ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

Instructor: Architect Abelardo Firmeza

COURSE OUTLINE
1. Introduction
2. Architectural Design Theory
3. Esquisse
4. Building Economics
5. Building Utilities
6. Approaches and Strategies
7. Simulated Board Exam

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
- it is the translation of an abstract solution to a
real, tangible and concrete solution
- it is the optimum and better solution which must
approximate the pre-set solution of the examiner
- it must involve the judicious use of design tools in
developing the solution within:
a. parameters / constraints
b. circumstances
c. environmental conditions
: must be conserve
: must be protected
: must be included in the design solution
- set by the examiner. The solution must be: SAFE
Simple provide what is needed or simply follow
instruction
Appropriate must fit on concept
Functional look-out for specific use of the
building
Economical

FORMAT OF DESIGN EXAM

1. 20x30 tracing paper provided by PRC
2. Black ink final drawings is in black ink
3. Pencil for enhancing and construction line (staedler
pencils)
4. College major plate type drawings
- schematic
- no dimensions
- no call-outs such as specifications
- fully rendered in the used pencil shadows but not
colored
- material must be drawn in full
- no columns unless it is part of design
- furniture layouts defending on layout and
instructions
- entourage and landscape are allowed but not
colored
RULES
1. Individual drawing implements and drawing boards
- triangles
- compass
- pencils
- magic, masking, scotch tapes
- rubber band
- drawing board with straight edge
- erasing shield
- scissors
- protractors
- french curve
- 2 sets of sign pens varying in points
- circular template
- optional coloring materials
- cutters
- ballpens

- erasers (different types)

- liquid paper
- scale
- watch
2. PRC will provide tracing paper with official seal
3. Drawing Grids
- preset grids, but to be shown to the proctor
4. Not allowed!
- no color
- no people or human figures
- no vehicles even triangle representation on plans
- no electronic equipment
- no scientific or programmable calculators, only
simple scientific calculator is allowed
- no references
TOOLS
1. Drawing implements
2. Codes Building Codes
3. Building Standards
4. Vocabulary
ARCHITECTURAL CONVENTION
1. Lettering
-simple gothic, upright and all caps
-text : 4mm in height
-title : 8-10mm
-sub-titles : 6-8mm
2. Lines
-construction lines or guide lines
-final lines
-dimension lines
-masculine/feminine lines
3. Each drawing must have title and scale and north
orientation
-orientation must always upward! on site
development plan

-on plans refer to main entrance of structures

Notes:
Acconometric Drawing
- another type of aerial perspective
Berthing
- term for parking at water
FORMAT OF THE QUESTIONAIRE
1. Title
2. Background or description of the problem
3. Requirements
a. Plate requirements specify needed rooms or
spaces
b. Drawing requirements specify scale, needed
drawings, etc
Notes:
Marina
- luxurious facilities for water vessels
- yatch
- fine dining : luxurious eating place
Condominium
- high-rise residential buildings
- luxurious
- with elevators to make it more luxurious than townhouse
- can be bought but original lot remains to the owner
Townhouse
- can be bought

- horizontal residential structures

- can be leased (long term)
Apartment
- not more than 10 units
- rented (short term payment)
- usually two storey and for rent
Rowhouse
- can accommodate a full length of block
Tenements
- an apartment that is not more than 4 storeys
Apartelle
- fully furnish with equipments (such as food, beds)
while apartment will be provided by the tenants
Condotelle
- rented by other person to the owner of the room
wherein the owner of the room rented it to the
owner of building
Hotel
- rented area provided with room and comfort room
and other facilities will be common areas
Motel
- rented area with room, comfort room and garage
(motorist hotel)
Garage
- enclosed with walls, roof and door and facilities for
repairs
Carport
- with roof and columns
Parking Slot
- compose of lines and has no enclosure at all

EXAMPLES OF TITLES ANALYSIS

The OASIS a resort
- a mirage : an illusion of water in the desert
- located in the desert; a body of water located in
the desert

- leisure activities
- having a main focus of water element it can be water
fountain
The HAMLET a townhouse
- hamlet : a small French village
- having no huge elements such as columns
- compose of common center area such as plaza
The TIANGGE a flea market
- flea : surot
- baratillo
- huge number of stalls that is detachable

Notes:
Assume 1-1/2 hours to finish every sheet
Consider facing

a. reading and understanding (3 hours)

b. preliminary drawings (2hours)
c. final drawings
THINGS TO BE AWARE IN DESIGNING
1. vocabulary
2. building code
3. presentation
4. requirements
5. common sense

Notes:
Stairs cutting line
-7th and 8th steps

3. Industrial
4. Commercial
5. Recreational
a. active
b. passive
6. Religious
7. Education

THINGS TO DO IN PREPARATION FOR DESIGN EXAM

1. practice drafting technique
2. multiple deadline time management
3. composition
- sheets must be clean
- clear, use acceptable architectural symbols
and architectural conventions
- respect margins

Equilibrium
Physical
Manifestation

Contrast
Proportion
Scale
Balance
a. Formal balance
b. Informal balance
Rhythm
Unity
Character

1.
2.

3.

Variety
Measurements
Fixed Proportions
Gravitation

1. Residential
2. Institutional
a. government buildings
b. health care

4.

: feminine; informal
: masculine; formal
: masculine; formal

masculine; formal
feminine: informal
masculine; formal
masculine; formal

- creating unified site development plan

Central Theme
- creating a motif
Major component of buildings must dominate
- exceptional size
- strategic location
- unique shape
compact and coherent unit
- orientation marker, ex. sculpture
- inward orientation
Harmony in materials, styles, design,
etc.

