Moreover, the mission of the home is to provide a moral and ethical ground from which the growing generations may further grow. Honesty of thought and sincerity in work are the inheritances with which the home can and should endow the youth. To that end, all the means must co-operate, and in this respect the form-treatment of the home–if honestly conceived and sincerely executed–is a vital, although perhaps subconscious factor…We say this to stress the fact that there must exist a spiritual interrelationship between the family and the form-treatment of the home. In other words, it must be understood that the form-treatment of the house should not be just an impersonal and coldly technical combination of various rooms for various purposes, but rather a treatment of form which is capable of bestowing a proper resonance to the human atmosphere in the home.
~ Eliel Saarinen

Schematic Design

The Schematic Design process is where mills studio clarifies its design intent and then communicates the design intent to the Owners. The Schematic Design process aligns the DTS design intent with mills studio’s architectural agenda. The Schematic Design sets forth the parameters and context that mills studio has determined are significant to the design of the DTS Project House. The Schematic Design defines how the DTS Project House will integrate with its site and topography and interact with the landscape. The Schematic Design develops the narrative of how vehicles and pedestrians approach the property, enter the site, and the paths to eventually enter the house and garages.  

The Schematic Design delineates the character of the architecture including massing and proportions, size, and the materials, and architectural elements that give the DTS Project house its aesthetic. The Schematic Design defines how the DTS Project House works including the space allocation, circulation, privacy, and views. The Schematic Design shows how structural and other technological considerations are integrated into the design.

The Schematic Design specifies how the DTS Project House addresses environmental factors, such as orientation, daylighting, capturing sunlight, and capturing natural breezes. The Schematic Design defines how the property is developed for both useful and contemplative purposes. The Schematic Design outlines how the DTS Project House design implements mills studio’s architectural agenda and defines how the DTS architectural experience encompasses Design, Technology, and Sustainability.     

I think that the ideal space must contain elements of magic, serenity, sorcery, and mystery.
~ Luis Barragan