form to design to form

"Form precedes Design. Form is what. Design is how... Design gives the elements their shape, taking them from their existence in the mind to their tangible presence. Design is a circumstantial act. In architecture, it characterizes a harmony of spaces for a certain activity." - Lobell, Between Silence and Light

the space below is the communal kitchen for the staff at the TVS design firm in atlanta. i think it is a lovely expression of interior design. it seems to portray a real-life, 3-D, visual lesson on simple design principles (balance, proportion, scale) being applied to simple design elements (shape, line, color), which, to me, is a very appropriate approach for any space within a design firm. the majority of the light provided for the space is natural, but the isolated luminaires are highlighted by their exclusivity creating a lesson of their own. it has a minimalist quality that is still warm, which is a wonderful concept for a place meant for gathering, like a kitchen. spaces animated by the people who's animations are influenced by the space they are in... hmm...