Lyceum of Iligan Foundation

College of Engineering and

Architecture

Research #1
Architecture

Niven Gabriel R. Anggot

Theory of Architecture
2018
 Introduction

Theory in General

Analysis of a set of facts in relation to one another. [example: Theory of Color and
using colors to regulate movement]

A belief, policy or procedure proposed or followed as the basis of action. [example:

Consensus Theory and Community Participation as Planning Approach]

An idea or hypothetical set of facts, principles or circumstances of a body of fact on

science and art. [example: Facts on Body-Nature-Environment relationships viz
Design Standards stipulated in Design Codes]

A plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principle offered

to explain phenomena. [Example: The Location Theory and Approaches to Squatter
Relocation. Productivity theories and office Planning

Forms/Types of Theory

Descriptive: Explains Phenomenon or events; they are neutral and do not lean
towards any ideology
Example:
This is Billy. Billy is an elementary student and is at risk of developing health
problems due to obesity.
It is speculated that this is due to his unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical
activity. He spends a lot of time watching TV and playing games on his ipad.
Both Billy's parents work full time so he eats what he wants, when he wants and is
unsupervised.
Prescriptive: Prescribes bases or guidelines
Example:
Billy is getting bigger, he is becoming obese and is at risk for chronic childhood
diseases for example, type two diabetes,
Through his school nurse, Billy will be educated on healthy eating choices and the
importance of playing outside and being active.
Because of these healthier living choices, Billy will be able to complete the school
gym test of running a mile in under 10minutes and Billy will also be able to identify
healthy eating choices and snacks while at home alone.
Critical: Challenges relationships between architecture and society
Example: The presence of the ignorance of the people or society towards modern
architecture.

Essence and composition

A collection of thoughts, views, ideas
Theories are thoughts, views and ideas which are collected from analyzed
assumptions.
Organized by theme or topic
Theories are categorized and organized on different categories. Based on
where it belongs. The contents are also categorized in order and based on
relevance.
Evolution of thoughts
From thoughts that are being collected and organized it will be developed
and/or enhanced.
There is no grand theory or unified theory of architecture; it is a combination of
various thoughts, speculations, and concepts.

Form
In a conceptual form
Theories are not final and an accepted fact. It’s an assumption in a conceptual
form.
Needs to be translated to reality
From being a concept and an idea, which is assumed, it will be translated,
related, transformed and applied into real life.
Are discussed, tested and developed
As a concept and unproven possible fact, It will be discussed, debated, tested
and finally develop for some additions, corrections and flaws.

The Concept of Architecture

The Nature and essence of architecture
Architecture must possess the ability to give imagination free rein, this ability
that is sometimes called creativity, sometimes daydreaming. How we feel
depends very much on whether we are in the city or in the country, in big
spaces or in small ones.

Architecture as Science and Art

The balanced integration of artistic sensibility and scientific methodology as it
applies to designing buildings and their environments is essential to creating great
architecture.
Architecture as an Experience
Architecture is an inescapable art. Terrible reviews won’t make buildings
disappear, and the public can be stuck with the consequences of bad design for
decades.Architecture has false choices. Some commentators would blame architects
for the current state of our built environment.
 Space Articulation and Organization
Primary Elements of Design
Point
Two ends of a line
A

The intersection of two lines

The meeting of lines at the corner of a plane or volume

The center of a field

A point extended becomes a line with properties of:
Length

Direction

Position
Plane- A line extended becomes a plane with properties of:
Length and width

Shape

Surface
Orientation

Position

Volume – A plane extended becomes a volume with properties of:

Length, width, depth(height)
Form and space
Surface

Orientation

Position
Form – Architectural form is the point of contact between mass and
space
Properties of form:
Transformation and Organization
Dimensional Transformation: a form can be transformed by altering one or more of its dimensions
and still retain its identity as a member of a family of forms. A cube, for example, can be
transformed into similar prismatic forms through discrete changes in height, length or width.

Subtractive Transformation: a form can be transformed by subtracting a portion of its volume.

Depending on the extent of the subtractive process, the form can still retain its initial identity or be
transformed into another form.
Additive Transformation: a form can be form of another family transformed by the addition of
elements to its volume. The nature of the additive process and the number and relative sizes of the
elements being attached determined whether the identity of the initial form is altered or retained.

Form and Scale

Spatial Relationship

A spatial relation, specifies how some object is located in space in relation to some reference object.
When the reference object is much bigger than the object to locate, the latter is often represented
by a point.

Space within a Space

Interlocking Spaces

Adjacent Spaces

Spaces linked by a common

Organization of Spaces

Circulation

Movement through Space – the path of our movement can be conceived as the perceptual thread
building or any series of interior spaces or exterior spaces together. Since we move in time through a
sequence of spaces, we experience a space in we have been and where we anticipate going.
Elements of Circulation
Path-space relationships

Edges – passing by spaces

Nodes – passing through spaces

Terminations – paths terminate in a space

Forms of the Circulation Space: corridors, halls, galleries, stairways and ramps.

