Activity 1.1.

2 Design Principles and

Elements
Introduction
Have you ever noticed how buildings of similar size and
shape can have completely different visual effects?
Architects, like artists, must understand the elements
and principles of design and how they affect the visual
impact of the building on a viewer. Whether it is the
intent of the architect to create a feeling of strength and
stability or to create an unusual form that will elicit a
double-take from the public, the elements and principles
of design can be used to manipulate the intellectual and
emotional reactions of the people who see and use the
building.

Equipment
Principles and Elements of Design Applied to
Architecture presentation notes

Procedure
In this activity you will identify design elements and principles as they pertain to
images of structures.

For each of the following, choose one element of design and one principle of design
that you feel is most prominent in the image and then justify your choice.

Word Bank
Balance Form Rhythm Texture
Color Line Shape Unity
Emphasis Proportion/Scale Space Value

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CEA Unit 1 Lesson 1.1 Activity 1.1.2 Design Principles and Elements Page 1
1. Principle of Design
Balance (asymmetrical)
Unity

Justification:
The part of the building
seen in the picture seems
somewhat symmetrical, but
still a bit asymmetrical (ex:
the opening on the left is
slightly lower than the one
on the right
There is a consistent use of
a rough texture and
horizontal and vertical lines

Element of Design
Lines (horizontal and
vertical)
Rough texture

Justification:
There are vertical poles at
the edge of each opening,
and theres a horizontal
pole placed across the
bottom of the next level
The surface does not reflect
any light

2. Principle of Design
Unity
Balance (symmetrical)
Justification:
The structure consistently
uses the colors beige and
gold (for the roof), as well
as vertical poles
If you were to draw a
vertical line along the
center of the building, you
would see that the two
sides are the same

Element of Design
Lines (vertical)

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 Colors (beige and gold)

Justification:

There are vertical poles

placed all throughout the
building
The building is mainly
beige, but the roof is gold

3. Principle of Design
Contrast
Unity

Justification:
The two sections of the
building are different colors
(the taller section is white,
and the shorter section is a
reddish-brown color)
There is a consistent use of
the colors brown and white
throughout the structure,
which creates a sense of
unity (the taller section is
white, but has brown doors
and brown in the windows,
and the shorter section is
brown, but has white
around the windows)

Element of Design
Color
Lines (horizontal)

Justification:
Consistently uses the
colors brown and white
The shorter section has one
horizontal line around it,
and the taller section has
horizontal lines wrapped
around various levels

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 Principle of Design Istockphoto.com

Emphasis
Movement
Justification:
The building has a unique
form that can easily attract
ones eye
The slanted structure of the
building gives the illusion
of movement

Element of Design
Form
Texture (smooth) City Hall and London Bridge

Justification:
The building has a very
particular 3D form
The surface of the building
reflects light

4. Principle of Design
Unity
Balance (symmetrical)

Justification:
The picture has vertical
symmetry, for the most part
The two curved lines at the
top and bottom help to
unify the mural in the
picture

Element of Design
Lines (curved)
Color

Justification:
There are curved lines
across the top and bottom
of the picture
There are many different
colors used in the mural in
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 the picture

5. Principle of Design
Contrast
Emphasis

Justification:
The part of the building that
takes up most of the picture
is mainly dark blue (a cool
color), whereas the part
right behind it seems to be
orange (a warm color)
The part of the building
taking up most of the
picture catches ones eye
because of its triangular Istockphoto.com
shape

Element of Design
Shape
Color

Justification:
The part of the building
taking up most of the
picture has triangular-
shaped balconies
The part of the building that
fills most of the picture is
mainly blue, and the part
right behind it appears to
be orange

6. Principle of Design
Balance (asymmetrical)
Contrast

Justification:

Although it may not be

perfectly symmetrical, the
Istockphoto.com
shape of the house looks
balanced
The walls are a light beige
and the door and windows
are dark brown

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 Element of Design
Space (open)
Lines (curved)

Justification:
The backyard appears to be
large and spacious
The front door and the
windows have curved
shapes

7. Principle of Design
Rhythm (regular)
Unity
___________________

Justification:
The structure follows a
pattern of arches placed
directly next to each other
and on top of each other Microsoft Office clipart

There is a consistent use of Roman aqueduct

curved lines

Element of Design
Lines (curved)
Balance (horizontal)

Justification:
The structure is composed
of many arches
The left and right side look
the same

8. Principle of Design
Unity
Balance

Justification:
There is a consistent use of
light values and vertical and
curved lines
The room in the picture is
vertically symmetrical
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 Element of Design
Values (light)
Lines (vertical and curved)

Justification:

The room is filled with

light shades (white,
beige, gold)
There are vertical poles
occupying either side of
the room, and the ceiling
has a curved shape

9. Principle of Design
Unity
Contrast

Justification:
The fact that all the houses
have the same shape and
are placed right next to
each other creates a sense
of unity
The difference in colors
produces a form of contrast
between the different
houses

Element of Design
Space (crowded, tight)
Color

Justification:
The houses are all directly
next to each other
Even though the houses all
have the same shape,
theyre all painted different
colors

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CEA Unit 1 Lesson 1.1 Activity 1.1.2 Design Principles and Elements Page 7
Conclusion
1. In what way do certain elements or principles identify the time period in which a
structure was created?
Different elements and principles were predominantly used around different time
periods. For example, a lot of the earliest buildings had a rough texture to them.

2. What factors might account for an incorrect identification?

The factors that might account for an incorrect identification are that some
structures from today are built in a traditional style, and some structures from
back in the day were advanced for their time.

3. Describe an example of a way that design principles and elements could impact
the function of a building.
The type of lines used in a building can impact the function of said building
because different lines are used for different purposes. For example, horizontal
lines represent calm, peace, and relaxation, whereas vertical lines represent
dignity, formality, stability, and strength.

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