ARCH 109 Flashcards - Theory of Architecture 1

Flashcards covering key vocabulary for ARCH 109 - Theory of Architecture 1.

Architectural Theory

The intellectual tradition of judgment and reasoning about built structures.

Architectural Theory

A field of knowledge that seeks to understand the fundamental principles and concepts behind architecture.

Purpose of Architectural Theory

Fosters critical thinking among architects by studying different theories and philosophies.

Value of Architectural Theory for Students

Helps students understand architectural design facts, classify them, and see how they relate.

Role of Architectural Theory

Shapes the built environment by providing a framework for understanding how various factors influence design decisions.

Architectural Theory as a Guiding Force

A guiding force for architects to create buildings that are both functional and meaningful spaces.

Architecture

The art and science of designing and building.

Utilitarianism in Architecture

Emphasizes that a building's design should primarily address the needs and functions it is intended to serve.

Practicality and Efficiency in Utilitarian Architecture

Designs focus on practicality, ensuring spaces are functional and cost-effective.

Minimalism in Utilitarian Architecture

Often leans toward minimalism, avoiding unnecessary decoration.

User-Centered Design in Utilitarian Architecture

Prioritizes the needs of the users, including comfort and accessibility.

Economic Considerations in Utilitarian Architecture

Focuses on cost-effectiveness in construction and maintenance.

Aesthetic in Architecture

The study and consideration of beauty, form, and visual appeal in architectural design.

Beauty and Visual Appeal in Architecture

Creation of visually attractive and harmonious buildings and spaces, using principles of proportion, balance, and symmetry.

Form and Space

Design of form, considering visual impact and interaction with light, shadow, and space.

Materiality and Texture

Choice of materials to create different visual and tactile experiences.

Classical Architecture

The study of buildings that emphasized symmetry, proportion, and order, following mathematical ratios.

Gothic Architecture

The study of buildings with pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and evoke a sense of verticality, lightness, and spirituality

Baroque Architecture

The study of buildings focused on drama, grandeur, and ornamentation, with movement, contrast, and visual impact.

Modernism

The study of buildings that sought to break away from historical styles and embrace simplicity, minimalism, and functionality.

Postmodernism

The study of buildings that reacted against modernism's strict functionality, emphasizing playfulness, eclecticism, and irony.

Scale in Architecture

Refers to the size of a building or space in relation to human dimensions or the surrounding environment.

Human Scale

Dimensions proportionate to the human body.

Contextual Scale

How a building fits into its environment.

Monumental Scale

Larger designs for symbolic or functional purposes.

Hierarchical Scale

Scale of elements relative to one another to indicate importance.

Proportion in Architecture

The relationship between different parts of a building in terms of size, shape, and spacing.

Mathematical Proportion

Based on specific ratios, such as the Golden Ratio or Fibonacci sequence.

Symmetrical Proportion

Creating a balanced and orderly appearance.

Asymmetrical Proportion

Creating visual interest and dynamic tension.

Design Process

Approach for breaking down a large project into manageable chunks.

Project Selection

The first step in the design process of when evaluating and choosing which project(s) to pursue based on a set of criteria, goals, and available resources.

Identify the Objective and Scope of the Design

The process of clearly defining the design problem or goal and determining the scope of the design project.

Understand the Users or Stakeholders

Collecting data used for determining the needs, behaviors, and preferences of the end-users.

Gather Site or Contextual Data

Collect data used for gathering site-specific data

Collect Technical and Functional Data

Collect data used for understanding the functional requirements that the design must fulfill.

Competitive and Market Analysis

Collect data on similar designs or products that already exist in the market for trend and marketing purposes.

Regulatory and Compliance Data

Collect data used for knowing the regulations and standards to follow.

Budget and Time Constraints

Collect data used for knowing the constraints or information about the timeline and deadlines for the project.

Space Programming

The design process when designers define the spatial requirements and functional needs of a project.

Identifying Functional Requirements

Understanding and defining the functions each space will serve.

Space Allocation

Determining the size and area of each space based on its intended function.

Relationship Between Spaces

Establishing how different spaces will be organized and how they will relate to each other.

User Needs and Preferences

Understanding the needs, preferences, and behavior patterns of the end-users.

Special Requirements

Addressing any special requirements related to the project.

Regulatory and Code Requirements

Ensuring that the design process complies with local building codes, zoning regulations, and other legal or safety requirements.

Flexibility and Future Adaptation

Planning spaces to allow flexibility for future uses or changes.

Client Meetings and Interviews

Engaging with clients or stakeholders to understand their needs, goals, and preferences.

Space Requirements

Creating a list of spaces is created, including a description of each space, its function, its size, and how it should relate to other spaces in the building

Creating Space Plans and Diagrams

A space program often results in a diagram or a layout that outlines the sizes, relationships, and adjacencies of different spaces.

Schematic Design Phase

The design process where a conceptual framework of a project is developed.

Conceptual Design

Taking information gathered from the space programming phase and formulate design ideas.

Space Layout

Focuses on creating basic spatial relationships and layouts.

