02 TANGIBLE AND

INTANGIBLE IN
ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN THEORY – II (AR-114B)

Ar. Vaishali Pandey & Ar. Radhika Nagpal

Tangible

• Tangible is that which can be touched.

• Only physical things can be touched.
• So all physical things are tangible.
Tangible in Architecture

• As tangibility relates to physicality, it is measurable.

• Tangibility therefore deals with the physical world.
Intangible
• Intangible is that which can be only experienced.
• Normally it is the qualitative aspect that can not be touched but is experienced
such as beauty, goodness, delight, joy, happiness and the like.
• Intangible aspects are abstract and therefore not measurable. Beauty and
goodness can not be weighed or measured.

Anger Joy
Human expressions
Intangible
• Intangibility with the philosophical world.

Dance Singing
Art forms
Architecture in its final manifestation is a
physical object but both its creation and
the reactions it produces are intangible.
Therefore
Tangible
• Tangible is that which can be touched.
• Only physical things can be touched.
• So all physical things are tangible.
• As tangibility relates to physicality, it
is measurable.
• Tangibility therefore deals with the
physical world
Intangible
• Intangible is that which can be only
experienced.
• Normally it is the qualitative aspect
that can not be touched but is
experienced such as beauty, goodness,
delight, joy, happiness and the like.
• Intangible aspects are abstract and
therefore not measurable. Beauty and
goodness can not be weighed or
measured.
• Intangibility with the philosophical
world.
The quality of physical existence
and of evoking reactions that are
abstract are found in all man
made objects.

Examples
Why does this image ‘feel’
good?

Why is it called ‘beautiful’?

What are the aspects that make

it a visual delight?

 Because it is simply, so
overwhelmingly beautiful.

It is beautiful to look at from a

distance as well from close. 
Its grandness, symmetry, scale,
layout, landscape……….

If these issues are kept in mind a

designer can create beautiful
things.
What is your immediate
reaction on seeing this
visual right after Taj Mahal.

If it is good, try to find out

why it is so and if one does
not like it, one should try to
find out why it is not
likable or what would
make it better.
How does it seem to
you now??

Does the context and

setting affect the
appreciation?
What is your reaction on
seeing this visual?

Let us enumerate the

elements that makes it so
unique……..
Can you now describe the feelings on seeing this image in a few words.
How would you like to
live in this house?

This is “Falling Waters’ by

Frank Lloyd Wright.

Try to note what makes

this house so interesting.
How would you like to
live in this house?

This is “Villa Savoye” by

Le Corbusier

Try to note what makes

this house so interesting.
This is not very pretty.

It is important to figure out

why it is not pretty so that
the designer can avoid
making the mistakes that
stop this from becoming
pretty.
This was a religious place for
people where people go for
their and pray for their peace
and prosperity.

Currently it is being used as a

museum.

This structure is inspired from

a “Mountain”.

Mountain represent the

strength, height, give courage
for face any situation of life in
any type of position.
There is a ‘feel’ of
plasticity in this
architecture.

This has come about by the

curved lines for all the
elements used to create
this spatial organization.

The curved line is the

tangible reason for the
intangible reaction.
Note the difference in the two spatial environments.
How has this difference been created?
Note the differences in these bedrooms.
Conclusions
• The previous slide showed views that created different reactions.
• To find why these different reactions were created, it is necessary to
quantify the reasons.
• Ultimately a designer has to finally give dimensions and allocate
materials to create designs.
• Architecture in its final manifestation is a physical object but both its
creation and the reactions it produces are intangible.
• An architect endeavours to create objects that produce positive reactions
in the users and viewers.
A designer or a creator, therefore, has
to convert the intangible into the
tangible.
Assignment
• Discuss briefly the tangible & intangible aspects of college atrium.
Thank You