Tag: library (3)

Design on a Budget

The second installment in our Library Video Series addresses designing libraries on a budget. Kodet’s Mandi Tauferner and Kyle Palzer discuss ways libraries can be money conscious and how architects can create cost-effective but beautiful designs for libraries on a budget. They mention a recently completely project by Kodet Architectural Group, Pleasant Hill Library, and point out aspects of the design that were considered and that gave Dakota County the biggest bang for their buck in their addition + remodel.

Library Trends

Kicking off our 5 part video series on libraries, Library Trends is the first topic our experts here at Kodet address. Today, libraries are uniquely positioned to reimagine how they might better serve communities in the future.  No longer are they simply a place for holding books and information, but rather a hub for community programs, learning, and social interactions.  From virtual reality to hands-on cooking classes and everything in between, libraries can offer communities new ways to see, experience and understand ideas like never before. By embracing new technology and thinking outside the box when it comes to unique program offerings, the 21st Century library is on the forefront of societal trends and keeps pace with an ever changing world. Pleasant Hill Library in Hastings, MN is the library featured in our library video series, for more information on that project – click here!

Selecting the Perfect Furniture

Not all clients consider the benefits of having the architect also serve as the primary interior designer for a project. There are a numerous benefits, that range from comprehensive design aesthetics to understanding how all the details come together – to create well-rounded and thoughtfully designed project. CHARACTER + AESTHETIC Having the architect serve as the lead furniture designer/selector has many benefits for a client. First, the architect generally sets the overall design idea for a project, so they know exactly what pieces of furniture match the design aesthetics they were intending for a space.  Likewise, they can better choose pieces that fit a space well. For example, a round space could benefit from round furniture pieces to accentuate the characteristics of a room STYLE + CONSISTENCY The same quality holds true for picking out furniture fabrics in a project. If the architect is the lead designer in the this area, they can choose patterns + colors that again match the overall feel + style of your project.  This allows the furniture to work well with other pieces, has colors, and patterns that feel cohesive and additionally fit well within a space.   FINANCIAL BENEFITS Beyond the aesthetic benefits a project gains financially from having the architect as the lead interior designer.  The architect is uniquely positioned to be a natural non-biased party in the selection of furniture as they do not represent specific manufacturers or have financial stake in pushing new products or those that may have a higher margin of profit for a vendor.  The architect, can compare multiple vendors that offer similar products to help clients pick furniture that both matches their budget and project style. Architects can therefore help owners put together competitive solicitations for quotations, where they can then issue to multiple furniture vendors for […]