Massing and Form

Looks at massing—how the building's components fit together to create a cohesive structure.

Relationship of Spaces

Outlines how different spaces will relate to one another..

Site Analysis and Integration

Addressed site-specific factors such as topography, climate, and surrounding context are addressed

Preliminary Materials and Systems

Outines initial choices for materials, finishes, and systems

Client Feedback and Adjustments

Involves collaboration with the client, who reviews the initial concepts and provides feedback

Design Development Phase

Refines ideas from the Schematic Design phase into a concrete plan.

Refining Design Details

Overall form, layout, and spatial relationships are refined. Precise location key features are made such as doors, windows, walls.

Finalizing Materials and Finishes

General materials and finishes selected in Schematic design are selected and finalized

Compliance with Codes and Regulations

Checking the design to ensure it with building codes, zoning laws, and other regulatory requirements.

Preparation for Construction Documentation

The design is detailed enough that it can be translated into a set of drawings and specifications.

Final Design

The completed, detailed version of the project that is ready for construction or implementation

Construction Documents

A document with the detailed specifications, dimensions, and materials.

Code Compliance and Permits

Ensurimg that all that adhered to building codes, zoning laws, and other local regulations

Client Approval

Review and approve of the final design by client

Cost Finalization

Base on the complete design documents that helps confirm the cost of the project.

Anthropometry

A scientific method for measuring human proportions.

Bertillonage

Setting a systematic and meticulous measurements and classifying various physical characteristics, including head length, head breadth, length of the middle finger, length of the left foot, and the length of the forearm for personal identification

Static Anthropometry

The measurement of body sizes at rest and when using devices such as chairs, tables, beds, mobility devices, and so on.

Functional Anthropometry

The measurement of abilities related to the completion of tasks, such as reaching, maneuvering and motion, and other aspects of space and equipment use

Ergonomic Design

It is defined as the science of making the work environment safer and more comfortable for users based on design and anthropometric data.

Digital Anthropometry

A digital approach that uses 3D scanning, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and computational tools to collect, analyze, and apply anthropometric data in architecture

Space Perception

A process through which humans and other organisms become aware of the relative positions of their own bodies and objects around them.

Architectural Scale

The study of relative size of architectural elements in relation to each other, their surroundings, and the human body.

Human Scale

Designing spaces in proportion to the human body, ensuring comfort, usability, and connection

Monumental Scale

The use of elements that are much larger than the human scale, majorly observed in public buildings, religious buildings, memorials, etc.

Intimate Scale

The use of a very small scale more of a personal scale.

Shape Perception

Shapes that are the processes involved in distinguishing shapes through the senses.

Texture Perception

Characteristics composed and incorporate roughness, stickiness, hardness, or density Elements

Contrast Perception

Has the difference in visual properties that makes an object distinguishable from other objects and the background

Visual Acuity

One’s ability to distinguish the shapes, color and details of the things one sees, sharpness of vision

Visual Perception

Person ability interpret the information, use of color patterns and shapes and through

Gestalt’s Principles of Visual Perception

These are a series of hypothesis defined by German Psychologists that emerged in Austria and Germany that state that 'the whole is something else than the sum of its parts

Gestalt’s Emergenc Elementss

Suggests that to understand an object as a whole, one must first comprehend its individual parts and how they interact.

Gestalt’s Invarianc Elements

Suggests that people can still identify similar forms regardless of color, scale, weight, or rotation differences.

Gestalt’s Reification Elements

Posits that even without explicit details, the eye (and the brain) tends to fill in gaps and form forms.

Gestalt’s Figure-ground organization Elements

Believes that the eye organizes forms in 3D and separates their components into background and foreground

Gestalt’s Multistability Elements

Suggests that the eye will perceive them all simultaneously whenever an ambiguous form can be interpreted in more than one way

Gestalt’s Past experience Elements

Suggests that the interpretation of a form is influenced by the audiences’ individual subjective personal or cultural experiences.

Gestalt’s Simplicity Elements

We perceive complex images as simple, familiar shapes first. The mind outlines objects, matches them to known patterns, and builds the full image

Gestalt’s Similarity Elements

We perceive objects with similar features—such as shape, color, or size—as related, even if they're not close together.

Gestalt’s Proximity Elements

Objects close to each other are perceived as a group, regardless of their shape, size, or color.

Gestalt’s Common Fate Elements

Regardless of their placement or dissimilarity, elements moving in the same direction are perceived as related.

Gestalt’s Continuity Elements

The eye is compelled to move through one object and continue to another object, we perceive lines or curves continuing in the same direction..

Gestalt’s Closure Elements

Our brains perceive incomplete shapes as whole if enough visual cues are present, we naturally fill the blanks Complete shapes or images

Gestalt’s Multistability Elements

The mind is in constantly switching between different interpretations of an image, as seen in optical illusions; we can perceive two figures in one image

Gestalt’s Symmetry Elements

Features and elements that are symmetrical elements that has a tendency tend to be perceived as a aligned and group.