To those human beings who are of any concern

to me I wish suffering, desolation, sickness, ill-

treatment, indignities - I wish that they should
not remain unfamiliar with profound self-
contempt, the torture of self-mistrust, the
wretchedness of the vanquished: I have no pity
for them, because I wish them the only thing
that can prove today whether one is worth
anything or not - that one endures.

(The Will to Power, p 481)

theory of architecture
RVCA I 06 July 2022 I Bangalore
Mayamata: Indian Treatise on Housing & Architecture Mayamata

• Mayamata is a general treatise or a Vastusastra

• It is a collection of the rules proclaimed by Muni Maya
• Origin: Dravidian India (most probably from the Tamil
area)
• Language: Sanskrit (saivasiddhanta literature)
• Time Period : 9-12th century, Chola period (architecture
reached the peak of maturity)
• Chapters: 3300 verses divided into 36 chapters
• It intends to be a manual for the architect and a guide-
book for the layman.
• The Mayamata is a Vastusastra, that is to say a 'treatise
on dwelling' and deals with all the facets of gods' and
men's dwellings
• Numerous and precise descriptions of villages, towns,
temples, houses, mansions and palaces
• Descriptions for the selection of appropriate orientation,
dimensions and building materials.
• Mayamata sets forth the rules for construction using the Mayamata
Vastupurusha Mandala which constitutes the mathematical and
diagrammatic basis for generating design
• Mayamata arranged in 3 large sections:
• Chapters 1-10: deal with dwelling sites
• Chapter 11-30: buildings
• Chapter 31-36: vehicles and seats and iconography
• Chapters deal with a range of sub-topics with respect to
technique or rituals for construction. Like:
• System of measurements
• Orientation and layout
• Offerings to the gods of the site
• Foundation
• Joinery
• Rites of the temple and entry into the house and royal
palaces
• Renovation works and associate rites
Design Generation Process

SYLLABUS - Design Logic

Design generation process:

Role of logic and intuition in
concept generation.

Step by step development of

design from problem
definition, site analysis to
post occupancy evaluation as
the last stage of design.
Design Generation Process – Logic & Intuition
 Design Generation Process – Logic & Intuition
ROLE OF LOGIC AND INTUITION IN CONCEPT
GENERATION - Two strategies for prediction and
problem solving.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LOGICAL PROCESSES:

o Use structure and reason to evaluate a situation
and come to a decision
o Relies on facts and data
o Consistent
o Accuracy & soundness
o Completeness
o Best method to deal with complex problems
o Can make long term and accurate predictions
o Suitable for increased productivity and no
innovation processes
o Require idealized conditions and a theoretical
model
o Relatively simple and straightforward
o They are slow
 Design Generation Process – Logic & Intuition
INTUITION - Intuitive processes use opinions and gut
feelings to make decisions. In short, all the things we
do that we take for granted and which we do "without
thinking".

CHARACTERISTICS OF INTUITIVE PROCESSES:

o Concerned with psychological processes linked with
thought, emotions, images etc.
o Fast and does not follow a structured process
o Cannot give long term and high precision
predictions
o Intuition requires prior experience. Intuition is
acquired by learning, and the benefit of learning
what happens in a given situation is only available
if you encounter a sufficiently similar situation
again.
o It is not unscientific or illogical, it is sub-scientific
and sub-logical. Intuition operates on events, not
theories and hence does not require a logical basis
 Design Development Process

SYLLABUS - Design Logic: Design generation process: Step by step development of design from
problem definition, site analysis to post occupancy evaluation as the last stage of design.
 Conceptual Design
BEFORE DESIGN
Conceptual-design vary depending on the complexity
of a project and the experience of the owner. Most
owners need experience and research capabilities to
determine the project’s requirements.

PROGRAMMING
Programming consists of establishing & documenting
requirements for the project including: design
objectives, desired rooms or relationships between
spaces and relationships to the site.

BUDGET ANALYSIS
The budget should estimate both hard and soft costs.
Hard costs are construction related—material, labor,
and the contractor’s overhead and profit. Soft costs
are non-construction related—consultants, city and
bank fees, and insurance.

