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PAMANTASAN NG COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA AND URBAN PLANNING

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
PROGRAMMATIC
CONCEPTS
ALNIE KHAYZER HAYUDINI, RLA, RMP
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I t i s c r i t i c a l t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e d i f f e re n c e b e t w e e n p ro g r a m m a t i c
concepts and design concepts, which is very difficult for some people to
grasp.

P ro g r a m m a t i c c o n c e p t s re f e r t o a b s t r a c t i d e a s i n t e n d e d m a i n l y a s
f u n c t i o n a l s o l u t i o n s t o c l i e n t s ’ p e r f o r m a n c e p ro b l e m s w i t h o u t re g a r d t o
t h e p h y s i c a l re s p o n s e . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , d e s i g n c o n c e p t s re f e r t o
c o n c re t e i d e a s i n t e n d e d a s p h y s i c a l s o l u t i o n s t o c l i e n t s ’ a rc h i t e c t u r a l
p ro b l e m s , t h i s b e i n g t h e p h y s i c a l re s p o n s e . T h e k e y t o c o m p re h e n s i o n i s
t h a t p ro g r a m m a t i c c o n c e p t s re l a t e t o p e r f o r m a n c e p ro b l e m s a n d d e s i g n
c o n c e p t s re l a t e t o a rc h i t e c t u r a l p ro b l e m s .

T h e d i f f e re n c e b e t w e e n p ro g r a m m a t i c c o n c e p t s a n d d e s i g n c o n c e p t s i s
i l l u s t r a t e d i n t h e s e e x a m p l e s : c o n v e r t i b i l i t y i s a p ro g r a m m a t i c c o n c e p t ;
a c o r re s p o n d i n g d e s i g n c o n c e p t i s a f o l d i n g d o o r. S h e l t e r i s a
p ro g r a m m a t i c c o n c e p t ; a c o r re s p o n d i n g d e s i g n c o n c e p t i s a ro o f .
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Priority
The concept of priority evokes questions regarding the order of importance, such as relative
position, size, and social value. This concept reflects how to accomplish a goal based on a
ranking of values. For example, “To place a higher value on pedestrian traffic than on
vehicular traffic ” may relate to the precedence in traffic flow.
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Hierarchy
The concept of hierarchy is related to a goal about the exercise of authority and is expressed
in symbols of authority. For example, the goal “to maintain the traditional hierarchy of military
rank” may be implemented by the concept of a hierarchy of office sizes.
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Character
The concept of character is based on a goal concerning the image the client wants to project
in terms of values and the generic nature of the project.
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Density
A goal for efficient land or space use, a goal for high degrees of interaction, or a goal to
respond to harsh climatic conditions may lead to the appropriate degree of density— low,
medium, or high density.
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Service Grouping
Should services be centralized of decentralized? Test the many services as being best
centralized or best decentralized. Should the heating system be centralized or decentralized?
The library? And dining? And storage? And many other services? Evaluate the gains and risks
to simulate client decisions. But remember each distinct service will be centralized or
decentralized for a definite reason— to implement a specific goal.
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Activity Grouping
Should activities be integrated or compartmentalized? A family of closely related activities
would indicate integration to promote interaction, while the need for some kinds and
degrees of privacy or security would indicate compartmentalization.
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Home Base
Home base is related to the idea of territoriality— an easily defined place where a person can
maintain his or her individuality. While this concept applies to a wide range of functional
settings— for example, a high school or manufacturing plant— recently, many organizations
have recommended new settings for office work. These officing concepts are described in the
following pages as on -premise or off-premise work settings.
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On-Premise Officing Concepts

-Fixed Address
This concept refers to a traditional work setting where one person is assigned to a
workspace. The concept of a shared address is similar, for example, a single office assigned to
two or more people— double occupancy.
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On-Premise Officing Concepts

-Free Address
This concept refers to workspaces that are unassigned and shared on a first-come, first-serve
basis. Hoteling refers to the reservation of shared workspaces on a predetermined schedule.
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On-Premise Officing Concepts

-Group Address
This concept refers to a designated group or team space assigned for a specified period of
time. Within the team area, individuals are assigned workspace on an as-needed (free-
address) or first-come, first-serve basis.
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Off-Premise Officing Concepts

-Satellite Office
A goal for providing convenient office centers leads to the concept of satellite offices or
remote telecenters. These places provide offices close to employees’ residences or customer
sites and are used on a full -time or drop-in basis.
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Off-Premise Officing Concepts

-Telecommuting
These concepts refer to an individual’s use of his or her residence as a workspace. Electronic
communication and computer technology combine to serve as a substitute for travel to an
office center.
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Off-Premise Officing Concepts

-Virtual Office
Virtual officing uses portable computer and communication technology to allow an individual
to work in a variety of settings: at home, while traveling, at a client location, in a hotel, or in a
satellite office center.
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Relationships
The correct interrelation of spaces promotes efficiencies and effectiveness of people and
their activities. This concept of functional affinities is the most common programmatic
concept.
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Communications
A goal to promote the effective exchange of information or ideas in an organization may call
for networks or patterns of communication: Who communicates with whom? How? How
often?
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Neighbors
Is there a goal for sociability? Will the project be completely independent or is there a mutual
desire to be interdependent, to cooperate with neighbors?
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Separated Flow
A goal for segregation may relate to people (such as prisoners and public), to automobiles
(such as campus traffic and urban traffic), and to people and automobiles (such as pedestrian
traffic and automobile traffic). For example, separate traffic lanes with barriers, such as walls,
separate floors, and space.
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Mixed Flow
Common social spaces, such as town squares or building lobbies, are designed for
multidirectional, multi-purpose traffic— or mixed flow. This concept may be apropos if the
goal is to promote chance and planned encounters.
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Sequential Flow
The progression of people (as in a museum) and things (as in a factory) must be carefully
planned. A flow-chart diagram will communicate this concept of sequential flow much easier
than words will.
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Orientation
Provide a bearing— a point of reference within a building, a campus, or a city. Relating
periodically to a space, thing, or structure can prevent a feeling of being lost.
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Flexibility
The concept of flexibility is quite often misunderstood. To some, it means that the building
can accommodate growth through expansion. To others, it means that the building can allow
for changes in function through the conversion of spaces. To still others, it means that the
building provides the most for the money through multi -function spaces. Actually, flexibility
covers all three— expansibility, convertibility, and versatility.
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Safety
Which major ideas will implement the goal for life safety? Look to codes and safety
precautions for form-giving ideas.
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Security Controls
The degree of security control varies depending upon the value of the potential loss—
minimum, medium, or maximum. These controls are used to protect property and to guide
personnel movement
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Energy Conservation
There are two general ways to lead to energy -efficient buildings: (a) keep heated area to a
minimum by making use of conditioned, but non-heated, outside space, such as exterior
corridors; and (b) keep heat-flow to a minimum with insulation, correct orientation to sun and
wind, compactness, sun controls, wind controls, and reflective surfaces.
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Phasing
Will phasing of construction be required to complete the project on a time-and-cost
schedule if the project proved infeasible in the initial analysis? Will the urgency for the
occupancy date determine the need for concurrent scheduling or allow for linear scheduling?
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Cost Control
This concept is intended as a search for economy ideas that will lead to a realistic preview of
costs and a balanced budget to meet the extent of available funds.
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Thank you &

*Images used in this presentation is not the property of the presenter.
References:
• Peña, William & Parshall, S. (2001). PROBLEM SEEKING. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-12620 -9.

keep safe.