Function, Structure
and Form
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN THEORY - II
Lecture 4
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
The basic ingredients to be analyzed for any
architectural design are:
Beauty, Strength and Utility.
Beauty: The visual outcome.
Strength: The physicality of the built space and its
expression.
Utility: The reason for making the building or
organizing the space.
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
Beauty is manifest in the Form of the built space or
organization.
Strength is manifest in the Structure of the building.
Utility of a spatial organization can be seen as its
Function.
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
Different kinds of FUNCTIONAL requirements to be
resolved through Architectural design:
Corbusier has identified these in four broad
categories:
Living
Working
Care of Body and Spirit
Circulation
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
LIVING:
The built space typologies under this category
could be: Houses
Glass House by Philip Johnson
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
Farnswarth House by Mies van der Rohe
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
Villa Savoy by Le Corbusier
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
House by Peter Eisenman
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
LIVING:
The built space typologies under this category could
be: Housing
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
LIVING:
The built space typologies under this category could
be: Hostels
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
LIVING:
The built space
typologies under this
category
could be: Hotels (These
could also fall under care of
body and spirit as recreational
areas)
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
WORKING: The built
space typologies under
this category could be:
Offices
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
WORKING:
The built space
typologies under this
category could be:
Factories
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
WORKING:
The built space typologies under this category
could be: Shops (Multi category)
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
CARE OF BODY AND SPIRIT:
The built space typologies under this category could
be: Malls
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
CARE OF BODY AND SPIRIT:
The built space typologies under this category could
be: Restaurants
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
CARE OF BODY AND SPIRIT:
The built space typologies under this category could
be: Spa
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
CARE OF BODY AND SPIRIT:
The built space typologies under this category could
be: Clubs and Community spaces
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
CARE OF BODY AND SPIRIT:
The built space typologies under this category could
be: Cinemas and theaters
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
CARE OF BODY AND SPIRIT:
The built space typologies under this category could
be: Art Galleries and Museums
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
CARE OF BODY AND SPIRIT:
The built space typologies
under this category could
be: Religious spaces
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
CIRCULATION:
The built space typologies
under this category could
be:
Roads(Interior circulation within
buildings needs to be seen as
part of that activity space)
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
CIRCULATION:
The built space typologies
under this category could
be:
Pathways (open and
covered)
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
CIRCULATION:
The built space
typologies under this
category could be:
Piazzas
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
CIRCULATION:
The built space typologies under this category could
be: Railway and allied spaces(Interior circulation within
buildings needs to be seen as part of that activity space)
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
CIRCULATION: The built space typologies under this
category could be: Airways and allied spaces (Interior
circulation within buildings needs to be seen as part of that activity
space)
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
The different kinds of spatial orders listed on the
previous slides are an outcome of the different
activities that need to be performed by different
people for their normal day to day living.
Each space has to be designed according to the
envisaged function in that space or in other words no
space can be organized without a function.
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
STRUCTURE: Like the human
skeleton that supports the human
body, the structure supports the
building.
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
Structure thus forms the back bone of a building
and represents the element of strength in
architecture.
It should also be appreciated that the element of
strength besides representing structure also denotes
the strength of ‘expression’ or the capacity to ‘say’
something to the viewer.
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
STRUCTURE:
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
Structure also forms the key to the ‘enclosure’ i.e. it
provides the elements that actually, physically
enclose space.
Structure, hence, forms the basis for the ultimate
form though the ‘skin’ and cosmetics also finally
effect the visuals.
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
Structure in buildings can be of numerous kinds. The
more common types are:
Masonry: Brick or stone walls and roofing
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
Trabeated: Columns and beams
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
Architectural Structures:
Domes and Shells
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
Architectural structures:
Vaults
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
Architectural structures:
Cable stayed
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
Form of a built organization is the visual outcome or
the look of the building that is finally seen by the
viewers.
Form has no limitation except its relationship with
function and structure and is dependent on the
creative and aesthetic sensibilities of the designer.
FUNCTION STRUCTURE
AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
Architectural forms are of many kinds depending
on the time, function and the creativity of the
designer
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
Structure is also dependent on the technology
available at a given time. This is the only limitation in
the creation of new architectural forms.
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
Relationship of Form and Function
The element of ‘Function’ dictates the quantity and
placement of spaces in a spatial organization. To
enclose these spaces ‘Structure’ is deployed. The
outcome is ‘Form’. The three are hence intrinsically
related.
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
There has been a debate as to ‘Form follows
Function’ or ‘Function follows Form’.
As these are both inherent to an architectural
design both need to be resolved preferably
simultaneously.
However, in buildings like monuments, Form
becomes more important and in normal utility
buildings, Function needs to be resolved more
efficiently.
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM
In can be concluded that Form, Function and
Structure are interrelated and are inherent in a
design. All the three have to be present in a design.
Priority can be given to any one depending on the
context and situation.
Monuments may be form emphatic, large span
buildings like airports and factories may be structure
emphatic and routine buildings are function
emphatic, but all the three have to be resolved in
an architectural design exercise.
