THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE 1.

CONCEPTUAL ELEMENTS
2. VISUAL ELEMENTS
PART 1 OF 2
3. RELATIONAL ELEMENTS
4. PRACTICAL ELEMENTS
CONTENTS
B. FORM AND STRUCTURE
1. FORM AND CONCEPTUAL ELEMENTS
I. INTRODUCTION
2. INTERRELATIONSHIP OF FORMS
A. DEFINITIONS
3. REPETITION OF FORMS
B. THE DIFFERENCE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
C. CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURE
C. DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE
1. THE GRID
D. ARCHITECTURAL TERMS 1
2. SIMILARITY OF FORMS
3. SIMILARITY VS. GRADATION
II. NEEDS OF MAN
4. CONTRAST OF VISUAL AND RELATIONAL
A. MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
ELEMENTS
B. FOUR FUNADAMENTAL DESIRES OF MAN
5. FORM AND SPACE
6. DESIGN AND FORM
III. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROCESS
A. DESIGN PROCESS
VI. ARCHITECTURE: FORM SPACE AND ORDER
B. DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
A. PRIMARY ELEMENTS OF FORM
C. ARCHITECTURAL PROGRAM
B. FORM
C. FORM AND SPACE: THE UNITY OF OPPOSITES
IV. ELEMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE
D. ORGANIZATION OF FORM AND SPACE
A. HORIZONTAL PLAN
E. CIRCULATION
B. VISIBLE-STRUCTURE ELEMENTS
F. PROPORTION AND SCALE
1. STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
2. PROTECTIVE ELEMENTS
3. CIRCULATORY ELEMENTS
4. DECORATIVE ELEMENTS
A. MOULDINGS
B. ORNAMENTS
 CLASSIFICATION
 APPROACH
C. ELEMENTS IN ORGANIZING DECORATIVE FORMS
D. EXPRESSIVE LINE SYMBOLS

V. PRINCIPLES OF FORM AND DESIGN I. INTRODUCTION TO ARCHITECTURE

A. ELEMENTS OF DESIGN
ARCHITECTURE
The art and science of designing and constructing buildings
ART
The conscious use of skill, craft and creative imagination in the production
of what is beautiful, appealing or of more than ordinary significance.
CITY PLANNING
The activity or profession of determining the future of physical
arrangement and condition of a community, involving an appraisal of the
current conditions, a forecast of future requirements, a plan for the
fulfillment of these requirements and proposals for legal, financial and
constructional programs to implement the plan.

SCIENCE INTERIOR DESIGN

A branch of knowledge dealing with a body of facts or truths obtained by The art, business or profession of planning the design and supervising
direct observation, experimental investigation, and methodical study the execution of architectural interiors, including their color schemes,
systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws. furnishings, fittings, finishes and sometimes architectural features.

DIFFERENCE OF ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING SPACE PLANNING

The aspect of architecture and interior design that deals with the
ARCHITECTURE planning, layout, design, and furnishing of spaces within a proposed or
 Architecture is functional existing building.
 Architecture is structurally sound
 Architecture is beautiful

ENGINEERING
 Engineering is functional
 Engineering is structurally sound
 Engineering is economical

DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
The ordering of the physical environment by means of architecture,
engineering construction, landscape architecture, urban design and city
planning.

URBAN DESIGN ARCHITECTURAL TERMS 1

The aspect of architecture and city planning that deals with the design of
urban structures and spaces. TECHNOLOGY
 Applied science: the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and Status Symbol,
Source of pride,
use of technical methods and materials and their interrelation with life, Expression of Identity,
reflection of Economic Self-Esteem
society and the environment. Personalization &
Standing
Affiliation
TECHNICS Social
The science of an art or of the arts in general. Community Setting Sense of Belonging
Needs
Defensible Space; Protection from
TECTONICS Safety
Territoriality violence/lawlessness
The science or art of shaping, ornamenting or assembling materials in Building Shelter Protection from Natural
construction. Physiological Needs
Components Elements

