THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

SPACE
-a limitless area in which all things exist and move

Man’s action  spatial aspect  space concept

EXPRESSIVE/ ARTISTIC SPACE – space created to express the structure of his world

AESTHETIC SPACE – space concept needed by expressive space to systematize its properties

SPATIAL QUALITIES
Compartmentalized
Regular
Amorphous
Integrated
Segregated

SPACE TO SPACE RELATIONSHIPS

1. Space within a space
- a large space enveloping a smaller space
- enclosed space should be proportional to the large space

2. Interlocking space
3 Possibilities
a. shared
b. merged with one space
c. interlocking portion can develop its own integrity

3. Adjacent space
Ways of separating spaces
a. limit visual & physical access -reinforce individuality of each space
b. use columns
c. change level

4. Space linked by a common space

Ways of linking
a. immediate space differ in form
b. same sizes & shapes of adjacent & intermediate space
c. linear in form to link distant spaces
d. intermediate space can dominate

FIVE WAYS TO ARRANGE AND ORGANIZE SPACE

1. Centralized
2. Linear
3. Radial
4. Clustered
5. Grid

SPACE ARTICULATION
1. Elevating a portion
2. Space within a space
3. edges change in form, color, texture
4. depressing a portion
5. ceiling plane
6. vertical plane

KINESTHETIC QUALITY OF SPACE

-space has to have movement and depend on movement
SEMANTICS -study of meanings

*KINDS OF MEANING
1. SIGNS & SIGNALS
Sign – a notice publicly displayed for advertising purposes for giving direction or warning
3 MAIN TYPES
a. INDEXICAL SIGN
-existential relation between signifier and signified
Index – representation which refers to the object it denotes because it establishes a connection between the
object and the senses/ memory of the person for whom it acts as a sign
b. ICONIC SIGN
Icon - sign which refers to the object it denotes by virtue of certain characters of its own and which possesses
just the same, whether any such object actually exist or not; a word or sign that stands for something else,
e.g. the Roman numeral "II" representing the number two
c. SYMBOLIC SIGN
- conventional usage sets the arbitrary relation between signifier and signified

2. SYMBOLS -different symbols on architectural plans

REPRESENTATION – visual depiction – drawing
COPY - something that is made exactly like something else in appearance or function – model
REPLICA – an accurate reproduction – copy with the same size

3. EXPRESSION
Whenever best expressions are met, the experience tends to be that of a piece of architecture

CONCEPTUALIZATION TECHNIQUES OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

Influences in Architectural Design
NEEDS OF MAN
1. Physical Needs
a. Self-preservation
Basic – food, shelter, clothing
Additional – power, water, utilities, ecological balance, education, sports, medical, livelihood
b. Reproduction
-continued existence
2. Emotional Needs
Instincts stirred by the forces of religion and art
3. Intellectual Needs
-education, science and government has to have architectural setting

FUNDAMENTAL DESIRES OF MAN

1. Desire for preservation –basics
2. Desire for recognition – prestige, pride & ambition
3. Desire for response – love, friendship, sociability
4. Desire for self-expression

The "hierarchy of needs" suggested by Abraham Maslow (1954) has often served as a model. Pertti Vuorela
(1970) has tried to outline a sequence of the goals of building. His proposal lists first the critical needs and then
the other, less and less significant needs which become important only when the first mentioned ones are
satisfied:

1. Physiological needs: Dwelling and its equipment. Shops. Health services. Privacy. Air. Sunlight.
Heating.
2. Needs of security: Traffic hazards. Police, fire guard etc. Risk of unemployment. Communications.
Absence of excessive noise. Hygienic conditions of the area. View out of the windows. Contacts to
nature.
3. Need to belong and be accepted in a group: Social values prevalent in the area. Physical distance
between dwellings. Functional distance between dwellings. Segmentation of leisure time. The social
organizations.
4. Need of self-fulfillment: Possibility to spend leisure time in the area. Timing of free time. "Democracy" of
the area.
5. Cognitive and aesthetic needs: How easy it is to find your way in the area. Schools. Communications.
DESIGN PROBLEM
Categories of Concern Checklist
1. FUNCTION
2. SPACE
3. GEOMETRY
4. CONTEXT
5. ENCLOSURE
6. SYSTEMS
7. ECONOMICS
8. HUMAN FACTORS

STAGES IN DESIGNING
1. Design Analysis
Design involves problem solving and solving problems demands idea production
CREATIVITY – 3 essentials to the development of creative skills
a. ideation
b. idea quantity
c. Imagineering
d.
2. Tentative Solution
– brainstorming, requires patience

3. Criticism
- question what you do not understand
- disagree

4. Operational Process
- conceptual design – sketch
- operational design – working drawings

5. Geometric
- detailed visual interrelationship between all the parts of the building as the operational stage develops

DESIGN TOOLS
1. Prestatement
2. Problem Statement
3. Information
4. Analysis
5. Synthesis
6. Evaluation

CONCEPTS
- integration of various elements into a whole
- integrate design to a coherent whole and direct to the most important aspects of design
-
*Ideas vs. Notions
Concepts implies appropriateness
In Architecture, Concept is defined as the integration of CONTEXT, PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS & BELIEFS. It
takes a CONCENTRATED EFFORT to develop a concept, bringing ideas together requires CREATIVITY (10%
inspiration or genius + 90% hard work)
CONCEPT HEIRARCHY
Conceptualization problems:
Notion
1. communication
2. lack of experience
3. generating hierarchies
Idea
5 TYPES OF CONCEPTS
1. analogies Concept
2. metaphors
3. essences
4. programmatic concepts Concept Scenario
5. ideals or external values