bs lesson 1

Elements of Design

are the tools of the designer. They are the ingredients of every successful design. The basic elements are line, form, color, space, light, and material.

Line

is used to produce a sense of movements within an object or to produce a greater sense of length or height. Lines enclose space and provide the outline or contour of forms. Straight lines are vertical, horizontal or diagonal. Curved lines have an infinite number of directional variations; they are not limited in the direction they can take.

Form

Lines joined together produce form and create the shape of an area. Straight lines joined together produce rectangles, squares and other geometric shapes. Curved lines form circles, ovals, and ellipse. The proportion of these forms or shapes is an important factor in design.

Color

either in an integral of an architectural material or else must be added to create the desired effect. Color in architecture serves to distinguish items, strengthen interest and reduce eye contact.

Space

surrounds forms and is contained within it. The design can create a feeling of space. Architectural design is the art of defining space and space relationship in a manner that makes use of all other elements of design in functional and aesthetic manner.

Light & Shadow

reflects from the surfaces of forms. appear in the area that light cannot reach. both give a sense of depth to any structure. The designer must consider which surfaces reflect light instead of absorbing light as it passes through the materials. With continued exposure to light, visual sensitivity decreases; we become adapted to degrees of darkness, or lightness after extended exposure.

Materials

are the raw substances with which designers create. ____ possess their own color, form, dimension, degree of hardness and texture.

Texture

refers to the surface finish of an object — its roughness, smoothness, coarse and brick are rough and dull and suggest strength and informality. Smoother surfaces, such as those of glass, aluminum and plastics create feeling luxury and formality.

Rough Surfaces

reduce the apparent height of a ceiling or distance of a wall and make colors appear darker.

Smooth Surfaces

increase the apparent height of a ceiling or wall and reflect more light, thus making colors appear brighter.

Principles of Design

are guidelines for using the elements of the design to create aesthetically functional buildings. The basic principles of design are balance, variety, emphasis, unity, opposition, proportion, rhythm, subordination, transition, and repetition.

Balance

The achievement equilibrium in design. Buildings are formally balanced if they symmetrical. They are informally balanced if there is variety, yet a harmonious relationship in the distribution of space, form, line, color, light and shade.

Rhythm

When lines, planes, and surface treatments are repeated in a regular sequence (order of arrangement), a sense of _______ is achieved. _____ is used to create motion and carry the viewers’ eyes to various parts of the space. This may be accomplished by repetition of lines, colors, and patterns.

Emphasis

(domination) is used by the designer to draw attention to an area or subject. Emphasis is achieved through the use of color, form, texture, or line. In architectural design, some emphasis, or focal point should be designed into each elevation and interior space.

Focal Point

The point of emphasis. Directing attention to the point of emphasis is accomplished by the arrangement of the features, the use of contrasting colors, line direction, light variations, space relationships, or material changes.

Proportion

The proportional dimensions (scale) of a building are important. The early Greeks found that rectangular proportions in the ratio of 2 to 3, 3 to 5, and 5 to 8 were more pleasing than others. The scales between interior space, furniture, and accessories should be harmonious.

Unity

is the expression or the sense of wholeness in the design. Every structure should appear complete. No parts should appear as appendages or afterthoughts. Designers achieve unity through the use of consistent line and color even though the building is composed of many different parts.

Unity / Harmony

The joining together of the basic elements of good design to form one harmonious unified whole. Unity or harmony is achieved through the utilization of any or all of the elements of design.

Variety

Without _____, any area can become dull and tiresome to the eye of the observer. Too much rhythm, too much repetition, and too much unity can ruin a sense of variety or contrast. Light, shadow, and color are used extensively to achieve variety.

Repetition

Unity is often achieved through repetition. Vertical lines, spaces, and textures are repeated throughout the design to tie the structures together

Opposition

Opposites in design add interest. Opposition involves contrasting elements such as short and long, thick and thin, straight and curved, black and white. Opposite forms, colors, and lines, when used effectively with the other principles of design, achieve balance, emphasis, and variety.

Subordination

When emphasis is achieved through some design feature, other features naturally become subordinate — lesser in emphasis or importance. Subordination can be related in design to lines, shapes or color.

Transition

The change from one color to another, or form a curved to a straight line, if done while maintaining the unity of the design is known as transition. Transition may involve the intersection of molding from one wall to another in the same room or may apply to a change from one floor surface to another in an adjoining room.

