UNIT 1: BACKGROUND ON ARCHITECTURE

Introduction AR 110

to Architecture AR. KATRINA A. BENITO

AR. JULIANNE DE LA PAZ
UNIT 1
BACKGROUND ON ARCHITECTURE

Familiarize and understand the concept

of Design

Be adept in defining Architecture, and

the topics around it
What is Architecture?
UNIT 1: BACKGROUND ON ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE
Etymology

arkhitekton
(ἀρχιτέκτων)
 ARCHITECTURE
Etymology

ARKHI
arkhitekton TEKTON
“chief” or “master” (ἀρχιτέκτων) “mason” or “builder”.

In line with the etymology, architecture used to denote both the process and the product of designing and constructing
buildings; and the architect used to be known as the “master mason” or “master builder” in the past.
What is Architecture?
Architecture could be basically defined as ‘the art and science of
designing and constructing buildings’.
Definition of Architecture
The product or result of architectural work: buildings, urban areas and
landscapes.
Definition of Architecture
A style or method of building characteristic of a people, place or time.
Definition of Architecture
The profession of designing buildings and other habitable environments by
architects.
Definition of Architecture
The conscious act of forming things resulting in a unifying or coherent
structure.
A Visual Dictionary of
Architecture
D.K. CHING
 Origin of
Architecture

Architecture is one
of the oldest
professions in
human history.

Top left: Shelter of Chumash and Ohlone Indians, USA (Photo:

Norm Kidder) Top right: Primitive Maori shelter, New Zeland
(Canterbury Museum) , Bottom: The Great Cave of Niah, Malaysia
(human remains dating to 40,000 years)
“architecture is what
nature cannot make”
-Louis Kahn

Architecture is the shell of the human

species.

Our act of building our buildings is a conscious

process.
Origin of
Architecture

The architecture of our past is the

physical record of our lives, our
successes and aspirations. It is the
cultural heritage that is left to us.

Top: Parthenon in Ancient Greece made to honor the Greek goddess Athena,
Bottom: Taj Mahal in India made as a mausoleum to honor the Emperor Shah
Cihan’s wife Mumtaz Mahal
“Great nations write their autobiographies in three
manuscripts–the book of their deeds, the book of their
words, and the book of their art. Not one of these can
be understood unless we read the other two; but of
the three, the only quite trustworthy one is the last.”

- John Ruskin
Empire State Building in New York
(built in 1932, Shreve, Lam and
Harmon associates) tells us about
capitalism and the urban values of
20th century.
The Big Donut shop in Los Angeles
(built in 1954, Henry J. Goodwin),
even though it is a bad
architectural example, tells us
about the living style of American
people, their car dominated life
and desire for savory fast food.
Left: Hypostyle hall of Karnak temple, Egypt, Middle: Suleymaniye mosque by Mimar Sinan, İstanbul, Right: Falling Water House, Pennsylvania, USA by Frank Lloyd Wright

Architecture is the art we cannot avoid.

Architecture
is
not
just
art.

Top: Fountain by Marcel Duchamp, 1917;

Bottom: Weeping Woman with Handkerchief by Pablo Picasso, 1937
Architecture is not just art

Architecture Architects Art

deals with function think also of other in itself does not
and how that things such as have to be
function affects function or structure, beautiful. But
form. next to form, beauty Architecture has
and expression. to be pleasing.
 firmitas
firmness
De architectura Is the building firm? (Is its structure firm enough to

(Ten Books on carry all the weights it should carry, such as its own
weight, its users’ weights, and the forces of the wind

Architecture) and the earthquake? And, Are its materials durable

enough to withstand many years of use?)

Roman architect utilitas

Marcus Vitruvius functionality
Is the building functional? (Could it be used
effectively and easily?)

venustas
beauty
Is the building beautiful? (Does the building give
visual delight to the user and the viewer; is it
aesthetic and pleasing?)
(Source: Ching, F., Architecture: Form, Space and Order)
The Architecture of Space
Structure
Enclosure
Architectural
Experienced through Movement in Space-Time
Systems
Achieved by means of Technology

Accommodating a Program Scope of

Architecture
Compatible with its Context

(Source: Ching, F., Architecture: Form, Space and Order)

 Form layout
Function orientation
Structure approach
views
relationship with environment
Site Characteristics materials
Context
Object of design
lighting
Process of building User heating
acoustic
color
texture
Left: Hypostyle hall of Karnak temple, Egypt, Middle: Suleymaniye mosque by Mimar Sinan, İstanbul, Right: Falling Water House, Pennsylvania, USA by Frank Lloyd Wright

Architecture can also carry a symbolic function.

Architectural
Production

Architectural
production is a process
that includes the
stages of thinking,
designing and drafting.
Examples of Concepts & Methods
Inspiration from past forms: Pantheon, Rome, Italy (126 AD) (left), Jefferson
Memorial, Washington DC, USA (1943)
Examples of Concepts & Methods
Analogy of nature: A picture of an armadillo (left), The SECC Conference
Center in Glasgow, Scotland (by Foster and Partners in 1995-1997) (right)
Examples of Concepts & Methods
Creativity and originality in architecture: Villa Savoye Poissy by Le Corbusier,
1929-31(left), Farnsworth House by Mies van der Rohe, 1951 (right)
Examples of Concepts & Methods
Philosophy: Falling Water (Kauffman) House by Frank Lloyd Wright, USA (left),
National Congress of Brazil by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, 1958 (right)
As the
“art of building”,

Architecture
has
its own
language.
 Coursework 1
Consultation/Queries

Up Next
Coursework 2
UNIT 2: ELEMENTS & PRINCIPLES
OF DESIGN Check Google Classroom
1. Lesson 2.1: Fundamentals of
Architecture (Form, Space Order)

2.Lesson 2.2: Introduction to Other Matters

Elements of Design Class Picture