ARCHITECTONICS MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

The unifying structure or concept of an artistic work

ENGINEERING FOUR FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS OF MAN

The art and science of applying scientific principles to practical ends in A. PRESERVATION
the design and construction of structures, equipments and systems.  Through houses, homes
B. RECOGNITION
SOCIOLOGY  Desire for prestige through building of cathedrals and
The science of human social institutions and relationships specifically the public buildings.
study of the origin, development, structure, functioning and collective C. RESPONSE TO A NEED
behavior of organized groups of human beings. D. SELF-EXPRESSION
 Through building theaters and museums

III. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROCESS

II. NEEDS OF MAN DESIGN PROCESS

A purposeful activity aimed at devising a plan for changing an existing
Public & Private Improvement of One’s Self-Actualization situation into a future preferred state, specially the cyclical iterative
Settings Self process comprising the following stages.
 Re-evaluation
Assessing how well an implemented
Initiation solution in use satisfies the
Identifying a problem and its social, specified goals & criteria. MASTERY PERIOD
economic and physical context. The buildings of art produced during this time show that the designer
or artist has discovered how to control his medium and is sure of his
Implement technique. This is the height of development.
Preparation To ensure the fulfillment of by
Collecting & analyzing relevant means of a definite plan or
information & establishing goals & procedure.
criteria for an acceptable solution. DECADENCE PERIOD
Marked with the artist becoming too sure of himself and begins to take
Action liberties with his materials. His designs were less structural and were
Synthesis Selecting & implementing the most too ornate. It heralds the beginning of the end.
Discovering constraints & suitable solution.
opportunities & hypothesizing
possible alternative solutions.
EVALUATION
Simulating, testing & modifying ARCHITECTURAL PROGRAM
Hypothesis A. PRE-DESIGN
acceptable alternatives according
Formulating a tentative assumption in B. SCHEMATIC DESIGN
to specified goals & criteria.
order to draw out & test its logical C. DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
D. CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION
or empirical consequences. Draft E. CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
A preliminary version of a plan F. POST-DESIGN
 POST – OCCUPANCY
 Develop
Alternative  EVALUATION
 Modify
One of the propositions or courses  USER’S MANUAL
 Refine
of action to be chosen from a set of  Inflection (bend,angle or similar change in
DESIGN TERMINOLOGIES
DEVELOPMENT
two or more mutuallyOF ARCHITECTURE the shape of a configuration by means of
exclusive DESIGN ANALYSIS
ARCHAIC PERIOD
possibilities which a change of relationship to some
Saw the grouping of the untried hands context
in an attempt to master new Design Objectives
problems & new media & an effect  toTransformation
find an expression
(process for new in
of changing
material. form or structure) In congruence with the background of the project and the project
objectives, the design objectives are developed. Trade offs and
balancing of the various needs of the project require development
hierarchy of the design objectives. The designer should be able to A. AESTHETIC CONSIDERATIONS
transform objectives palatable to design. The designer with a vision to 1.0 FORM
be creative in his endeavor should take this first opportunity of viewing 1.1 Volume/Mass (Volumetric)
the problems other than in the traditional manner. The transformation 1.2 Surface/Area (Planar)
of the project objectives into non-traditional innovative design solution. 1.2.1 Texture
Of course, this transformation should have essential relevance to the 1.2.2 Tone
project objectives. 1.2.3 Color
2.0 COMPOSITION
Due to the designers’ limitations to satisfy all identified and 2.1 Contrast
unidentified or subconscious objectives, an order of hierarchy is called 2.2 Proportion
for. For the purpose of academic exercise, three (3) major design 2.3 Scale
objectives are enough challenge. The rest of the identified and 2.4 Balance
subconscious design objectives are relegated to be minor or basic. 2.5 Rhythm/Movement/Motion
The order of hierarchy will assist the designer in the decision making 2.6 Unity/Hierarchy/Harmony
in the design development stages. Of course, the objective of the 2.7 Character
designer is to satisfy all of the design objectives, but realities due to
the complexities of this exercise will not allow such an ideal. B. ENVIRONMENTAL (NATURAL) CONSIDERATIONS
Therefore, the designer after exhausting all his capabilities should 1 Natural Landmarks and vegetations
prove that some would be sacrificed to give way to the major design 2 Topography (Land pattern)
objectives. It is discredit to his design if it can be proven otherwise. 2.1 Contours & Slopes
2.2 Geologic Outgrowths
Design Considerations 2.3 Soil Dynamics
3 Climatological conditions
Design considerations are influencing factors relative to the project, 4 Meteorological (weather) conditions
acquired through experience or exposure and/or through formal 5 Hydrographic profile
studies of a given field of art or science. These knowledge will 6 Solar Orientation
influence and will give emphasis in satisfying the design objectives. 7 Wind Direction/pattern
As in the design objectives, the specialization in certain fields are 8 Natural Lighting and Ventilation
identified which has essential relevance for the effective satisfaction of 9 Thermal Insulations
the design objectives. These are classified as major fields of studies. 10 Temperature & Humidity
Usually, three (3) are in order, while the rests are relegated to be 11 Thermosiphoning
minor. The minor considerations are lesser influencing factors that will 12 Wildlife & its Habitat
compliment or supplement the major considerations. 13 Botanical/Zoological life