Functional Design

Architectural design involves not only how a structure appears but how it functions. Thus, architectural design begins with an assessment of human needs.

Form Follows Function

A principle stated in the lesson that emphasizes that the form/design of a structure is related to its function.

Functional Efficiency and Aesthetics

The task of a competent designer is to combine functional efficiency and aesthetics in a unified design. The designer must manipulate the elements of design successfully through the effective application of the principles of design.

Successful Design

No design can exist in isolation. It must always be related to all situations that influence it. Creating a successful design involves manipulating the entire environment.

USDA

United States Department of Agriculture

Excellent Soil

Coarse-grained soils with no clays and no organic matter.

Good to Fair Soil

Fine, sandy soils with minimum organic and clay content.

Poor Soil

Fine-grained silts and clays with moderate organic content.

No Development Soil

Organic soils with high clay and peat content.

Safety Factors in Design

The designer must ensure that no design feature creates a public health or safety risk.

Hazardous Materials

Materials such as asbestos should be avoided because they can create public health or safety risks.

Accident-Causing Materials or Processes

Examples include extra smooth floors and unstable ceiling covering, which should be avoided in design.

Orientation

The relationship of a building to its environment.

Effective Orientation

Positioning a building to maximize the desirable features and minimize the negative aspects of the environment. It is used to take advantage of the principles of passive solar design.

Factors Affecting Building Orientation

Sun heat, sunlight, existing vegetation, desirable and undesirable views, objectionable noise, velocity and direction of prevailing winds or breezes, land forms and shapes, lot and structure size, and relationship of the site to the neighborhood and local buildings.

Lot

The size of the lot affects the flexibility of choice in the structures. For planning purposes, lots are divided into areas according to function: private area, public area, and service area.

Private Area

Includes the house and outdoor living space.

Public Area

The area of the lot that can be viewed by the public. This area is usually located at the front of the house and should provide off-street parking and access to the main entrance.

Service Area

The service area of the lot should be adjacent to the service of the house.

Placement of the House on the Lot

Determines the relative relationship of the private, public, and service areas. Making the features of the lot an integral part of the total organic design is as important in the design process as the basic floor plan of a structure.

Zoning Code Consideration

An architectural plan should not be started until local building code and zoning codes have been thoroughly checked.

Building Area

To determine allowable space for the building, draw lines within and parallel to the property line to represent the code minimum distance. The area within the inside lines represents the building areas.

Setbacks

The distances restricted by zoning codes from a building to a line to the street.

Frontage Setback

3.0 m

Side Setback

2.0 m.

Rear Setback

2.0 m.

Room Location

A room should be located to absorb the heat of the sun or to be baffled from the heat of the sun, depending on the function of the room, season, and time of day the room is likely to be used. The location should also make maximum use of sunlight.

Kitchen and Dining Orientation

Kitchen and dining areas should be placed on the south or east side of the house so sunshine is available during the early morning.

Living Area Orientation

Living areas placed on the south or west sides are desirable because they receive the late-day rays of the sun.

Sleeping Area Orientation

The north side is the most appropriate side for sleeping areas because it provides the greatest darkness in the morning and evening and is also the coolest side. North light is consistent and diffused and has little glare.

Living Area

The area where most of the living activity occurs. It is where the family relaxes, dines, listens to music, watches television, enjoys hobbies and participates in other recreational activities.

Subdivisions of Living Area

May include the living room, dining room, recreation room or game room, patio, entrance foyer, den or study, and guest lavatories. Large houses may also include a library or music room.

Living Room

Often the entertainment center, recreation center, library, music room, TV center, reception room, social room, study, and occasionally the dining center of the home.

Location of Living Room

The living room should be centrally located and adjacent to the outside entrance, but the entrance should not lead directly into the living room whenever possible. It should not be a traffic access to the sleeping and service areas. The living room should be adjacent to the dining room because they function together.

Size and Shape of Living Room

Sufficient wall space should be provided for effective placement of furniture. Rectangular rooms are generally easier to plan and place furniture in than square rooms. The designer must avoid proportions that break the living room into several conversation areas.

Small/Minimum Living Room

Approximately 3.7 m × 5.5 m.

Average Living Room

Approximately 4.9 m × 6.1 m

Very Large/Optimum Living Room

6.1 m × 7.9 m or more.

Dining Room

Dining facilities design for a residence depends greatly on the dining habits of the occupants. The dining room may be large and formal, a dining alcove, or a breakfast nook in the kitchen.