SCHEDULE DEVELOPMENT
A few factors contribute to the project schedule:
• Owner’s schedule
• Owner’s decision ability
• Architect’s schedule
• Consultants’ schedules
• Project complexity
• Permit process
• Contractor’s availability
 Conceptual Design
CODE ANALYSIS
Cities and specific regions within
cities have different sets of rules
governing many aspects of the
project.

AS-BUILT DRAWINGS
Most remodels or additions to
existing homes require a record of
what is built. Since most clients
don’t have drawings of their
existing buildings, there will be a
need to create “as-builts.”

SITE ANALYSIS AND SELECTION

Whether the client owns a site or
would like assistance in finding
one. Great design comes from a
building’s relationship to its site,
thus site analysis can be best
utilized for views, sun, land, access
and enjoyment.
SCHEMATIC DESIGN Schematic Design
Schematic design begins in rough form as sketches,
floor plan studies, and 3d or physical models.

Several owner/designer meetings are typical

during this phase to make decisions and determine
a direction for the design to evolve.

At the end of this phase it is common to have the

following documents:
- Site Plan
- Floor Plans
- Key Elevations
- Key Sections
- Area Analysis - A summary of the sizes of the
various rooms/functions in the building.
- Renderings or Model 3D renderings or a physical
model depicting the overall look of the building.
- Preliminary Cost A rough estimate by a
contractor.

The preceding list of drawings may still be rough in

nature at the end of this phase. Their intent is
primarily to determine a design direction with
which to proceed into the next phase.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT - This phase includes finalizing the size of the Design Development
rooms and spaces, refining the look, selecting materials,
determining the systems, and deciding on door and window types
and locations. This phase may also include several owner/designer
meetings, which are critical to finalizing decisions so the detailed
documentation can begin in the next phase.

SYSTEMS CONSULTANTS - During this phase the systems consultants

design and draw up their portions of the work. The architect
coordinates the work of these various consultants and implement
their drawings into the design.

DOCUMENTS - It is common to also have the following documents at

the end of the design development :
• Outline Specification: Preliminary written description of the
project’s major systems and materials.
• Key Interior Elevations: Drawings depicting the relationship and
material choices of the project’s interior rooms.
• Reflected Ceiling Plans: Drawings of the ceiling depicting
locations of lighting, equipment, & level changes.
• Interior Schedules: A preliminary list of the type and location of
interior finishes.
• Key Details: Preliminary Large scale drawings of specific
elements within the project.
• Systems Consultants’ Drawings: May include structural, civil,
and mechanical drawings.
• Revised Cost Estimate: A revised estimate by a contractor of the
cost of construction based on the current building design.
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS Construction Documents
INSTRUCTIONS FOR BUILDING
The construction documents phase (blue prints) involves adding a level of
detail and technical information to the design documents so a contractor
has a set of instructions to build the project as designed. It also includes
selecting and finalizing interior finishes, plumbing fixtures, appliances
and decorative light fixtures. This phase is when the architect and
consultants work through the technical aspects of the project.

DOCUMENTS - A completed construction document set is highly technical

and extensive and may include:

• Site Plan: A drawing depicting the buildings location on the site.

• Floor Plans: Drawings of each floor showing the size and locations of
the various rooms /functions.
• Key Elevations: Drawings of appropriate building sides to convey
conceptual design direction for the project.
• Key Details: Large scale drawings of specific elements within the
project
• Key Sections: Building cut through drawings depicting the heights and
relationships of the various floors and roof.
• Outline Specification: Written description of the project’s major
systems and materials
• Key Interior Elevations: Drawings depicting the relationship and
material choices of the project’s interior rooms.
• Reflected Ceiling Plans: Drawings of the ceiling depicting locations of
lighting, equipment,& level changes.
• Interior Schedules: A list of the type and location of interior finishes.
• Consultants’ Drawings: May include structural, civil, and mechanical
drawings.
CONSTRUCTION BIDDING Construction Bidding
CONTRACTOR SELECTION - When it
comes to hiring the contractor the
owner typically has two choices:

NEGOTIATION - Selection of a
contractor based on qualifications,
capabilities and/or referrals.

BIDDING - Selection of a
contractor by putting the drawings
and specification out to bid with
two or more contractors.

