Functional Elements of Architecture

Functional Elements of Architecture

• Wall: A structural element used to divide or enclose a room or building.
• Ceiling: The overhead surface covering a room or the underside of a floor or roof.
• Floor: A rigid building assembly that divides space horizontally into stories. It forms the bottom of a room.
• Door: A movable barrier allowing ingress and egress from an enclosure; primarily for security and controlling access.
• Window: An opening in a building's wall to admit light and air, often designed for architectural decoration.

Contemporary Design Considerations for Windows and Doors

• Windows and doors are primarily functional, not decorative elements.
• Careful design and placement are crucial for light, ventilation, and views.
• Simple devices like shades or shutters can adequately manage light and privacy.

Stairs and Ramps

• Stairs and ramps are crucial architectural components, especially in stores and public buildings.
• They often define the vertical aspect of an interior space.

Elevators and Escalators

• Elevator: A vertical transport system moving people or goods between levels.
• Escalator: A moving stairway that transports passengers up and down floors.

Principles of Design - Balance

• Any element has a visual weight from form, size, color, and texture.
• Designs need balance for stability, and certain scaling is needed.
• Symmetrical balance: Elements on the right side have equal visual weight as those on the left side. Symmetrical designs can be boring.
• Asymmetrical balance: Different sides with equal visual weight. This can result in a visually interesting design with movement.
• Lack of balance creates a feeling of heaviness on one side.

Principles of Design - Contrast

• Contrast creates a visual hierarchy; some elements stand out.
• Contrast aids in creating balance and harmony, distribution, and clarity for the viewer.
• Use color, texture, size, and shape to create contrast.
• Contrast in layouts is often used for pairing fonts (e.g., script and sans serif).
• Contrast in a message can improve readability. In architecture, it's evident in texture, color, solid, and void.

Principles of Design - Emphasis

• Emphasis is a strategy to attract a viewer's attention to a specific element (e.g., a button, website, or image).
• It creates something that stands out from the rest of the page.
• Techniques: Using lines, shapes, color, texture, and space to highlight a specific area.
• In architecture, Emphasis highlights a theme or element that stands out.

Principles of Design - Movement

• Movement directs the viewer's eye through a composition by using elements that lead to other aspects of a design.
• Using repeated elements and curved or diagonal lines creates interest and dynamism.
• Colors and variations maintain the viewer's engagement and focus.

Principles of Design - Pattern

• Pattern involves the repetition of more than one design element, whereas repetition focuses on a single element.
• Seamless patterns are repeatedly used in interior design (e.g., tiles) to enhance the design's look and appeal.
• In architecture, patterns can be seen as archetypal or reusable design descriptions.

Principles of Design - Rhythm

• Rhythm involves repeated elements with variation, creating a visual tempo and sense of organized movement.
• It's usually hidden, but variations and repetition of shapes, lines, and forms are evident.
• Rhythm is the tempo and repetition patterns in architecture.

Principles of Design - Unity

• Unity refers to the harmony produced by all elements in a design; elements appear cohesive.
• Use similar colors and clear relations to create clear unity.
• Too much unity can create a sterile design with a lack of personality.
• A lack of unity leads to a design that appears cluttered or confusing.