1.1 FUNDAMENTALS OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN by Dr.

Vinayranjan Ambatkar

1.7 Architectural Design data: Techniques

(technology)
The factors which influence the design and decisions in design are referred to as data.
In the design process, we have classified this data in four categories, viz. Anatomical,
Geophysical, Personality (Socio-cultural) and Technique. Anatomy gives the logical internal
organisation, geophysical data the surrounding cover, personality gives the soul, intent and
action, and technology makes all these feasible with materials. Technique or technology
shapes the expression to the intents with logical functioning in a given location.
Meaning of Techniques Data
In 1610 the word "tekhne" was used to mean "working or performance methods
(protocol) of making a piece of art." The word technique is said to have been formally used
for the first time in1817, to mean "formal practical details in artistic expression." The Proto-
Indo-European root "teks" means "to weave," also "to fabricate," Technique is basically an
art of application of skill in any work. Indian context the word "tantra" is a combination of
set of alphabets or words in a sequence (mantra), ritualistic diagrams, and set of procedure,
which was followed by particular group or sect. Today, it is the skill of application of
knowledge in a specific field. While the knowledge is common to all those who are applying
it in the profession, the skill of its application primarily rests on the individuals, which may
or may not trigger the magic desired. Thus we include method, approach, procedure, process,
system, method of working, operating procedure, course of action, plan of action, manner,
mode, fashion, style, means, strategy, tactic, practice, modus operandi, etc, under this head.

This data can broadly be divided into following groups.

1 Materials and methods, Structure & Logic, specifications,
2. Environmental Controls,
3. Norms and standards for services,
4. Legal and safety issues,
All rules and regulations regarding materials of construction & methods (required
and available), structural systems, specifications/ standards, local / national policies, (like
wellness, sustainability; energy conservation, etc.), development (control) rules, building
byelaws, national and international standards, norms for environment, safety, health, etc. are
covered in the technology. The actual or physical design starts with technology data. Since it
is physical, it's tangible, measurable, accountable, digital, and specific. The ideas expressed
earlier as possibilities and probabilities are now to be transformed in to executable drawings
to lead to working drawings. While sketching for all other stages starts with bubbles, this
stage starts with a specific grid.

Grid is a tool which is effectively used in mapping (grasping) a situation, area or

land. Earth is mapped with latitude & longitude, which helps universally to point a location.
Earth has its own geomagnetic grid, creating energy fields. Curry lines are approximately 3.0
1.1 FUNDAMENTALS OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN by Dr. Vinayranjan Ambatkar

meters apart (with variations), diagonally to the poles, east to west. Hartmann lines run both
east-west and north-south forming a grid across the surface of the earth with a distance of 2
meters in the north-south direction and 2.5 meters in the east-west direction. Ley lines are
man-made energy lines, created by stone formations such as stone ships or other ancient
archaeological structures.

Grid is a framework of equidistant lines along two directions, perpendicular to each

other and normal to universal / cardinal directions (east-west and north-south). This concept
of normal (perpendicular) may be applied to the boundaries of the piece of land. Grid may be
triangular (hexagonal as in honeycomb) or rectangular. Japanese use rectangular mat as grid
to design houses. The dimensions of grid are chosen from the most used object in the
building. Structural grids are very common in design of office and industrial buildings.
Parking areas or car sizes are the determinant in building where multiple basements are used
for parking.

Traditional Indian architecture gives emphasis on grid called Mandala. It is treated as

equivalent to bone structure of the body (human or any other). The bone structure allots
spaces and channels to the various functions and flows creating the tectonic. Energy (soul)
attracted to (contained in) this body, depends on the organisational structure of the body. A
human body will attract (human soul) a soul which has to live life of human beings and a
body of an animal shall attract the corresponding soul. This is the gist of Traditional Indian
architecture.
B. Presenting Technology data
The first set of data relates to subject of building construction and theory of
structures. The old schools were very rigid about this subjects, while the new trend is to
philosophise them. Both are extremes. Construction (with blessings of W.B. McKay) was
taught as a series of sets of standard solutions, which are to be mastered by reproducing them
on drawing sheets, and then applying them in practice without any change. Any variation
was treated as defective construction. This was true for the tradesmen engaged in post World
War II constructions. This is not true for architects.

Purpose of learning Building Construction is to execute the design ideas, without any
change or pre condition. It is therefore a set of methods to be applied in principle and
logically adapted or tailored to the situation. Knowledge of construction should facilitate and
not dictate the design. In India, structural materials used are clay (bricks) / stone, Timber
(and its products), Metals (mainly steel and aluminium), Reinforced Cement Concrete. Other
materials are primarily used for finishing or cladding, along with variations of primary
materials. Presenting the material and structural data is to document availability and
suitability of these system at the situation to facilitate its analysis to choose.
1.1 FUNDAMENTALS OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN by Dr. Vinayranjan Ambatkar

The second set refers to environmental controls, which are often perceived
negatively, as (architects think) they restrict creativity. Development control rules are
(supposed to be) extracted from national policies pertaining to economic growth, regional
planning, and it's share by the particular settlement. They therefore control the bulk or the
floor area and in turn the activities in terms of scope and quantum. Architect is authorised
through his training to interpret these rules for effective implementation of the policies of the
State. FSI or FAR and coverage are to regulate bulk and population, while the setbacks and
distances between buildings are the breathing spaces, and should be respected. Natural
ground or green areas, against plantation on paved areas are the essential to control global
warming.

The third set refers to Norms and Standards for services, which are part of National
building Code. Width of passage, staircase, size and number of lifts, distance from staircase
or lift to the last point served, size & height of machine rooms, AC plant, substation, number
of toilets, water requirements and storages for drinking, toilets, and fire fighting, location
and sizes of fire escapes, vertical risers for supply of electricity, and distribution of
telephone, internet and other cables, etc., are properly documented and recorded in the
building byelaws and building codes. It saves you from the burden of calculating yourself
and then justifying to the authorities. Generally it takes three years of working for different
types of buildings or just one year for similar types of buildings to remember these standards
by heart. We should never try to redefine or argue on these but use our creative talent in
arranging them so that they appear integral part of the design, rather than imposed
obligations.

The fourth set refers to Safety standards and Legal matters. Safety standards and
requirements are generally included in the norms, but not always explained and understood.
Safety measures are of two types, 1- during construction, and other during use or occupation.
Here we are mainly concerned with user safety, particularly in buildings designed for
unknown individuals, like housing, offices, commercial complexes and industries etc. The
considerations include earth quake probability (seismic zone), fire hazards (use of materials
and escapes), flooding of basement & ground floors, overloading of balconies, "U" turns or
dogleg patterns in stairs or ramps in assembly buildings and stadiums (to be avoided), the
standards for risers and treads, provisions for physically challenged, etc.

All architects keep these sets of information in mind and at hand, but never document
it. For academic exercises recording it selectively ensures its application in design and
displays that the design process adopted by you has a inbuilt structure. This set of
information concludes in the first sketch of design to work with.