ARCHITECTURE AND AESTHETICS

Exploring Architecture As An Art Form

Architecture is considered a visual art like painting and sculpture. Architects design buildings using a creative process
by which they manipulate art elements to create a unified and pleasing artistic statement. The difference between a
painting and architecture is that a building has a function and must be designed with safety in mind.

When architects start working on a project, they prepare quick sketches that suggest areas of function dictated by the
client. Next, architects use a process of design to draw, and then refine the form of the new building. Understanding
architectural design is simplified if you think of the "façade" or face of the building as a painting. Then, you can use
design language to talk about the image you see.

On this site, you will practice identifying Sensory Elements that appear on a building. These are the lines, shapes,
colors and textures that we first notice in art. Next, we go on to analyze Formal Elements that are created when
architects arrange the lines and shapes to create a composition that is balanced and unified. We examine the skill of
the architect and craftsmanship of the builder by studying Technical Elements. Finally, we take a good look at the
overall impression of the building to determine its Expressive Elements. Looking at architecture this way follows the
Aesthetic Concept Model of Dr. Harry S. Broudy.

Elements of Architectural Design: Sensory

SENSORY ELEMENTS
When we analyze a building, we begin by scanning its façade. This means that we will examine the front of the building
and systematically identify the aesthetic elements that compose the overall design. The first things we notice about a
building are elements that appeal directly to our senses: line, shape, texture, color, light/dark, and space. Use the
photographs that follow to help you practice looking for each of the sensory elements:
LINE
www.architeacher.org/aesthetics/archi-elements3a.html
A line is a continuous mark made by a pencil, brush, pen or other tool. Lines can be thick or thin, straight or curved, jagged
or smooth, light or heavy. In architecture, lines are often suggested by the structural materials designers choose for their
buildings such as the random lines of natural stone or the sleek lines created by beams of steel or walls of glass. Modern
buildings often use bold lines created by structural steel cross bracing. Lines can also be suggested by the shape and
massing of a building. For instance, a building can look horizontal or vertical.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_elements_and_principles
Line is the basic element that refers to the continuous movement of a point along a surface, such as by a pencil or brush. The
edges of shapes and forms also create lines. It is the basic component of a shape drawn on paper. Lines and curves are the
basic building blocks of two dimensional shapes like a house's plan. Every line has length, thickness, and direction. There are
curve, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, zigzag, wavy, parallel, dash, and dotted lines.

SHAPE
www.architeacher.org/aesthetics/archi-elements3a.html
A shape is made when a line is closed and space is enclosed. A two dimensional shape is one that is drawn on a flat surface
such as paper. A three-dimensional shape is one that takes up real space. Architectural drawings often try to indicate what
the proposed building win look like as a three-dimensional form by the use of perspective.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_elements_and_principles
A shape is defined as an area that stands out from the space next to or around it due to a defined or implied boundary, or
because of differences of value, color, or texture. [1] Shapes can also show perspective by overlapping. They can be geometric
or organic. Shapes in house decor and interior design can be used to add interest, style, theme to a design like a door. Shape
in interior design depends on the function of the object like a kitchen cabinet door. Natural shapes forming patterns on wood
or stone may help increase visual appeal in interior design. In a landscape, natural shapes, such as trees contrast with
geometric such as houses.
TEXTURE
www.architeacher.org/aesthetics/archi-elements3a.html
Texture is the apparent look or feel of the surface of an art object. Texture is a tactile property and requires touching to be
appreciated. Once we know how a material feels, however, we can interpret a texture with our eyes and can tell visually
how it might feel. An architect creates texture in building by certain choices of materials. Heavy, jagged stone may be used
in a building to give it a rough texture, whereas delicate, carved woods can give a structure a light and airy look. Texture
can also be suggested by the rich layering of shapes and forms on a building. Architects add visual interest to their
buildings by using decorative building materials such as siding, stone and woodcarvings, or they can vary the pattern of
concrete forms.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_elements_and_principles
Texture is perceived surface quality. In art, there are two types of texture: tactile and implied. Tactile texture (real texture) is
the way the surface of an object actual feels. Examples of this include sandpaper, cotton balls, tree bark, puppy fur, etc.
Implied texture is the way the surface on an object looks like it feels. The texture may look rough, fizzy, gritty, but cannot
actually be felt. This type of texture is used by artist when drawing or painting.

COLOR
www.architeacher.org/aesthetics/archi-elements3a.html
Color is an element of our visual perception that is related to how our eyes perceive light. We differentiate these
perceptions and name them red, blue, yellow, etc. Architects use color in the choice of materials used to construct a
building. These color choices can be quite subtle, such as using a warm, yellow toned concrete instead of a cold gray base,
or using a brownish brick instead of the traditional red. However, the architect must consider the color effect of every
element of a building's construction, from the earthy colors of primary construction materials like wood, stone, brick and
marble, to the expansive variety of colors available for paint, doors, windows, siding, and trim. Once chosen, the
architectural drawings and sample boards tell a contractor exactly what color building materials to use when constructing
a structure.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_elements_and_principles
Color is seen either by the way light reflects off a surface, or in colored light sources. Color and particularly contrasting color
is also used to draw the attention to a particular part of the image. There are primary colors, secondary colors, and tertiary
colors. Complementary colors are colors that are opposite to each other on the color wheel. Complementary colors are used
to create contrast. Analogous colors are colors that are found side by side on the color wheel. These can be used to create
color harmony. Monochromatic colors are tints and shades of one color. Warm colors are a group of colors that consist of
reds, yellows, and oranges. Cool colors are group of colors that consist of purples, greens, and blues.
LIGHT AND DARK
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Light and dark are relative perceptions of light. Architects use the concept of light and dark as they create visual interest
on a building by choosing shapes that create a sensation of depth. When some shapes stick out, they leave others in
shadow. Narrow openings often appear dark, as in a tunnel, and broad, flat spaces look light. Materials can be used to
vary the light quality of a building. For instance, a band of tinted windows gives the illusion of a dark space wrapping
around a building.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_elements_and_principles
Value is an element of art that refers to the relationship between light and dark on a surface or object and also helps with
Form. It gives objects depth and perception. Value is also referred to as tone.
SPACE
www.architeacher.org/aesthetics/archi-elements3a.html
Space is the relative position of one three-dimensional object to another. Space is one of the most important
considerations an architect must think about while designing a building, because the sizes of rooms and hallways, the
height of ceilings and the ease of entering and exiting each living area must carefully match the function of the building.
Architects chose dimensions of rooms to match the number of people who will occupy the space and the amount of
activity that will occur in it. To make a building more interesting, architects will experiment with aesthetic qualities of
space by varying the width and height of rooms through which people will move. Architects also speak of space as the
amount of land that will be occupied by a building on a site. The remaining area is called open space.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_elements_and_principles
Space is the area provided for a particular purpose. It may have two dimensions (length and width), such as a floor, or it may
have three dimensions (length, width, and height). Space includes the background, foreground and middle ground. Space
refers to the distances or areas around, between or within components of a piece. There are two type of space: positive and
negative space. Positive space refers to the space of a shape representing the subject matter. Negative space refers to the
space around and between the subject matter.
Form
Form is any three dimensional object. Form can be measured, from top to bottom (height), side to side (width), and
from back to front (depth). Form is also defined by light and dark. There are two types of form, geometric (man-
made) and natural (organic form). Form may be created by the combining of two or more shapes. It may be
enhanced by tone, texture and color. It can be illustrated or constructed.