THEORY of

of ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE
THEORY

ESSENCE OF ARCHITECTURE

ARCHITECTURE & ARTS

Greek words
ARCHI = first or original
TECT = the ability to put things
together

Sanskrit root
ARTS = everything in its right
place

 Analysis of a set of facts in relation

to one another
Belief, policy or procedure proposed
or followed as basis of action
An ideal or hypothetical set of facts,
principles or circumstances of a body
of fact on science or art
A plausible or scientifically accepted
general principle or body of
principles offered to explain
phenomenon
THEORY IN
IN GENERAL
GENERAL
THEORY

Forms/types of Theory

-Descriptive: Explains
phenomenon or events; they re
neutral and do not lean towards
any ideology
-Prescriptive: Prescribes bases
or guidelines
-Critical: Challenges relationships
between architecture & society

THEORY IN
IN GENERAL
GENERAL
THEORY

Essence and Composition

A collection of thoughts, view,
ideas
Organized by theme or topic
Evolution of thoughts
There is not a grand theory or
unified theory of architecture; it
is a combination of various
thoughts, speculations, concepts

ARCHITECTURAL THEORY
THEORY
ARCHITECTURAL

Form

In a conceptual form
Needs to be translated
From concepts to reality
Discussed, tested, developed

ARCHITECTURAL THEORY
THEORY
ARCHITECTURAL

ESSENCE OF ARCHITECTURE
Architecture is the process that we
instinctively recognize as the genius of

growth and creation

It gives form to the invisible

pulses

and rhythm of life

The physical manifestation of the power
is a consequence of the desire for the

invisible to be made visible

ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS
The Architecture of

Space
Structure
Enclosure

Organizational pattern, relationships,hierarchy

Qualities of shape, color, texture,scale, proportion
Qualities of surfaces, edges and openings

Experienced through

Movement in
Space-time

Approach and entry

Path configuration and access
Sequence of spaces
Light, view, touch, hearing and smell

Achieved by means of

Technology

Structure and enclosure

Environmental protection and comfort
Health, safety and welfare
Durability

Accommodating a

Program

User requirements, needs, aspirations

Socio-cultural factors
Economic factors
Legal restraints
Historical tradition and precedents

Compatible with its

Context

Site and environment

Climate: sun, wind, temperature and precipitation
Geography: soils, topography, vegetation and water
Sensory and cultural characteristics of the place

SPATIAL
SYSTEM

ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS
SYSTEMS
ARCHITECTURAL

STRUCTURAL
SYSTEM

ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS
SYSTEMS
ARCHITECTURAL

ENCLOSURE
SYSTEM

ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS
SYSTEMS
ARCHITECTURAL

CIRCULATION
SYSTEM

ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS
SYSTEMS
ARCHITECTURAL

CONTEXT

ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS
SYSTEMS
ARCHITECTURAL

THE
ARCHITECTURE
OF:
Space
Structure
Enclosure

Organizational pattern, relationships,

hierarchy
Qualities of shape, color, texture, scale,
proportion
Qualities of surfaces, edges and
openings

ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS
SYSTEMS
ARCHITECTURAL

EXPERIENCED
THROUGH:
Movement in
Space-time

Approach and entry

Path configuration and access
Sequence of spaces
Light, view, touch, hearing and smell

ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS
SYSTEMS
ARCHITECTURAL

EXPERIENCED
THROUGH:
Movement in
Space-time

Approach and entry

Path configuration and access
Sequence of spaces
Light, view, touch, hearing and smell

ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS
SYSTEMS
ARCHITECTURAL

ACHIEVED BY
MEANS OF:
Technology

Structure and enclosure

Environmental protection and comfort
Health, safety and welfare
Durability

ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS
SYSTEMS
ARCHITECTURAL

 User requirements, needs, aspirations

ACCOMMODATING
A:
Program

Socio-cultural factors
Economic factors
Legal restraints
Historical tradition & precedents

ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS
SYSTEMS
ARCHITECTURAL

 Site and environment

COMPATIBLE
WITH ITS:
Context

Climate: sun, wind, temperature and

precipitation
Geography: soils, topography, vegetation
and water
Sensory and cultural characteristics of the
place

ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS
SYSTEMS
ARCHITECTURAL

ARCHITECTURAL
ORDERS

Form and Space

Physical

Perceptual

Solids and Voids

Interior and Exterior

Systems and
Organizations of:

Sensory perception and

recognition of the physical
elements by experiencing

them sequentially in time

Conceptual

Comprehension of the
ordered and disordered
relationships among a
buildings elements and
systems and responding to
the meanings they evoke

Space
Structure
Enclosure
Machines
Approach and
Departure
Entry and Egress
Movement through the
order of spaces
Functioning of and
activities within
spaces
Qualities of light,
color, texture, view
and sound
Images
Patterns
Signs
Symbols
Context (Space, Form,
Function, Technics)

ARCHITECTURAL ORDERS
ORDERS
ARCHITECTURAL

ARCHITECTURAL
ORDERS

Physical

FORM &
SPACE

SYSTEMS &
ORGANIZATIONS OF

Solids &Voids

Space

Interior &
Exterior

Structure
Enclosure
Machines

ARCHITECTURAL ORDERS
ORDERS
ARCHITECTURAL

ARCHITECTURAL
ORDERS

Perceptual

FORM &
SPACE

SYSTEMS &
ORGANIZATIONS OF

Sensory
perception &
recognition of
the physical
elements by
experiencing
them
sequentially in
time

Approach & Departure

Entry & Egress
Movement through the
order of spaces
Functioning of activities
within spaces
Qualities of light, color,
texture, view & sound

ARCHITECTURAL ORDERS
ORDERS
ARCHITECTURAL

ARCHITECTURAL
ORDERS

Perceptual

FORM &
SPACE

SYSTEMS &
ORGANIZATIONS OF

Sensory
perception &
recognition of
the physical
elements by
experiencing
them
sequentially in
time

Approach & Departure

Entry & Egress
Movement through the
order of spaces
Functioning of activities
within spaces
Qualities of light, color,
texture, view & sound

ARCHITECTURAL ORDERS
ORDERS
ARCHITECTURAL

ARCHITECTURAL
ORDERS

Conceptual

FORM &
SPACE

SYSTEMS &
ORGANIZATIONS OF

Comprehension of
the ordered and
disordered
relationships
among a buildings
elements and
systems and
responding to the
meanings they
evoke

Images
Patterns
Signs
Symbols
Context (space,form,
function,techniques)

ARCHITECTURAL ORDERS
ORDERS
ARCHITECTURAL

ARCHITECTURAL
ORDERS

Conceptual

FORM &
SPACE

SYSTEMS &
ORGANIZATIONS OF

Comprehension of
the ordered and
disordered
relationships
among a buildings
elements and
systems and
responding to the
meanings they
evoke

Images
Patterns
Signs
Symbols
Context (space,form,
function,techniques)

ARCHITECTURAL ORDERS
ORDERS
ARCHITECTURAL

ELEMENTS OF
OF DESIGN
DESIGN
ELEMENTS

POINT
The two ends of a
line
The intersection of
two lines
The meeting of lines
at the corner of a
plane or volume
The center of a
field

ELEMENTS OF
OF DESIGN
DESIGN
ELEMENTS

LINE
A point extended
becomes a line with
properties of:
Length
Direction
Position

ELEMENTS OF
OF DESIGN
DESIGN
ELEMENTS

PLANE
A line extended
becomes a plane with
properties of:

Length and width

Shape
Surface
Orientation
Position

ELEMENTS OF
OF DESIGN
DESIGN
ELEMENTS

VOLUME
A plane extended
becomes a volume with
properties of:

Length, width, depth

Form and space
Surface
Orientation
Position

ELEMENTS OF
OF DESIGN
DESIGN
ELEMENTS

ARCHITECTURAL FORM is the

point of contact between mass and
space
Properties of
Form:

Shape
Size
Color
Texture
Position
Orientation
Visual Inertia

FORM
FORM

SPACE DEFINITION
DEFINITION
SPACE

SPACE DEFINITION
DEFINITION
SPACE

SPACE DEFINITION
DEFINITION
SPACE

SPACE DEFINITION
DEFINITION
SPACE

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.

