The Visible Utility
This pattern is shaped by
Problem
When infrastructure is hidden — pipes buried in walls, wires sealed behind drywall, ducts in inaccessible cavities — it becomes invisible until it fails. A leak behind a wall causes thousands of dollars of damage before it's detected. A blocked duct degrades air quality for years unnoticed. Hidden infrastructure discourages maintenance and guarantees expensive repairs.
Evidence and Discussion
The tradition of exposed infrastructure — industrial lofts, Japanese timber frame, Pompidou Centre — shows that visible utilities can be beautiful when designed intentionally. More importantly, they can be maintained. A visible pipe is a pipe you can inspect, repair, and replace without demolition.
Therefore
wherever possible, run building services — plumbing, electrical, ventilation — in accessible locations: exposed along walls, in accessible chases with removable panels, or in open ceiling cavities. Design the routing as part of the architecture, not hidden from it. The occupant should be able to trace the path of water, air, and electricity through their building without opening a wall. Visibility enables maintenance; maintenance enables longevity.