STUDY: Composing an Irregular Flagstone Model for a Precise Aesthetic

Los Angeles, California

Firm: Design Workshop | Year: 2022

As a preschooler, I often spent afternoons flipping through the latest issue of National Geographic in awe of animal and landscape photography. Over time, my curiosity manifested in physical exploration of my neighbor’s farm and woodlands in search of new creatures and landforms. This curiosity of the natural world reemerged when presented with a set of design questions: What do irregular flagstone patterns all have in common and what sets them apart?; What makes a design visually appealing?; What drives shaping decisions and subsequent arrangement?

To answer these questions, I set out to create a method for precise selection of irregular flagstone patterns. Deep precedent research informed my determination that the number of sides the stones completely alters the pattern, driving the aesthetic. This revelation led me to filter the seemingly countless patterns in my hypothesis to an approachable set of two basic types of irregular flagstone patterns, allowing me to create a simple set of selection categories based on ‘grid formation’ and ‘size ratio’. From these two categories, all irregular patterns exist, creating a powerful model to assess precedent projects. Simplifying the pattern selection process naturally guides any users of this model to select joint type and width, face finish, and edge conditions. Combined, the entirety of the model allows a user to home in on a specific design aesthetic and to determine the exact layout and details that can then be explained for construction. Tapping into my innate curiosity drove a thoroughly enjoyable and exciting discovery process for me.