FORM TRANSFORMTION
TRANSFORMTION
FORM

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 a
form of another
family.

FORM TRANSFORMATION
TRANSFORMATION
FORM

Additive
Transformation:
a form can be
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
determine whether the
identity of the initial
form is altered or
retained.

FORM TRANSFORMATION
TRANSFORMATION
FORM

SPATIAL
RELATIONSHIPS
Space within a Space
Interlocking Spaces
Adjacent Spaces
Spaces linked by a
Common Space

FORM AND
AND SPACE
SPACE
FORM

SPATIAL
RELATIONSHIPS
Space within a Space
Interlocking Spaces
Adjacent Spaces
Spaces linked by a
Common Space

FORM AND
AND SPACE
SPACE
FORM

SPATIAL
RELATIONSHIPS
Space within a Space
Interlocking Spaces
Adjacent Spaces
Spaces linked by a
Common Space

FORM AND
AND SPACE
SPACE
FORM

Centralized
Organization:
a number of
secondary forms
clustered about a
dominant, central
parent-form

SPATIAL ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION
SPATIAL

Linear
Organization:

a series of forms
arranged
sequentially in a
row

SPATIAL ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION
SPATIAL

Radial
Organization:
a composition of
linear forms
extending outward
from a central
form in a radial
manner

SPATIAL ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION
SPATIAL

Radial
Organization:
a composition of
linear forms
extending outward
from a central
form in a radial
manner

SPATIAL ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION
SPATIAL

Clustered
Organization:
a collection of
forms grouped
together by
proximity or the
sharing of a
common visual
trait.
SPATIAL ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION
SPATIAL

Clustered
Organization:
a collection of
forms grouped
together by
proximity or the
sharing of a
common visual
trait.
SPATIAL ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION
SPATIAL

Grid
Organization:
a set of modular
forms related and
regulated by a
three-dimensional
grid

SPATIAL ORGANIZATION
ORGANIZATION
SPATIAL

Approach:
the distant view; the
first phase of the
circulation system
during which we are
prepared to see,
experience and use
the building

ELEMENTS OF
OF CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION
ELEMENTS

Entrance:
from outside to inside;
may be flushed,
projected or recessed

ELEMENTS OF
OF CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION
ELEMENTS

Configuration
of Path:
the sequence of spaces ;
can be linear, radial,
spiral, grid, network or
composite

ELEMENTS OF
OF CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION
ELEMENTS

sm:

Anthropocentri

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.

SPATIAL THEORIES
THEORIES
SPATIAL

m:

Anthropomorphis

human qualities are

associated with non-human
entities/ events. Qualities
such as form, values and
emotions.

SPATIAL THEORIES
THEORIES
SPATIAL

ics:

Anthropometr

study of measurements
of the human body

SPATIAL THEORIES
THEORIES
SPATIAL

Ergonomics:
an applied science
concerned with the of
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.

SPATIAL THEORIES
THEORIES
SPATIAL

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.

SPATIAL THEORIES
THEORIES
SPATIAL

Spatial illusions
through:
Changes in levels
Bringing outside in
Borrowing views
Use of glass and light
materials
Multiplicity of functions
Two-dimensional
treatments
Use of color

SPATIAL THEORIES
THEORIES
SPATIAL

Spatial illusions
through:
Changes in levels
Bringing outside in
Borrowing views
Use of glass and light
materials
Multiplicity of functions
Two-dimensional
treatments
Use of color

SPATIAL THEORIES
THEORIES
SPATIAL