Below are some examples of fields of studies C. ENVIRONMENTAL (MAN-MADE) CONSIDERATIONS

1. Zoning & Transportation Pattern
 2. Off-site pedestrian/vehicular traffic 9. Mechanical – Electrical Systems
3. On-site pedestrian/vehicular traffic 10. Mechanical – Structural Integration
4. Sit Ingress/Egress 11. Structural System
5. Building Premises/Enclosure
6. Landscaping G. LOCAL REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS
1. Land Use and Zoning
D. SPATIAL ORGANIZATION 2. Building Occupancy and Use
1. Functional grouping & zoning 3. Pertinent Codes and Ordinances
2. Accessibility 4. Applicable Laws and Acts
3. Proxemics
4. Space Interrelationship Note: the foregoing is a partial list of considerations vital to the
5. Security System (Architectural) formulation of solutions in design.
6. Hierarchy of Spaces
DESIGN CRITERIA
E. HUMAN DETERMINANTS Design criteria are the immediate tools for design derived from in-depth
1. Anthropometry studies of design considerations. The exposures and/or formal studies will
2. Ergonomics enable the designer to evaluate, enumerate and make effective the use of
3. Morphology these tools. It includes the negative and positive rules for the mechanics
4. Socio-Cultural Patterns of design. With these rules, the designer can undergo effective self-
5. Psychology of Human Behavior evaluation of these design alternatives. A design conscience will emerge;
6. Psychology of Perception the ability to distinguish the acceptable from the unacceptable unit
7. Recreational patterns solutions, inclusive also of the total solution.
8. Biometry
9. Value aspiration and culture
10. Spiritual/religious Beliefs FLOW CHART OR PROGRAMMING
The chart indicates the interrelationship of the various building
F. UTILITY SYSTEMS/BUILDING TECHNOLOGY requirements in terms of time, space, form and function in an abstract
1. Lighting and Illuminator System form, which relates to the design parameters. This phase will include site
2. Building Material analysis, which will undergo similar endeavor with the site with its
a. Indigenous influencing parameters being considered. The initial abstract layout of the
3. Building Economics building, also in relation to the site may develop from the format of the
4. Acoustics chart.
5. Passive And Active Solar Power
6. Power Generation TECHNICAL SPACE ANALYSIS
7. Water Supply System An outline of the physical attributes and space requirements in terms of
8. Electronics and Communication System areas and volume, and other technical matters relative to the site and to
 each building requirements are done. These values are derived from the
basic parameters of space analysis which are ergonomics,
anthropometrics and the man-made physical constraint within a given
space to be analyzed. These parameters can be further expressed in
terms of occupancy, furniture and the like, and function with the
corresponding circulation within the space. The product of this analysis
will be in terms of square meters, or cubic meters, devoid of any definitive
form.
The value of this technical space will be used in the initial qualification of
the project magnitude, with certain allowance. It will also be used as
primers for the architectural spaces to be developed in the latter stages of
this process.

IV. ELEMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE

HORIZONTAL PLAN
Nature of the Plan
a. The plan in an architectural composition is the graphic projection
of the volume of the building.
b. It is the pattern, dictated on the requirement of the building of
which the elements of the elevation and the section emerges.

Qualities of the Plan

a. The arrangement of units according to practical requirements
determined by size, shape and use of rooms.
b. Arrangement according to the rules of abstract design.

VISIBLE STRUCTURE ELEMENTS

V.