1.

INTRODUCTION TO ARCHITECTURE

Lecture Contents:

1.1 What is architecture?

1.2 Basics design elements and design principles
1.3 Architecture and civil engineering
 Qn. Why do you need Fundamentals of
Architecture?

Describing architecture as ‘fundamental’ might suggest

that there is a simplicity that underlies its expression.

Architecture is a language that we understand because we inhabit

buildings, they surround us and create our world. To achieve a piece
of architecture requires engaging with a process of thinking, drawing
and designing, a process that ultimately produces a building.
The etymology of the word ‘architecture’ can be defined
as arkhi meaning chief and tekton meaning builder.

Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and other

Physical structures.

It is both a SCIENCE & an ART:

Science - must produce structures which are: well planned, practical & strong…
ART – it must produce structures which are aesthetically pleasing, Creative, …

It Shows us the struggle or history of the society.

Architecture is a reflection of our society in attitude, customs, desires, needs and
technology.

for Buildings to fulfill architecture, it must contain these three things:

Firmness – structural integrity & durability.
Space – spatial functionality
Delight – aesthetics

Plus the use of materials, technology, textures, light & shadow.

 Architecture is about the making of places where people
spend their lives.

Architecture is not only concerned with the exterior and interior

design of a building, but the environment as a whole. Architecture is
mostly about human beings living in a better way than before.”
Other examples:
Falling Water
by Frank Lioyd Wright

Stair and wall

Interior space
Interaction with nature
 1.2 Basics design elements and design principles

The Concept of Design

Many people would think of design as some kind of effort in beautifying the
outward appearance of things. Certainly mere beautification is one aspect of
design, but design is much more than this.

Design is not just ornamentation. The well-designed chair not only has a pleasing
outward appearance, but stands firmly on the ground and provides adequate
comfort for whoever sits on it. Furthermore, it should be safe and quite durable,
able to be produced at a comparatively economic cost, packed and shipped
conveniently and it should have a specific function, whether for working, resting,
dining or other human activities.
 Cont.
Design: is an activity that attempts to modify the environment, so that it becomes
a better place to exist in.

Major characteristic features about design:

1. PROCESS
Any process is expected to have a
definite beginning that sets it in motion
and a definite end where the motion stops.

2. PROBLEM SOLVING
This in turn implies that the activity that
we call design starts by identifying a problem
to be solved and tries to use inputs from
the human mind (the designer) to come
up with possible solutions

3. CREATIVE ACTIVITY
There might be more than one possible solution to a specific problem. A designer is
expected to explore possibilities and use his power of imagination to generate the best
solution that is unique and original at the same time.
Elements
The elements are components or parts which can be isolated
and defined in any work of art i.e. specific "parts" of a design
solution. They are the structure of the work, and can carry a wide
variety of messages.

Architectural design
elements include:

- Point
- Line
- Shape(plane)
- Form
- Space
- Color
- Texture
A Point
- A point is an element that marks a position in the visual space.
- perceived as having no length, width or depth.
- Static, centralized and direction less.
- Expresses stability and calmness
LINE
- a point in motion creates the appearance of a line.
- So Line is an extension of a point.
- a line is considered to have a single dimension.(i.e. Distance)

Physical Characteristics
- Length:
- Value
- Direction
- Position
- Types of line curved, bent, irregular, wavy, etc
Vertical – Represents dignity, Horizontal – Represents calm
formality, stability, and strength , peace, and relaxation
Diagonal – Represents action, Curved – Represents freedom,
activity, excitement, and the natural, having the
movement appearance of softness, and
creates a soothing feeling or
mood
Shape/plane Volume / Solid
A plane in motion creates
When a line is extended in a direction a volume/solid
other than its intrinsic one, it forms a plane.

Physical Characteristics
- Surface
- Orientation
Primary Shapes

Circle

Triangle

Square
Primary solids

- Includes cube, sphere, cone, cylinder, and pyramid

- Created from primary shapes.
- Regular
- Symmetrical
- Stable

Primary solids
- Circles - generate spheres and cylinders.
- Triangles - generate cones and pyramids.
- Square - generates cube.
Solid / volume
Used to:
- Define or enclose space
- Study relationships between
components of a volume
- Create a complex form in the
three dimensional visual field
Color Warm Colors
Reds, oranges, yellows
Color is considered the most
important element of design.

Each color has three characteristics:

- hue,
- value, and
- intensity.