PERMITTING - During this phase

the project is submitted to the
local building department for a
plan check, which is the process
by which city agencies review the
submitted documents for
compliance to the zoning and
regulation codes. The owner will
be required to pay a fee to the
city when the documents are
submitted. The time frame varies
depending on your project’s size,
complexity and the speed of the
local jurisdiction.
 Construction Administration
THE OWNER’S AGENT - Construction
administration is as important as all of the other
phases. There is a lot of information the
contractor and sub contractors need to process.
During this phase, architects act as the owner’s
agent and provide the following services:

Set up regular meetings with the contractor to

observe the work for general conformance with
the construction documents.

REVIEW SUBMITTALS, SHOP DRAWINGS AND

WORK WITH FABRICATORS

Review for consistency with the specifications,

and make additional selections and decision as
needed.

provide supplemental documents to clarify design

intent for the contractor.

HANDLE REQUESTS FOR CHANGES

PUNCH LIST - The punch list takes place when

the contractor is finished with construction. The
architect and contractor review the site and
identify items that do not meet the drawing
standards.
Design Development Process
Design Development Process
Post Occupancy Evaluation
Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) is the Post Occupancy Evaluation
process of evaluating buildings in a
systematic and rigorous manner after they
have been built and occupied for some time

Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) Goals

1. Feedback on design and performance
aspects of projects
2. Learn from previous experiences to
enhance future designs
3. Extend client relationship and exposure,
with potential to generate new business
4. Promote evidence-based design
5. Identify cost saving measures
6. Demonstrate your firm’s mission
7. Mitigate risk
8. Compliance with regulatory requirements

Post Occupancy Evaluation scope of work

can vary from project to project (by client
interest and engagement, building typology,
city or region). The potential scope to be
considered can be categorized into:
- Quantitative data. Ex. lighting levels,
acoustics, thermal comfort
- Qualitative data. Ex. Happiness,
productivity, health impact of environment
Practically, the lessons learnt from post-occupancy Post Occupancy Evaluation
evaluations on a project can then be utilised to
bring about change for that particular project and
to inform future design in the following ways:

Intervention design: altering aspects of the

building that can be changed relatively easily to
increase user satisfaction (short term)

Renovation design: using more appropriate space

divisions, materials, systems and building skins
when renovating the building (medium term)

Future building design: problems that can’t be

resolved in the current building should be avoided
in future projects (long term)
I would never die for my beliefs because
I might be wrong.
-Bertrand Russell

THANK YOU
+91-72598-75734
MODULE 1 - 2/13

Antiquity - Marcus Vitruvius

Indian - Mayamata: Indian Treatise on Housing & Architecture.

Renaissance - Leon Alberti, Andrea Palladio

French Academic tradition - Jacques Francois Blondel & Claude Perrault
Neoclassical - Laugier, Boullee, Ledoux
19th Century: Viollet Le Duc, John Ruskin, Quatramere de Quincy and Gottfried Semper

MODULE 2 - 2/ 9

Modern Movement Theory: Ideas of Adolf Loos, Eero Saarinen, Erich Mendelsohn, Richard
Neutra, Otto Wagner, Kenzo Tange.

Post Modern Theory-1: Ideas on Post-Modern Classicism by Robert Venturi and Charles Jencks.

Deconstruction: Fundamental beliefs and philosophy and ideas of Peter Eisenman.

MODULE 3 – 2/4

Post Modern Theory-2: Ideas of Kenneth Frampton and Christopher Alexander

Post Modern Theory-3: Amos Rapoport, Geoffrey Broadbent-his design generation theories.

MODULE 4 – 2/2

Architectural Criticism: Architectural Criticism types: Definition, Sources, Types of Criticism

according to Wayne Attoe.

Positive and Normative theories of Jon Lang

MODULE 5 - 2/5

Design Logic: Design generation process: Role of logic and intuition in concept generation.
Step by step development of design from problem definition, site analysis to post occupancy
evaluation as the last stage of design.

Contemporary Significant Theory: Ideas of Hassan Fathy who pioneered the use of
appropriate technology for building in Egypt, Paolo Soleri's concept of "Arcology",
architecture coherent with ecology.

Shape of built environment to come. Floating, walking, plug-in, satellite settlements, earth
sheltered etc. Works of Archigram, Paolo Soleri, Kenzo Tange, Moshe Safdie etc.