going to occupy the space or will lease/sell to others. Big difference between willingness to invest upfront on features and systems that improve long-term value of using a facility versus those seeking profits from others.
So building a corporate HQ is closer to being institutional versus a typical spec 'commercial' building.
A developer is a very different client to engage then a professional facility manager/director of operations/other executives typically on an institutional project team.
b3tadine[sutures]
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fixybopixy
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fixybopixy
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fixybopixy
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hi guys, here is my studio professors opinion:
"Institutional for me really is about schools, hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
Jails actually fall under public buildings (or civic buildings) so the PAB also is a civic building.
Commercial - retail, banks, etc.
Museums are civic more than institutional though they can be considered institutional, especially if they are affiliated with an institution such as a university, etc.
Museums are not commercial.
Civic - public buildings, cultural institutions (like museums) - there you have institutions being a subset of civic sometimes.
Disney concert hall is definitely civic, but could also fall under the subset of institutional.
mixed-use - you have it right."
vado retro
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fixybopixy
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i agree with u in some respects, the IBC divides occupancy groups into mercantile, institutional, assembly, and residential.
however it seems to me that those IBC definitions sometimes contradict the colloquial definitions. i.e., according to the IBC hotels go in the residential category (R-1: transient sleeping in rooms for less than 30 days), but it seems like in casual conversation, when someone says that they do residential architecture, they mean houses, not hotels.
and also, according to the IBC institutional means occupancies where ppl have special restrictions on them (i.e. old age homes) but i feel like when ppl say "i do institutional architecture" they mean museums and important cultural icons...
my only point is that i think there are some differences between mainstream definitions of these categories and IBC definitions.
what do u think?
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I tend to avoid the "Civic" label entirely.
Residential is single and multi-family housing as well as some mixed use developments.
Commercial is offices and other tenant fit-outs with the exception of retail stores and restaurants. This includes financial institutions, but mainly the offices and non-public services.
Institutional is private and public institutions - schools, recreation centers, community centers, fire and life safety, jails.
Healthcare is hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospices and doctors offices.
Retail is restaurants, stores and other places where goods and/or services are exchanged. This may include bank lobbies and other financial institutions where public interaction occurs.
Government is any work that encompasses the previously named distinctions but is performed for a government agency.
Urbanist
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For commercial architecture there are very specific market requirements as to what works and what doesn't. These differ somewhat across international borders but in countries like the US they're fairly fixed. For example, it has been said that there are between 17 and two dozen sellable commercial building and housing typologies/floorplates in North America (and still allowing for all the possible, architecturally interesting, permutations of these basic ones).
For example, a leasable mid or highrise commercial office building must have a certain amount of usable distance on either side of the core (and economically speaking, on all four sides of the core), generally accepted to be 40'-50'. Thicknesses/core-shell ratios, which are less are generally not economic to build. Thicknesses that are much more means difficult-to-lease dead space (too far from windows/natural lighting, etc). So most developers will stick to the template.. its the least risky approach.
Different rules apply to various types of institutional buildings. Generally speaking, programming and the use of client-specific program books as an integral part of the design process are more commonplace with institutional buidings than they are for commercial ones. These allow architects to design in a bespoke manner to exacting client requirements (for say a museum or a university research lab building).
pfaktor
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~IntArchDes
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Certainly, I appreciate your interest in understanding the nuances of architectural classifications. As someone deeply immersed in the field, I'll provide a comprehensive breakdown of the concepts discussed in the article, shedding light on the distinctions between different types of architecture.
1. Institutional Architecture:
- Definition: Architecture related to specific organizations or establishments.
- Examples: Schools, hospitals, jails (though debatable if they are civic buildings), nursing homes, museums, libraries, parks, and recreation centers.
- Insight: Often associated with non-profit programs, both public and private. Museums and hospitals, for instance, may have started as non-profit entities.
2. Commercial Architecture:
- Definition: Architecture related to commerce and business activities.
- Examples: Office spaces (not stores), shopping malls, and financial institutions.
- Insight: Can encompass a broad range, from corporate offices to retail spaces. Retail, although a subset, is not the sole definition of commercial architecture.
3. Retail Architecture:
- Definition: Architecture related to the sale of goods and services.
- Examples: Stores, restaurants, and places where goods or services are exchanged.
- Insight: While retail often includes clothing stores, it extends to any place where transactions occur.
4. Civic Architecture:
- Definition: Architecture associated with public and community spaces.
- Examples: Police stations, civic buildings, arenas, and recreational centers.
- Insight: Can be both public (government-funded) or private (accessible to the public, like Disney Concert Hall).
5. Mixed-Use Architecture:
- Definition: Architecture combining commercial and residential functions.
- Examples: Developments that include both living spaces and commercial areas.
- Insight: Reflects a blending of different usage types within a single architectural project.
Additional Insights from the Discussion:
- Public vs. Private: Institutional buildings can be both public (government-funded) and private (privately owned museums).
- Evolution of Definitions: Terms like "institutional" have evolved; for instance, banks, once considered institutional, are now often seen as retail or commercial.
- Client Perspective: The purpose of the space and the client's intentions (occupancy vs. leasing/selling) can influence the classification.
Regulatory Influence:
- IBC (International Building Code): Discussion participants note that while IBC provides definitions, there can be a discrepancy between its definitions and colloquial understanding. For example, hotels in IBC fall under residential, but in casual conversation, residential architecture typically refers to houses, not hotels.
In summary, the distinctions between architectural types can be influenced by historical context, client intentions, and evolving definitions within the industry. While regulatory frameworks like IBC provide guidelines, colloquial understanding and practical considerations play a crucial role in defining these categories.