.
Types of Proportion

Relative and Absolute

Measure must be understood, first of all, not in terms of arithmetic, but in terms of the dimensions
and the practical, functional energy of the human body. Pure geometry can exist without
considerations of size or measure, since it deals only with absolute proportion. Art and architecture
must deal with relative proportion, and this presupposes a unit of measure that is very human in
origin.
Principles of Design
Axis
Chromatic Energy of Architectural Design

The 3 Dimensions of color:

Hue – the color itself

Tonal Value – lightness or darkness

Chroma or Intensity – brightness of dullness

Spatial Theories

Anthropometrics and Ergonomics

Definitions:
Anthropocentrism: the human being is the most important entity in the
universe. The world is perceived according to the values and experiences of the
human being.
Anthropomorphism: human qualities are associated with non-human entities/
events qualities such as form, values and emotions.
Anthropometrics: study of measurements of the human body
Ergonomics: an applied science concerned with the characteristics of people
that need to be considered in the design of devices and systems in order that
people and things will interact effectively and safely.

Body-world, Body-Architecture Greeks thoughts.

 According to Greek Philosophers. Thales, Heraclitus, Empedocles, and the
Atomists – Man is part of the universe; the elements making up man are the
same elements making up the whole universe.

According to the sophists led by Protagoras, then later Socrates, Plato, Aristotle –
man is the source of all measurements for all the things; Man is a free entity
who can chart his own direction.
Mediaeval and Christian thoughts: - According to St. Augustine and St. Thomas of
Aquinas- Man has no power against the Law of the universe.
Renaissance Thoughts: According to Alberti- there is humanism in architecture;
the concept of beauty is based on order of number and Euclidean geometry.
According to Vitruvius – denounced that a building should reflect
measurements and proportions of the human body

Nature- Human Body-Architecture

Proxemics – the study of the symbolic and communicative role of the spatial separation
individuals maintain in various social and interpersonal situations, and how the nature and
degree of this spatial arrangement relates to environmental and cultural factors.
Personal Spaces: invisible boundary
surrounding the person’s body into which
intruders may not come. Acceptable
infringements of personal space in lobbies,
elevators, subways, fast-foods and other
public spaces. In these cases, people can
employ reserve.

Personalization and Personalized Space:

Staking claim to places
Manifestation of desire for control and an expression of aesthetic tastes as well
as an effort to make environment fit activity better

Soft architecture – the building environment can be personalized without

damage to them or without difficult surgery
Territoriality and Defense Spaces
Territory – is a delimited space that a
person or a group of persons uses and
defends as an exclusive preserve. It
involves psychological identification
with a place.
Basic Characteristics of Territories:
Ownership or rights to place
[examples: land titles, deeds of
sale]

Personalization or marking of an area [examples: stores and gates]

Right to defend against intrusion [examples: fences]

Serving of functions ranging from Physiological to self-actualization
Territorial Variation – Cultural Bias

The Concept of Privacy

Definition – The ability of individuals or group of individuals to control their
visual, auditory, and olfactory interactions with others. The ability to control
interactions to have options and to achieve the desired level of interaction.
Kinds of Privacy:
Solitude- the state of being free from observation by others.

Intimacy – the state of being with another person but free from the outside
world

Anonymity – the state of being unknown even in a crowd

Reserve – the state in which a person employs psychological barriers to

control unwanted intrusions.
 Purpose of Privacy
Personal Autonomy
Refers to the desire to avoid being manipulated, dominated, or exposed by
others.
Release of Emotion
Refers to release from the tensions of social life such as role demands,
emotional states, minor deviances and the management of losses and of
bodily functions.
Self-Evaluation
Refers to integrating experience into meaningful patterns and exerting
individuality on events. It includes processing information, supporting the
planning process (e.g., the timing of disclosures), integrating experiences
and allowing moral and religious contemplation.
Limit and protect communication
Has two facets: limited communication sets interpersonal boundaries;
protected communication provides for sharing personal information with
trusted others.

Level of Spaces

Intimate Space – (1-18 inches)

Personal Space – ( 19- 48 inches)
Social Space (4-12 feet_)

Public Distance (13 or more feet) Spatial Illusions through:

Changes in levels

Bringing outside in
Use of glass and light materials
Two-dimensional treatments

Multiplicity of functions

Use of color
Social Organizations and Spaces
Definition of Social Organization:
Webster’s Definition : A system of continuous purpose activity of a specific
kind
Richard Hall Definition: A collectivity with relatively identifiable boundary,
a normative order, authority ranks, common system
Reciprocity between the built environment and behavior spatial qualities
according interaction:
Functional Distance

Describes to how likely (due to location or architecture) that people

will come into contact with each other. Propinquity, the increased
likelihood of developing a relationship with someone due to closeness in
proximity, is influenced by not only physical distance but functional
distance as well.

Functional centrality

Is a measure of the influence of a node in a network. It assigns

relative scores to all nodes in the network based on the concept that
connections to high-scoring nodes contribute more to the score of the node
in question than equal connections to low-scoring nodes.

Formal & Informal interactions: opportunities to see and be seen are

prerequisites to informal interaction
Collection points
Nodes

a point at which lines or pathways intersect or branch; a

central or connecting point.

Elevators
 Lobbies

Canteens

Socio-petal space – layouts where it is easy to maintain face-to-face

contact

Socio-fugal – Layouts where it is easy to avoid interaction