ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

THEORY
SEMESTER I
LECTURE I
 Contents of this lecture
• Introduction to the course
• Contents of the course
• Intention of the course
• Scope of the course

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Before we start on the course it would be
worthwhile to appreciate the meanings of
the words that make up the title of the
course.

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 Architecture
Architecture can be seen as the Art, Science
and Philosophy of organizing spaces for
different human activities.

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 The range of spaces to be organized could
be from the space in the drawer of a table to
the spaces in the buildings to the spaces in
a city.
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 Some examples of architecture

Hotel Interior An Airport

A quiet city street A religious building

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 Design
The word design has numerous connotations.
Design as a noun is described in the dictionary as:
1 A plan or drawing produced to show the
appearance and working of something before it
is made
2 The action of producing such a plan or a
drawing
3 A decorative pattern
4 Underlying purpose or planning
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As a verb it is described as
1 Produce a design for
2 Plan or intend for a purpose
The various phrases related to design are:
1 By design: on purpose
2 Have designs on: aim to obtain

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The synonyms of the word design are:
1 Blueprint, conception, draft, drawing,
model, pattern, plan, proposal, prototype,
sketch
2 Mark, style, type, version
3 Arrangement, composition, configuration,
form, pattern, shape
4 Aim, end, goal, intention, purpose
scheme

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The synonym of the word designer are:
Architect, artist, author, creator, deviser,
inventor, originator

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• ANYTHING THAT IS MAN MADE IS
DESIGNED.
• DESIGN IS THUS AN EVERYDAY
ACTIVITY – WE DESIGN OUR DAY,
OUR ATTIRE, OUR MENU ETC.

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Here are some examples that hint at the
range of design applications

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 Textile

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Graphics

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Sculpture

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Dress

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Fashion

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 Furniture

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 Food

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Product Design

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 Building
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 Building

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 Landscape
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Cities
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 Theory
• Theory, the dictionary defines, is a,
supposition or system of ideas explaining
something especially one based on general
principles independent of the facts,
phenomena etc., to be explained
• Speculative view
• The sphere of abstract knowledge

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• Exposition of the principles of science etc.
• Collection of propositions to illustrate
principles of a subject

• Synonyms of Theory: Assumption,

conjecture, guess, hypothesis,
presumption, speculation, supposition,
surmise, thesis, philosophy, plan,
proposal, scheme, system.
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 Contents of the course
• This course will focus on BASIC DESIGN
• Design theory of Architecture will be
covered in the later semesters.
• The contents of the course will comprise:
– Elements of Design
– Principles of Design
– Objectives of Design
– Composition Typologies
– Morphology
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 Intention of the Course
• To introduce ‘Art’ and ‘Design’.
• To augment the already acquired straight
line thinking involved in sciences with the
multi-faceted thinking required for creative
pursuits.
• To initiate the theoretical thinking behind
design.
• To create a foundation for the
understanding of architectural design.
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• The study of this course will help in the
building up of the ‘idea’ and ‘creativity’
component of designing.
• The skill or technology component of
Architectural Design will be covered by
subjects like drawing, structure, services,
management etc. covered elsewhere in
the B. Architecture programme.

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 The End

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