A to Z of building your own home... N

A to Z of building your own home...NNatureWhen considering building a new home you need to consider the effects that the new building may have on the surrounding landscape. Building a new home can be a daunting task, however with the work of an architect and other professionals, it can be much of an easier process. Nature is one of life’s greatest components, therefore, there are rules and regulations that you must abide with to build seamlessly.Animals, plants, and habitats, for example, may be protected under their own legislation. Sometimes, the planning authority dealing with your build may ask you complete a set of surveys for the planning authority to understand what is exactly on the site. To name a few; bat surveys, ecological survey, and tree survey. These can be vitally important to get planning permission for the plot that you are working on. Negative SpaceNegative space is a conceptual architectural idea which is one of the simplest, yet least applied concepts in architecture that of positive space. Negative spaces provide the designer with the perfect opportunity to flex their creativity. The negative space is the area that surrounds objects within a room that isn't taken up with design; no pictures, furniture, or texture. the placement of these decor elements will have a significant impact on the ambience of a room in your home.The negative space can be an area of visual respite and can be used to create the illusion of space, calmness, and light. Ideally, every room should have a well-balanced amount of positive and negative space. Striking this balance can be a challenge sometimes. A well thought out negative space can enhance the other design elements of the room, mainly the architecture.There are several ways to maximise the negative space to make a strong visual impact. This will include avoiding shapes with acute angles because they don't make for comfortable living - a fact that has been recognised for centuries - even if some modern architects are using them because they are rare in traditional architecture. Moreover, areas with a circular sense of enclosure and light colours create a sense of spaciousness. You can consider adding a splash of colour while maintaining a sense of minimalism and this will maximise your use of negative space.If you define beforehand the balance between the positive and negative spaces in a room, they can be one of your best design assets!