Function of Dining Room

Provides a place for the family to gather for breakfast, lunch, or dinner in both casual and formal situations. When possible, a separate dining area capable of seating 8 to 12 persons for dinner should be provided in addition to breakfast or dinette facilities.

Closed Plan Dining

In a closed plan, a separate dining room is usually provided.

Open Plan Dining

In an open plan, many different dining locations are possible. Open-area dining facilities are sometimes provided in the kitchen or living room.

Ideal Dining Location

The dining area must be adjacent to the kitchen. The ideal location requires few steps from the kitchen to the dining table. It should be placed between the kitchen and living area.

Size and Shape of Dining Room

Determined by the size of the family, size and amount of furniture, and clearance and traffic areas between pieces of furniture.

Minimum Dining Room

Basic Furniture — Approximately 3.0 m × 3.7 m,

Minimum Dining Roo

6 to 8 Chairs — Approximately 4.3 m × 5.5 m or larger, accommodating a dining table of six or eight chairs and a buffet.

Family Room

The trend toward more informal living because of more leisure time has influenced the popularity of the family room. Today the majority of homes are designed to include a family room.

Location of Family Room

Often located in an area accessible from, but not visible from, the rest of the living area because activities may result in accumulation of hobby materials and clutter. It is quite common to locate it adjacent to the kitchen.

Family Room Adjacent to Living/Dining Room

Becomes an extension of the rooms for social affairs. It may be separated from other rooms by folding doors, screens or sliding doors.

Family Room Between Service and Living Areas

Appropriate when service functions, such as home-workshop facilities, are assigned to the family room.

Minimum Family Room

Approximately 150 sq. ft.

Optimum Family Room

300 sq. ft. or more.

Porch

A covered platform leading into an entrance of a building. Porches are commonly enclosed by glass, screen or post and railings.

Porch vs. Patio

A porch is attached structurally to the house, whereas a patio is placed directly on the ground.

Deck

Balconies and decks are actually elevated porches

Function of Porches

Some are used for dining, entertaining and relaxing. Others are furnished and function like patios for outdoor living, while others provide additional shelter for the entrance to a house or patio.

Minimum Porch

Approximately 1.8 m × 2.4 m.

Average Porch

Approximately 2.4 m × 3.7 m.

Large Porch

Porches larger than 3.7 m are considered rather large.

Veranda

Southern colonial homes were designed with large porches, or verandas, extending around several sides of the home. Outdoor plantation life is centered on the veranda, which was very large.

Balcony

A porch suspended from an upper level of a structure. It usually has no access from the outside. Balconies often provide an extension to the living area or a private extension to a bedroom.

Stoop

A projection from a building, similar to a porch. However, a stoop does not provide sufficient space for any activities. It provides only shelter and access to the entrance of the building.

Patio

A covered surface adjacent or directly accessible to the house. The word patio comes from the Spanish word for courtyard.

Function of Patio

The patio may perform outdoors all the functions that the living room, recreation room, kitchen, dining room and family room perform indoors.

Other Names for Patio

Loggia, breezeway, and terrace.

Three Main Types of Patios

Living patio, play patio, and quiet patio.

Patio Location

Patios should be located adjacent to the area of the home to which they relate and should be somewhat secluded from the street or neighboring residences.

Living Patio

Should be located close to the living room or dining room. When dining is anticipated on the patio, access should be provided from the kitchen or dining room.

Play Patio

A patio provided for use by children and physical activities not normally associated with the living terrace. It sometimes doubles as the service terrace and can conveniently be placed adjacent to the service area.

Quiet Patio

Can become an extension of the bedroom and can be used for relaxation or sleeping. A quiet terrace should be secluded from the normal traffic of the home.

Placement of Patios

Patios can be placed at the end of a building, between corners of a house, wrapped around the side of the house, in the center of a U-shaped house, or in a courtyard

North-Side Patio

When the patio is placed on the north side of the house, the house itself can be used to shade the patio.

South-Side Patio

If sunlight is desired, the patio should be located on the south side of the house.

Minimum Patio

3.7 m × 3.7 m

Large Patio

6.0 m × 9.1 m or more.

Pool and Patio

When a pool is designed for a home it becomes an integral part of the patio.

Lanai

is a Hawaiian word for porch. The word lanai is now also used to refer to a covered exterior passageway.