Architectural Design 1 Finals: The Functional Elements of Architecture PDF
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This document provides an overview of the functional elements of architecture, including walls, ceilings, floors, doors, and windows. It also explores key design principles such as balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, and rhythm, as applied to architecture. This document is likely study material for an undergraduate architectural design course.
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# The Functional Elements of Architecture ## Functional Elements of Architecture - **Wall:** structural element used to divide or enclose, and, in building construction, to form the periphery of a room or a building. - **Ceiling:** the overhead surface or surfaces covering a room, and the underside...
# The Functional Elements of Architecture ## Functional Elements of Architecture - **Wall:** structural element used to divide or enclose, and, in building construction, to form the periphery of a room or a building. - **Ceiling:** the overhead surface or surfaces covering a room, and the underside of a floor or a roof. - **Floor:** rigid building assembly that divides space horizontally into stories. It forms the bottom of a room. - **Door:** movable barrier that allows ingress into and egress from an enclosure. A door's essential and primary purpose is to provide security by controlling access to the doorway (portal). - **Window:** opening in the wall of a building for the admission of light and air; windows are often arranged also for the purposes of architectural decoration. - **Stairs or ramps:** architectural components of great importance, whether in stores, in public buildings, or in homes. Since these structural features represent large vertical forms in space, they often become the dominant design feature in an interior space. - **Ramps:** sloped pathways used both inside and outside buildings used to provide access between vertical levels. Ramps provide an alternative to stairs for wheelchair users, people with mobility issues and people with prams, bicycles and other wheeled items. - **Elevator:** a vertical transport system designed to mobilize people or goods between different levels. It can be used either to ascend or descend in a building or an underground construction. - **Escalator:** a moving stairway that transports passengers up and down the floors of a building. # Principles of Design ## Balance - **Symmetrical:** the elements on the right side have the same visual weight as the elements on the left side. Symmetrical designs are easier to balance but can also come across as boring. - **Asymmetrical:** have different sides but equal visual weight. Being able to achieve balance in asymmetry can result in a visually interesting design that has movement. - **Lack of Balance:** would make your design feel heavy on one side and empty on the opposite. You'll know your design lacks balance when it feels as if it's falling off to one side. - **Balance in Architecture:** is visual symmetry and equal elements. ## Contrast - **Color Contrast:** The variation makes certain elements stand out more than others. You can apply contrast by using colors, textures, sizes, and shapes. - **Size Contrast:** Larger text tends to be read before any smaller text. Contrast is important when it comes to pairing fonts. - **Contrast in Architecture:** is observed in texture, color, solid and void. ## Emphasis - **Emphasis:** is a strategy to get the viewer's attention to a specific design element. This can be in any form: a button, a website, or an image. The purpose is to create something that will stand out from the rest of the page. - **Emphasis in Architecture:** is when there is a focus on a theme or element. ## Movement - **Movement:** refers to the path the viewer's eye takes through a composition. - **Movement in Architecture:** is an organized system of various types of movements stimulated by specific architectural elements. ## Pattern - **Pattern:** is the repetition of more than one design element. - **Pattern in Architecture:** is the idea of capturing architectural design ideas as archetypal and reusable descriptions. ## Rhythm - **Rhythm:** is the visual tempo of a combination of elements when used repeatedly, and with variation, it gives the feeling of organized movement. - **Rhythm in Architecture:** is the repetitive use of a group of visual themes. ## Unity - **Unity:** is the harmony produced by all the elements in a design piece. - **Unity in Architecture:** is the sense of a "whole" in the design.
