Principles And Elements Of Architectural Design
Principles And Elements Of Architectural DesignJaspreet Kaur
AulakhB. Arch 2nd Year 4th SemesterK. R. Mangalam S.A.P
Principles
AxisSymmetryHierarchyDatumRhythmRepetitionTransformation
AXISSYMMETRY
RHYTHM/REPETITIONHIERARCHY DATUMTRANSFORMATIONAxis: A line
established by two points in space, about which forms and spaces
can be arranged in a symmetrical or balanced manner.Symmetry: The
balanced distribution and arrangement of equivalent forms and
spaces on opposite sides of dividing line or plane, or about a
centre or axis.Hierarchy: The articulation of the importance or
significance of a form or space by its size, shape or placement
relative to the other forms and spaces of the organization.Rhythm:
A unifying movement characterised by a patterned repetition or
alteration of formal elements or motifs in the same or a modified
form.Datum: A line, plane, or volume that, by its continuity and
regularity, serves to gather, measure, and organise a pattern of
forms and space.Transformation: The principle that an architectural
concept, structure, or organisation can be altered through a series
of discrete manipulations and permutations in response to a
specific context or set of conditions without a loss of identity or
concept.HIERARACHY
Hierarchy By Size: A form or space may dominate an architectural
composition by being significantly different in size from all the
other elements in the composition. Normally, this dominance is made
visible by the sheer size of an element. In some cases, an element
can dominate by being significantly smaller than the other elements
in the organisation, but placed in well defined setting.
Hierarchy By Shape: A form or space can be made visually
dominant and thus important by clearly differentiating its shape
from that of the other elements in the composition. A strong
discernible contrast in shape is critical, whether the
differentiation is based on a change in geometry or regularity. Of
course, it is also important that the shape selected for
hierarchically significant element be compatible with its
functional use.
Hierarchy By Placement: A form or space may be strategically
placed to call attention to itself as being the most important
element in a composition. Hierarchically important locations form
or space include:The termination of a linear sequence or axial
organisationThe centrepiece of a symmetrical organisationThe focus
of a centralised or radial organisationBeing offset above, below,
or in the foreground of a composition
History Faculty Building, Cambridge University, England,
1964-67, James Stirling
The design of the HistoryFacultybuildingwas the subject of a
limited competition in 1963. The winning design was conceived
byJames Stirling and the resultant structure is almost identical to
the original plans. However, after the competition, it was
discovered that a part of the original site was unavailable to the
University and thebuildingwas turned 90 degrees to fit the land
available. Thebuildingwas completed in 1968 and awarded a R.I.B.A.
(Royal Institute of British Architects) Gold Medal in 1970.
Thebuilding is listed by English Heritage.
Architecturally, Stirling'sFacultybuildingarouses great
interest, and visitors come from all over the world to view it; so
many in fact, that the times during which they can actually come
into the library itself (the central focus of the building) has to
be restricted.PLAN
"Thebuildingwas the subject of a limited competition and, apart
from changes in siting, is almost the same as the original
project.""It was necessary to provide multi-directional approaches
in the History Faculty. To allow for different cross-campus
circulation routes four entrances have been provided, two of which
are at ground level. At the front of thebuildingthere is also an
approach by ramp to the staff entrance.The accommodation includes a
reading room for 300 readers (12,600 square feet of shelving) which
accounts for approximately half the floor area; the other
accommodation is staff, seminar and common rooms."
James Stirling Michael Wilford and Associates. James
Stirling,Buildings and Projects.S. S. Sergius and Bacchus,
Constantinople (Istanbul), A. D. 525-30
Begun in 525 by Emperor Justinian, theChurch of Saints Sergius
and BacchusinIstanbul was an early experiment in Byzantine
architecture, with a large central dome supported by an octagonal
base. The church is now a mosque calledKk Ayasofya Camii(Little
Hagia Sophia Mosque), named for its resemblance to the much
largerHagia Sophia built a few years later.
The Byzantine Emperor Justinian (r. 527-65) was among the
saints' devotees. According to legend, when Justinian was a young
man he was condemned to death for plotting against Emperor
Anastasius. But Sergius and Bacchus appeared to the emperor in a
dream, convincing him to release Justinian.Justinian began
construction on a church dedicated to Sergius and Bacchus
immediately after becoming emperor himself.
The former church is located on the south side of Istanbul next
to the Hippodrome; a railway line (near Sirkeci Station) runs
between the south wall of the church and sea wall.The Kk
Ayasofya'sinterioris decorated and furnished as a mosque, with
Arabic calligraphy and designs in blue painted on white walls.
Originally, the walls and vault would have been completely covered
in golden mosaics, like those that survive from this period
inRavenna, and probably frescoes as well.The architecture of the
building, however, survives fully intact from the Byzantine
era.Elements Point indicates a position in space. A point extended
becomes aLine with properties of:LengthDirectionPositionA line
extended becomes a Plane with properties of:Length and
widthShapeSurfaceOrientationPositionA plane extended becomes a
Volume with properties of:Length, width and depthForm and
SpaceSurfaceOrientation Position
oint12Plane A line extended in a direction other than its
intrinsic direction becomes a plane. Conceptually, a plane has
length and width, but no depth. Planes in architecture define
three-dimensional volumes of mass and space. The properties of each
plane-size, shape, colour, texture-as well as their spatial
relationship to one another ultimately determine the visual
attributes of the form they define and the qualities of the space
they enclose.
S. Maria Novella, Florence, 1456-70, Leon Battista Alberti
The Renaissance facade by Alberti presents a public face to a
square.Exterior wall planes isolate a portion of space to create a
controlled interior environment. Their construction provides both
privacy and protection from the climatic elements for the interior
spaces of a building, while openings within or between their
boundaries re-establish a connection with the exterior environment.
As exterior wall mould interior space, they simultaneously shape
exterior space and describe the form, massing and image of a
building in space.
As a design element the plane of an exterior wall can be
articulated as the front or primary facade of a building. In urban
situations, these facades serve as walls that define courtyards,
streets and such public gathering places as squares and market
places.Kaufmann House (Falling Water),Connellsville, Pennsylvania,
1936-37, Frank Lloyd Wright
Reinforced concrete slabs express the horizontally of the floor
and roof planes as they cantilever outward from a central vertical
core.The overall form of a building can be endowed with a
distinctly planar quality by carefully introducing openings which
expose the edges of vertical and horizontal planes. These planes
can be further differentiated and accentuated by change in colour,
texture or material.
The structural design for Fallingwater was undertaken by Wright
in association with staff engineers Mendel Glickman and William
Wesley Peters, who had been responsible for the columns featured in
Wrights revolutionary design for theJohnson Wax Headquarters.
Fallingwater stands as one of Wright's greatest masterpieces both
for its dynamism and for its integration with the striking natural
surroundings. Wright's passion forJapanese architecturewas strongly
reflected in the design of Fallingwater, particularly in the
importance of interpenetrating exterior and interior spaces and the
strong emphasis placed on harmony between man and nature