Cool Colors
Blues, purples, greens
TEXTURE
Tactile quality of an object surface Is
the roughness or smoothness of a surface
as perceived by our sense of sight.

Due to the visual and tactile features of texture different feeling could be
suggested.

Physical and psychological comfort

- Smooth textures in an interior can seem cold
- Rough texture have a warmth about them that makes most people feel at
ease.
Principles/ Organization of Design

Elements of Design are placed under the rules or principles of design.

So, design is the organization of the elements of art according to the
laws or principles of design.

The principles of good design are the tools used by an artist or

designer to create an effective composition or design. The principles
are: balance, movement, repetition, emphasis, simplicity, contrast,
proportion, space, and unity.
1. Balance - a feeling of equality of weight, attention, or attraction of the
various elements within the composition as a means of accomplishing
unity
2. Movement - the suggestion of action or direction, the path our eyes follow
when we look at a work of art
3. Repetition and rhythm - the act of repeating an element either regularly
or irregularly resulting in a rhythm of the repeating elements.
4. Emphasis - the stress placed on a single area of a work or unifying visual
theme
5. Simplicity (a.k.a. visual economy) - the elimination of all non-essential
elements or details to reveal the essence of a form
6. Contrast - the difference between elements or the opposition to various
elements
7. Proportion - the relation of two things in size, number, amount, or degree
8. Space - the interval or measurable distance between objects or forms
(two dimensional or three dimensional)
9. Unity - the relationship between the individual parts and the whole of a
composition
Ordering Principles

In a composition that uses elements, regardless of the logic of

organization, we can establish an ordered relationship between the
elements by the use of Ordering Principles.

Axis: - A line defined between two points in space about which forms can
be arranged in a symmetrical or balanced manner. This line can be actual
or implied. The overall impact of the introduction of an axis is that it
establishes an order of significance between the elements of design.
Cont.

SYMMETRY: - It is nothing but the arrangement of objects that are

equidistant from an actual or implied axis.
Cont.

HIERARCHY: - Way of establishing order from most dominant to least

dominant element. It establishes primary and secondary elements that have
a dependent relationship. Achieved by changing size, shape or location
relative to the other forms.

RHYTHM: - Reoccurrence of elements in a logical pattern. A unifying

movement characterized by a patterned repetition or alteration of formal
elements or motifs in the same or a modified form. Rhythm is hence a sense
of order established between elements that are in repetition, but not vice
versa.
Cont.

DATUM: - The introduction of one dominant element in an otherwise

disordered composition may produce an overall ordering effect on the
existing forms. In such cases, we are considering the introduction of the form
as a datum. Such a form could be a line, Plane, Volume.

REPITION: - Reoccurrence of similar elements define repetition. As a

structure, repetition could be achieved by using visible structural
elements of form or by the use of invisible formal elements that
produce effects of repeating spaces between visible forms.
3. Architecture and Civil Engineering

In the construction industry, development projects usually require the

knowledge and understanding of civil engineering and architecture.
These are important disciplines that deal with the process of creating
structures, such as buildings, airports, churches and houses. Both
professions have critical functions that are essential in any construction
job and they rely on one another to accomplish a given task.

Civil engineers:
- Measure and map the earth’s surface.
- Design and supervise the construction of bridges, tunnels, large buildings,
dams, and coastal structures.
- Plan, layout, construct, and maintain railroads, highways, and airports.
- Devise systems for the control and efficient flow of traffic.
- Plan and build river navigation and flood control projects.
- Provide plants and systems for water supply and sewage and refuse disposal.
Cont.

Civil engineering is a diverse field. Most specialties fall under the

categories of:

• Structural
• Environmental
• Geotechnical
• Water Resources
• Transportation
• Construction
Architecture and Civil Engineering:

Similarity
- Both Civil Engineering and Architecture are involved in planning and designing
structures.
- They rely on one-another to accomplish a given task.

Differences
- They have well-defined roles that make them distinguishable from each other.
Architecture focuses more on the spatial functionality and aesthetics of the
development work and is more concerned with the artistry, look, feel and
functionality of the design,
- While Civil Engineering concentrates on the structural elements of the design,
making certain that the structure can endure normal and extreme conditions.
Summary,

Architecture's primary concern is designing the development work while civil

engineering's responsibility is ensuring that the design can be implemented in a
safe and reliable manner.

Civil engineers and architects may sometimes overlap each other's work but a
good relationship between the two professions will make the construction job
more effective and successful.
Any Question?