Introduction
What is Architecture?
- Is both the process and product of planning, designing and
construction, usually of buildings and other physical structures.
Architecture can be defined briefly as:
- is the art and science of designing and constructing various
buildings, structures, and complexes necessary for human life
and diverse activities.
- It dealing with the organization of space and solving any
spatial aesthetic and social problems.
Cont.…
• The design activity of the architect, from the macro
level(urban design, landscape architecture) to the micro
level (construction details and furniture).
• The style in which a building is designed and constructed.
• A general term to describe buildings and other physical
structure.
Cont.…
• According to vitruvius: a good building should satisfy the
three principle of firmitas, utilitas, venustas which translate
roughly as durability, utility and beauty.
Design includes 3 aspects
- Form, function, structure
A, Form: is an art
- Aesthetics, style, landscape, Arch history, creation of
design concepts.
• Form is an inclusive term that has several meanings. It may refer
to an external appearance that can be recognized.
• "Architectural form is the point of contact between mass and
space …
• Architectural forms, textures, materials, modulation of light and
shade, color, all combine to inject a quality that articulates space.
• The quality of the architecture will be determined by the skill of the
designer in using and relating these elements, both in the interior
spaces and in the spaces around buildings,"
What is the difference between shape and form?
• Form suggests reference to both internal structure and
external outline and the principle that gives unity to the
whole.
• While form often includes a sense of three-dimensional
mass or volume.
• Shape is the principal aspect by which we identify and
categorize forms.
IN ADDITION TO SHAPE, FORMS HAVE VISUAL
PROPERTIES OF:
• Size: The physical dimensions of length, width,
and depth of a form. While these dimensions determine
the proportions of a .form, its scale is determined by its
size.
CONT.….
Color: A phenomenon of light and visual
perception that may be described in terms of an
individual's perception of hue, saturation, and
tonal value.
- Color is the attribute that most clearly
distinguishes a form from its environment. It also
affects the visual weight of a form .
CONT.…
• Texture: The visual and especially tactile quality given
to a surface by the size, shape, arrangement, and
proportions of the parts.
TRANSFORMATION OF FORM
• All other forms can be understood to be transformations
of the primary solids, variations which are generated by
the manipulation of one or more dimensions or by the
addition or subtraction of elements.
1, Dimensional transformation
- A for can be transformed by altering one or more of its
dimension and still retain its identity as a member of a
family of form.
• Eg. A cube ; can be transformed in to similar prismatic
forms through discrete changes in height, width or length
it can be compressed into a planar form or be stretched
out into a linear one.
2, Subtractive transformation
A form can be transformed by subtracting a portion of its
volume.
Depending to the extent of the subtractive process, the
form can be retain its initial identity or be transformed in to
a form of another family.
Eg; a cube can retain its identity as a cube even through a
portion of its is removed or be transformed into a serious of
regular polyhedrons.
Subtractive transformation
3, Additive transformation
A form transformed by the addition of elements to its
volume.
The nature of the additive process and the number and
relative size of the elements being attached.
Transformation examples;
Cont.…
B, Function : is a science
- Every building is intended to host certain human activities.
In order to accommodate the envisioned undertakings the
architect must arm himself/herself with the knowledge of
each event.
- - Living space - utility space, need of the consumer.
- Environmental control - heating ventilation and air condition
system( HVAC)
- Building material
• At the same time we should also understand the basic
anthropometrical, ergonomic, proxemics structure of
humans.
• , Anthropometrics: is the measurement and study of the size
and proportion of the human body.
- The dimensional study of individuals and group in motion
and without motion.
- - the dimension study of individuals and groups during
various activities.
• The study of human body
measurements including
height, weight, reach
• Human Physiology
Information is used by
designers to create
functional spaces.
- Ergonomics
• Ergonomics: a scientific discipline concerned with
designing according to human needs.
• Ergonomics is the study of man at work. More precisely, it
is the study of people using equipment in specific
environments to perform certain tasks.
• Ergonomics is a science concerned with the fit between
people and their work.
• There are five aspects of ergonomics, safety, comfort,
ease of use, productivity/ performance, and aesthetics.
Based on these aspects of ergonomics, examples are
given of how products or systems could benefit from
redesign based on ergonomic principles.
- Proxemics
The study of spatial distances between individuals in
different cultures and situations.
It is the study of our personal and cultural spatial needs
and the behavioral and social impact of our interaction with
surrounding space.
C, Structure : is practical art
Structure is columnar, planar, or a combination of these
which a designer can intentionally use to reinforce or
realize ideas. In this context, columns, walls and beams
• Structure can be used to define space, create units,
articulate circulation, suggest movement, or develop
composition and modulations.
• Strength and stability, cost analysis, code( state, local, federal),
land analysis
• In addition to this structures has also a great potential in
defining architectural form and space. The following are some
of the main contributions structure could add,
- To define exterior character of a building by modulating
facades,
- Subdividing space,
- Allowing access, restricting, modulating, filtering light….
Thank you
