Architecture Inc

What is ANT?

ANT is an acronym for Art, Nature & Technology.  It is our design philosophy and is briefly summed up as follows: 

 

Art

Art produces an emotional response.  It is something you feel inside.  When you walk through a building you are moved or affected, and the building provides you with a meaningful experience.  The experiences are as varied as our emotional spectrum and might include awe, inspiration, celebration, motivation, or comfort and security, to name a few. 

 

Nature

Everything we have comes from the world around us.  Our buildings consume both energy and materials.  How we build and what we build should reflect an awareness of how connected and dependant we are on the health of our environment.  Buildings should not just be a product of industrial processes, but respond to environmental concerns and deepen our appreciation for the world around us. 

 

Technology

When we talk about technology, we are referring to the correct application of building science to the project.  Advancements in sophisticated controls and systems allow for a more efficient use of energy, but we also see passive systems such as envelope, insulation, and windows as a means of reducing the environmental impact of a building and providing cost savings on energy.  Correctly applied systems can also extend the life of the building and conserve the embodied energy that goes into construction. 

 

We believe that if the building users experience these three things, Art, Nature and Technology, while interacting with the built environment, then we may have achieved something that, by our own definition, can be called architecture.