The Importance of Gates to an architect

[harriet]

How important do you think architects rate gates within overall design/build? Im talking very bespoke, impressive, intricately designed gates.

Am doing research for my uni course.

[sw101]

not very

[FIN]

i agree. depends on what sort of gate and where it fit's into design. if ur talking about a gate on a driveway then last minute thing to be honest

[harriet]

What could make architects think more widely with regard to gates as an extension to design? The gates for example to the palace or Liverpool football grounds are as large a part of the overall design/impact as the buildings themselves - I think anyway.

[FIN]

when it is as integrated into a design such as the above mentioned then there is carful consideration given as it is the control point to a building.

[harriet]

Do architects make the decisions as to design or would it be subcontracted out if regarded as less important?

[FIN]

usually on such a big project as u were mentioning the client would have a firm view of what he/she wants. ie liverpool. there may be a specialised gate designer but doubtful. the architect would just probably come up with the design.

[harriet]

Thanks Fin. Good to have a real perspective.

[Paul Clerkin]

Aren't the gates at Liverpool an after thought? They added the Shankly Gates after his death, and the Hillsborough Gates as well. They're not to my mind an integral part of the stadium as a building, but they are an integral part of Anfield as a Liverpool supporter.

[alan d]

weirder and weirder......maybe it's a typo?

Now if it were how important are guts .........well that would begin to make sense.

[harriet]

As a fellow Lpool supporter I used them as an example of beautiful gates that one can feel passionate about. I am trying to find out if gates are an afterthought or an important addition to a building.

[FIN]

eh?
i didn't know that about liverpool as not being a supporter of that particular club. only there once when my friends thought they would bring me to the home of football(what a joke) . but the gates are a big part of the whole experience of anfield. but in that case i presume they brought it to a gate company to design.
ok lets say a new stadium the gates would be a intregral part of the design in regards to safety and such so they would be designed as part of the stadium and therefore by the architect. mind u they would probably be just galv. steel yokes with no real design to them only to keep the holigans out or in..depending.

[sw101]

gates. important for;
palaces, shitty football teams, large industrial buildings where they comprise part of the facade.

unimportant for;
me, most buildings, architecture in general

[alan d]

Sorry Harriet, did'nt suspect it was a serious question............. and in that case I'd say gates are slightly more important than goats but not as important as guts

[FIN]

something liverpool need in abundance...no..i am wrong they need a whole new team!!! ha,ha...sorry couldn't help getting the dig in...

[sw101]

Originally posted by harriet
Im talking very bespoke, impressive, intricately designed gates.

i'm sorry harriet but thats a really stupid topic imho. set your sites on thresholds, gateways, the divide between public and private and something which might merit some attention. fancy gates are fluff

[harriet]

Is that really how architects feel Shaggy? I seriously do want to know if architects consider gates in design. They can be beautiful (obviously not everyone agrees with the Liverpool gates) but are they really not a consideration? Fin mentioned - safety- do gates really need to have a sole purpose? Can they combine both need and beauty?

[harriet]

That is your opinion granted but surely not everyone sees them as fluff?

[sw101]

they're gates. thats what they do. they gate. they're a way into something. how i move into that something is what i'm concerned with, not the gate i use to gain access. i've been in some amazing buildings and houses and i cant recall ever caring about a gate.

[FIN]

me thinks that only when the architect is given a brief which includes a design for a fancy gate does it come anywhere up the food chain. then in can incorporate into the design as much as possible. but gates in general are a necessary expense ar far as security is concerend and therefore the more intimidating the better. they are not seen as part of the building at all. that's my humble opinion.

[harriet]

Thanks everyone for the feedback yesterday - am bit disappointed that gates do not feature higher on the agenda.

What could make architects reconsider the importance of gates to a property and the possibilities they could hold in terms of design? Today, plasma cutting and CAD allows for any design to be made no matter how complicated/intricate.

[shaun]

No way, this is a relevant question. There is an amazing art-deco villa down the road from me and the whole thing was designed with this theme in mind, including the gates.
The original gates are still in place, indeed there are 3 different sets of gates and man they're a pleasure to look at, as is the whole thing. Details like this are the essence of good architecture.

[sw101]

yes. they are. you're right

[alan d]

.......Nairn are doing a whole new line in brightly coloured linoleum, what about that?

Cut it to any shape too....even a company logo.

[roskav]

It's interesting to look at gates from the point of view of a normal design process.... a plan would generally be designed first... any place a gate would be is left as an opening.... the actual closing mechanism is shown by a line delinating it's movement...

very much an abstract representation of function.


I wonder do most people continue that way of looking at it into its final specification?