Architecture: Definitions, Styles and Design

Architectural Definitions and Concepts

• Architecture is the art and science of designing and constructing buildings.
• An architect is trained in building design, coordination, and construction supervision.
• Vernacular architecture uses regional forms, materials, and ethnic influences.

Relationships to Other Fields

• Civil engineering is related to architecture in terms of structural conceptualization.
• Urban design and planning relates to architecture through land analysis.
• Heritage design relates to architecture through adaptive reuse and restoration projects.

Architectural Styles and Design

• Architectural style categorizes buildings by common attributes like appearance, design elements, materials, form, scale, and structure.
• Energy-efficient design focuses on reducing energy consumption, water usage, and environmental impact using natural lighting, low-e glass, solar systems, and efficient ventilation.
• Ergonomics coordinates the design of systems with human physiological and psychological capacities.
• Blobitecture is a movement featuring organic, amoeba-shaped building forms.
• Design is the creation and organization of formal elements in a work of art.

Principles and Elements

• The Fibonacci series is a sequence where each term is the sum of the two preceding ones (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, etc.).
• Form is the shape and structure of something with mass and volume.
• Social distance is ideally maintained within a range of 1.20 – 3 meters.
• Shape is the outline configuration of a figure showing the enclosed area.
• A design concept is a plan for a building's form, structure, and features, represented graphically.
• The design process is a cyclical activity aimed at changing an existing situation into a preferred state.
• Synthesis is combining separate parts to form a coherent whole.
• Space planning involves the layout, design, and furnishing of spaces within a building.
• Additive design is characterized by combining elements, often resulting in a new identity.
• Articulation refers to a method of jointing that makes united parts distinct and precise.
• Subtractive design involves removing a part or portion without destroying the whole.
• Repetition is the process of repeating formal elements or motifs in a design.
• Gradation is the process of change through gradual, successive stages.
• Universal design pertains to spaces and facilities fully accessible to all people, including those with disabilities.
• Theories are related to ideology, philosophy, and belief, but not fact.
• The artistic side of architecture involves delight, beauty, aesthetics, and taste.

Form and Spatial Relationships

• A point is the prime generator of form, indicating its position in space.
• A radial spatial organization is where elements extend outward from a central point.
• Centrality is a spatial organization where elements are clustered around a central point.
• A linear spatial organization arranges spaces in a line.
• Interlocking spatial relationships create more building footprint.
• Adjacent spatial relationships create fewer partitions between spaces.
• Spaces linked by a common space are common in hotel room floors.

Proportions and Measurements

• The Modulor is Le Corbusier’s proportioning system.
• "The Ken" is inspired by a Japanese mat and used as a guide in proportion.
• The Golden Section is a line segment divided so that the ratio of the whole segment to the larger part is the same as the ratio of the larger part to the smaller part
• The golden ratio spiral is related to the Golden Section.

Color Theory

• The basic color wheel is divided into 12 slices.
• An analogous color scheme uses 3 colors side by side on the color wheel.
• Complementary colours are directly opposite one another on a colour wheel.
• A split complementary color scheme uses two colors selected opposite to each other in the color wheel.
• Green is a primary color.
• Yellow is a primary colour
• Black, brown, gray, and white are not in the basic color wheel.
• Green is made by mixing blue and yellow.
• Gray can be created by mixing Part Black + Part Green + Part Yellow + Part Orange

Structural Concepts and Theorists

• Space frames are widely used as a basic framing system for structures.
• Constantinos Doxiadis theorized extensively on Ekistics, the science of human settlements.
• Louis Sullivan theorized that "form follows function."
• Frank Lloyd Wright had a concept of a "Broadacre City," where families own 1 acre of land.
• Space frames enable structures with large spans and unobstructed spaces.
• Thin shell concrete is a structural concept involving lightweight, curved forms.
• Folded plate structures consist of flat slabs inclined at angles.
• A beam is a horizontal member spanning an opening and carrying a load.