CHARACTER
- manifested external expression of internal qualities

Movement
Order / Harmony
Expression

CONTRAST OF LINES
Masculine Lines bold, dark, straight, strong lines
Feminine Lines soft, fragile, thin, curve lines

:
:
:
:

UNITY

PRINCIPLES OF COMPOSITION
Dimension

: masculine; formal
: feminine; informal

a. function use of the building

b. association influence of traditional types
c. personality character of occupants or human
quality

ANALYZING THE DESIGN PROBLEM

read understand
a. title
b. description or background
c. requirements

- plate
- drawing
familiarize with the site
a. simply given
b. derivation / computation
- closing the traverse (protractor and
calculator)
- textual

a. rivers
5.00m
b. creek
3.00m
c. sea/beach front
50.00m
d. pasig river
10.00m
determine the floor area (FA)

FA = BA x No. of storeys
saleable area (SA)

determine the area of the lot

a. formula
- regular shapes
- irregular shapes
b. dot-grid method
- approximate area all dots
included in the site will be
multiplied to the reference
area of the square
c. planimeter
- use in computing the lot
d. road runner
- used in computing the length of the road
determine the buildable area (BA)
buildable area = lot area open space
70%
30%
open spaces
1. set backs type of lots
2. private yards (front, side, rear)
3. road abutments
4. height of buildings
5. private open space
6. natural open spaces

page
page
page
page
page

231
227
228
234
226

SA = FA - common area (35%)

plate requirements / components
code requirements
- BP 344 (accessibility law)
a. site development
- parking allocation (for disabled
- curb-cut-outs
- ramps (1:12)

b. structure
- comfort room
- corridor (1.50
meters)
- stairs
- fire exits

- ventilation

heights
a. naturally ventilated
b. artificially ventilated
- 1 storey
- 2 to 4 storeys
- 5 to infinity storeys (high-rise)

structure
a. superstructure
b. substructure
- in every five floors correspond to one
basement

COST ESTIMATE BULDING ECONOMICS

levels
S budgetary estimate
(floor area x cost parameter)
D detailed estimate
(floor area: specific x cost parameter)
C bill of materials
(materials x cost)
C bid estimate
(bill of materials x margin of profit)
cost parameter/ sqm
1 storey: low cost
P1.00 P5,000.00
2-4 storeys: mid cost P5,001.00 P12,000.00
5-infinity: high-rise
P12,001.00 infinity
basement (1.2%) = next level

components of the estimate

a. land development cost 25% (P500/sqm)
1. earth development
2. roads and access ways
3. utilities (civil works)
4. landscaping
5. furnishings
b. structure 75%

1. structural
2. utilities
3. architectural
BILL OF MATERIALS
1. materials
2. labor
3.
4.
5.
6.

25% of the cost

15-30% of the cost
45-60% of the cost

35-40% of x
direct cost = A
equipment
20% of A
margin of profit
30% of A
overhead
15% of A
(ballpen, bond papers, gas, secretary, etc.)
contingency
10-15% of A
(allowance, wastage) : paid by contractor

7. bonds and insurances

10-30% of A
8. miscellaneous
15-20% of A
construction cost + AE = project cost

UTILITIES
1. water supply
2. waste water
3. sewage
4. electricity
5. lighting
6. mechanical
7. intelligent system
locations of utilities is outside
a. utility company
b. users
c. intermediary
treatment

horizontal

5. clusters

Note:
Utilities
step-down transformer : 220V to 110V
step-up transformer : 110V to 220V
water tanks

45
meters:
maximum
length of
corridor

GOVERNMENT
BUILDINGS
- basically linear and rectangular in
plan
1.
2.
3.
4.

RESIDENTIALS
- (informal) feminine
1. multi-storey : 4 storey and below
2. multi-family
3. utilities are shared or common areas
4. orientation:
work west
rest east

formal (masculine)
multi-storey
linear development
flag pole / assembly area

HOSPITAL
1. users
a. patients
b. medical practioner
c. visitors
2. activities

b. officials
c. spectators
2. playcourts

rooms
bleachers

3. high rise

3.
unobstructed view
- less column with the gym

4. separate out-patient

track oval
1. track and field
2. track and soccer

swimming pool and

diving pool

5. philippine heart center, example

RECREATIONAL
gyms
1. users

bowling
- usually synthetic wood was used nowadays
a.players
ycourts

pla

golf
1. 18 holes done by landscape architect
2. clubhouse usually two storeys and placed on
the middle
a. first floor
- dirty area
- caddy
- clean-up
b. second floor
- function room
- fine dining
- boutiques
- pro-shop

4.
parki
ng
5.
them
e
activ
ities

EDUCATION
1. classroom
2. 1 teacher = 40-50 students
(1 sqm/person + circulation)
3. standard module 7m x 9m
4. flagpole / quadrangle
5. laboratories / libraries / admin / pe
6. parking
7. canteen

resort
1. feature
2. amenities
3. operation system

COMMERCIAL
1. one-stop-shop
- all ages accommodated
2. flagship store
- usually department store
- concessions : barbershop, boutiques, etc
3. magnet nodes

ECUMENICAL
1. all religion
- no symbols of particular religion
2. celebrants place (altar)
- congregation

TERMINALS
international
Ok : cargo
X
Ok

Sea
Land
Air

domestic

domestic
Ok
Ok
Ok

a. lounge, passenger
b. offices
c. reception
d. hygiene facilities
international
a. lounge, passenger
b. offices
c. reception
d. hygiene facilities
e. customs
f. immigration
separate people and good
separate in and out

EXAMPLE DESIGN PROBLEM

- government building
-formal / male
-rectangular / linear (45 meter)
-multi-storey
-flagpole / assembly
3 branches of government
-executive
: major
-legislative
: vice major
-judiciary
: judge
north (type of government)
1. ilocos
: bahay na bato
2. mountain province : ifugao house
3. batanes
: ibatan house