Architecture and town planning
DA-1 (Prajwal-18BCL0206)
Acknowledgement:
I Prajwal hereby declare that this essay is my original work.
Before one can delve into the field of architecture, it is important to learn more about
its general concept. Traditionally, architecture is defined as the art and practice by
which buildings are designed and constructed. While architecture is often considered to
be focused on the construction of private homes, it is also used in the development of
office buildings, churches, and museums. In addition, architecture may focus on the
creation of bridges, highways, and other similar public works.
Some may even argue that the architect only needs to make sure the design and the
aesthetics are appealing, or in simpler terms, ensure that the building is pretty enough.
In reality, the architect is responsible for every aspect of their creation from inception to
completion. An architect must ensure that the building is aesthetically appealing and
realistically completed. The architect is present throughout the entire process.
To make this possible an architect follows some basic principles.
The first and foremost principle is imagination , an architect may be inspired by
anything but to make a feasible design out of it he must have a deep imagination
Here are a few examples:
The below example shows how an architect was inspired from a date palm tree canopy
and designed it in a practically feasible way , an indoor swimming pool with a dome
inspired from a manta ray , a auditorium inspired from a cocoon . This goes to show
that there is no lack of inspiration but only limits to how much one can imagine . this is
a characteristic an architect must constantly test the limits of.
The next principle is balance :
A balanced composition feels right. It feels stable and aesthetically pleasing. While some
of its elements might be focal points and attract your eye, no one area of the
composition draws your eye so much that you can’t see the other areas.
Symmetrical balance In this type of balance when the structure is divided along a
certain line each half will be the mirror image of other. Here are some examples.
Asymmetrical balance:
A half need not have the same proportion as the other they only need to be in
equilibrium.
Given below are some examples of asymmetrically balanced structures.
Radial balance:
In this type of balance the elements of the structure seems to originate from a single
point.
The next principle is Rhythm:
Rhythm is a regular and repeated pattern. When you think rhythm, music is probably
the first thing that comes to mind. But how can rhythm be defined visually in design? As
a design principle, rhythm can be defined in architecture as a patterned repetition of
elements in space. We place elements and experience the intervals between them.
When our eyes move from one element to the next, we create a rhythm and through
this rhythm in space we can enjoy a sense of organised movement as a musical beat. It
can be seen in the image below of a cultural center designed by Ar. Zaha Hadid with all
the swooping curves and flowing spaces in it. In this architectural composition, we can
say that if the surface is the music, then the joints between the panels are the rhythm.
In other words, rhythm is established by using repeated forms. In architecture,
repetition refers to a pattern in which the same size, shape or colour is used again and
again throughout the design. Rhythm in architecture can also be followed on facades of
a building which can be regular, flowing or progressive.
Emphasis is a strategy that aims to draw the viewer’s attention to a specific design
element. That could be to an area of content, to an image, to a link, or to a button, etc.
We see emphasis used in most fields of design, including architecture, landscape design
etc. emphasis facilitates user interaction with the areas that the design team deem
important. For one element to stand out, there must be another that lies behind it.
Nothing can be alone, and nothing happens in a vacuum.
Given below are some examples
The last principle is Unity:
Unity refers to how different elements of an artwork or design work come together and
create a sense of wholeness.
This is when everything is put together . Every structure that have done so far is unity.
