TAD - 02

(RSW-03)
FUNCTIONAL CONCEPTS AND THE INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT.

SUBMITTED BY:
REYES, MICHAEL JUDE G.

SUBMITTED TO:
ARCH.ANTHONE Q. ABRENICA
1. Balance
The principle of balance refers to the ordered distribution
of elements of equal visual weight to achieve a visual
equilibrium. Balance is only achieved when the visual
weight of the elements are evenly distributed along a
central axis or point that can be both real and imaginary.

Balance can be achieved by three popular ways namely

Symmetrical, Asymmetrical and Radial. In Symmetrical, a
space is divided into two equal halves centered on a
central axis and both the halves are equally compensated
to give out a calm feel to the living space. In
Asymmetrical, any odd number of elements can be used
by keeping an imaginary central axis as the focal point.

Though asymmetrical balance is a little hard to achieve

when compared to symmetrical, the output is more
natural and energetic when compared to the former.
Radial balance involves a central piece (like a chandelier
or a round dining table) from which all other elements
seem to radiate to arrange themselves in circular
symmetry.
2. Rhythm
The principle of Rhythm essentially suggests a connected
movement between different elements of interior design.
This movement is essential to maintain a visual tempo
between elements that have different visual weights.

Elements repeated in an orderly fashion and the spaces

between them create a sense of rhythm. Rhythm can be
achieved in any living space by following these three
methods – Repetition, Alternation and Progression.

Repetition refers to the repeated use of the design

elements like color, texture and pattern or any other
physical attributes like home décor items in an orderly
way. Alternation is the method of creating rhythm by
alternating two or more elements in a pre-defined fashion
like ABABAB or ABCABC and so on. In Progression,
elements are arranged ascending or descending based or
their size, color gradient or any other distinctive
characteristic.
3. Harmony
Harmony is the concept of thinking about the project
in its totality. This is very different from just using the
same elements throughout the building! Different
parts of the property should complement each other
and work together to reinforce the completeness of
the whole project. Generally, colour schemes are a
great way to pull different spaces together.
4. Emphasis
Emphasis, as the name suggests, is a principle of
interior design that says that a central piece of art or
furniture must play the role of a focal point or
attention grabber of a particular living space.
Elements like color, pattern and texture must be used
to emphasize a particular focal point. In fact these
elements must be used in such a way that the focal
point dominates the rest of the décor items and pulls
the room together. Other items that surround the focal
point must complement the latter and share a contrast
that puts the focal point in the top priority.
5. Proportion and Scale
The principles of scale and proportion ensure that objects
placed in a space look like they belong to each other. Be it
the size, dimension, shape or color of the objects, a
harmony should be established between them and a
proportion has to be maintained. For example, a high ceiling
environment implies that high rise furniture should be
preferred over low rise furniture like ottomans. Also, under
stuffed pillows would make a big sofa look empty and under
accessorized, thus disrupting the harmony and proportion
that is supposed to exist.
To design an interior environment is
to improve the quality of life, to
increase productivity, to protect
health and provide safety and the
welfare of its users. Acoustic,
“lighting & colour”, temperature, all
the environmental elements
surrounding the human being, in
any type of interior function, affect
his way of life, his productivity and
his mood.
The main task of the interior designer is how to
realise the proper combination of the interior
environmental elements, to assure the best
function of those interiors and the perfect
productivity of those who use them. The
research aims: to set and define clearly the
proper “quantity &quality” as well as the effect
of lighting on colour, in order to increase the
productivity of the human being depending on
his functional performance within an
appropriate environmental interior.
Methodology: The research is derived from related
theories. It states that light, whether natural or artificial, is
one of the most important environmental interior space
elements, that it has a significant impact on the human
body and that without it, we can neither see nor feel the
influence of colour, as well as its environmental effect

Regarding the physiological reaction, experts in the

medical field concluded that – light have a powerful
physical force –, that it may penetrate the muscles and
affect the internal metabolic processes. According to
these facts, light has a health effect on the body; it is the
base for leading a balanced life.

This power of light leads us to another major

environmental and health influence generated from the
strong relationship between light & colour. Colour
perceived through lighting effects, affects the human body
and results in ‘Aesthetical & Emotional’ reactions. The
study asserts that “Quantity & Quality” of “Light & Colour”
are inter-related. They are important aspects to consider
in “Lighting Design”, depending on space function and
ways of its users’ performance to increase productivity, an
issue that will be discussed in details in the full paper.