Architectural design I
Dilla University
Demelash. G
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Department of ARCHITECTURE
2015
DILLA UNIVERSITY
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Concept
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What is Concept ?
What ever it is but man kind
got a concept in mind ! 3
Architectural concept
Concept :
Concepts are ideas that integrate various
elements (can be ideas, notions, thoughts and
observation). It implies appropriateness, it
supports the main intentions and goals of a project
and respects each project’s unique characteristics
and restriction.
An idea, or several ideas, which will become the
catalyst for your design.
Ideas should precede form!
(Form should reinforce ideas) 4
Architectural concept. Cont…
Ideas: are specific, concrete thoughts we have as the result of
an understanding insight or observation.
Notions: are very similar to ideas except that there is a
connotation of randomness. Are ideas that are presumed to be
insubstantial, unsubstantiated, or often trivial when tested
against other ideas? Which Not existing in reality.
Conceptual scenarios: expands the concept statement,
turning it into a short essay that includes more than one major
issue and identifies more than one set of visual images for the
project.
Conceptual scenarios can be used to identify how all the important
ideas and issues that might be left out in a briefer conceptual
statement could be brought together in a longer prose statement. 5
Architectural concept. Cont…
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Architectural concept. Cont…
What are problems; when we say design is about
solving problems ?
What is An incremental attitude towards design ?
What do we mean by major problem ?
What about potential ?
Then Major potential ?
Architectural design goal ?
Goal setting !
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Architectural concept
What is ?
= Perception
= Sensation
= Imagination
What is their difference ?
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Architectural concept. Cont…
Perception : the way we notice things, especially with the
senses. It’s the ability to understand the true nature of
something. Or its an idea or an image you have as a
result of how you see or understand something.
Sensation: is a general feeling or impression that is
difficult to explain; an experience or a memory. It’s a
feeling that we get when something affects us. Or the
ability to feel through your sense of touch.
Imagination: is the ability to create pictures in your mind;
the part of your mind that does this.
what did Ensthine say about imagination ? 9
What concept is about ?
Concept is about connections to context
Concept is about questioning the program
Concept is about sensory perception
Concept is about light as an organizational and
perceptual tool
Concept is about re-defining tradition of pilgrimage
Pilgrimage : is a journey to a place that is connected
with something that you admire or respect.
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Conceptualize the following
use your imagination !!!
The time line of memory !
Life !
Amusement
Quiet place !
Sustainability !
Relationship between man, God and
nature ! For instance:
The church as a model for the new
relationships between man, God, and
nature at the end of the millennium. 11
Concepts and architectural design
Concept formulation is not an automatic activity it
takes a concentrated effort to develop a concept that
appropriately integrate things not previously brought
together..
There are three problems block skill development in
conceptualization :
These are :
a) Problems of communication
b) Deal with problem of experience and
c) Problem of generating hierarchies.
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Five types of concepts
1. ANALOGIES (looking at other things)
2. METAPHORES (looking at abstractions)
3. ESSENCES (looking beyond the pragmatic needs)
pragmatic: solving problems in a practical and
sensible way rather than by having fixed ideas or theories
4. DIRECT RESPONSE AND PROBLEM SOLVING
(looking at the stated requirements )
5. IDEALS (looking universal values)
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Five types of concepts cont….
1. ANALOGIES (looking at other things): identify possible,
literal relationship b/n things. One thing is identified as having
all the desired characteristics, and thus it becomes a model for
the project at hand.
Architectural analogies :
Mathematical analogy Mechanical analogy
Biological analogy Problem solving analogy
o Organic Adhocist analogy
o Biomorphic Pattern language analogy and
Romantic analogy Dramatic analogy
Linguistic analogy
o Grammatical model
o Expressionist
o Semiotic (semiology ), science of sign 14
Five types of concepts cont….
METAPHORES (looking at abstractions): identify relationship
b/n things; However the relationships are abstract rather than
literal. Metaphors are similes identify possible patterns of
parallel relationships while analogies identify possible literal
relationships.
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Five types of concepts cont….
ESSENCES (looking beyond the pragmatic needs): distil and
concrete aspects of more complex issues in to terse, explicit
statements.
Distil: essential meaning or ideas from thoughts, information,
experiences. Etc.
Terse: using a few words and often not seeming friendly.
Explicit statement: a piece of writing which is clear and easy to
understand.
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Five types of concepts cont….
DIRECT RESPONSE AND PROBLEM SOLVING: (looking at
the stated requirements )
concept can be developed around more pragmatic issues often
explicitly identified in the building program. Not all concepts
capture the essence of a project, not do they all symbolize the
function of all the activities in a building.
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Five types of concepts cont….
IDEALS: ideal concepts represent the highest aspirations and
goals of the architect.
Ideal concepts are those that architects bring to the problem. If
architects bring the right concept to the project, they are
praised for the genius. If their choice is in appropriate, it
becomes a preconception and their basic competence is
questioned.
But the key question in critical dialogue is still :
‘’ IS THIS IDEA APPROPRIATE TO THE PROJECT?’’
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Five types of concepts cont….
An incremental attitude towards design suggests that:
’’ Architecture comes from resolving individual issue
according to their own needs, and not by
searching for overall concepts.’’
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Concepts—5 similes
1. Architectural ideas
2. Themes
3. Super organizing ideas
4. Parti (scheme) and esquisse (sketch)
5. Literal translations
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Concepts—5 similes cont….
Architectural ideas: are concepts that have been reduced to former
architectonic concern like daylight, space, sequence of spaces,
integration of structure and form and sitting in the landscape.
A theme: is a specific patter or idea that recurs through the design
of a project.
Super organizing ideas: refers to the general geometric
configurations or hierarchies that the parts of a project should
respect. The goal of the supper organizing idea was to give enough
structure to the pattern; so that the individual parts could be
developed with their own idiosyncrasies and still support the whole.
The parti and esquisse: are the conceptual and graphical products
of a particular method of instruction developed in the Beaux Arts
Schools of France during 19th C.
Literal translation: is a phase used by Edward Larrabee Barnes to
describe the goal of developing a concept and diagram that can
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become the simplified plan for the project.
