Course Overview

  • Theme F: Agency: Design's role in power and cultural hierarchies.

  • Theme E: Continuity: Interaction with heritage and cultural transformation.

  • Theme D: Memory: Architecture as a representation of identity and history.

  • Theme C: Equity: Promoting inclusion and justice through design.

  • Theme B: Polemic: Interactions among ideology, technology, and society.

  • Theme A: Position: Personal and professional values in design practice.

Visual Lexicon: Architectural Vocabulary

  • Architecture Definition: Deliberate design of buildings/spaces; differs from mere building.

Core Architectural Vocabulary Revision

  • Five Groups of Terms:

    1. Elements & parts

    2. Thresholds & openings

    3. Spatial organization

    4. Material and construction logic

    5. Concepts & discourse

  • Aim: Enhance precision in architectural communication.

Elements & Parts (Building Blocks)

  1. Column: Load-bearing vertical member.

  2. Pilaster: Ornamental vertical element projecting from a wall.

  3. Capital: Top part of a column.

  4. Base / Plinth: Foundation element providing support.

  5. Entablature: Horizontal structure supported by columns.

  6. Cornice: Crowning moulding on a building.

  7. Lintel: Horizontal element spanning an opening.

  8. Arch: Curved structure transferring loads.

  9. Vault: Arched structure forming a ceiling.

  10. Dome: Rounded ceiling structure, often hemispherical.

Joints, Openings, and Thresholds

  1. Jamb: Vertical sides of door/window openings.

  2. Mullion: Vertical separator in window openings.

  3. Transom: Horizontal element over doors/windows.

  4. Sill: Horizontal base of a window/door.

  5. Niche: Recess in a wall for display.

  6. Portal: Entrance or structural opening.

  7. Atrium: Central light-filled space.

  8. Arcade: Series of arches forming a walkway.

  9. Loggia: Open-sided gallery, often roofed.

  10. Trabeation: System of horizontal beams supported by posts.

Spatial and Visual Organisation

  1. Axis: Imaginary line organizing plan elements.

  2. Datum: Reference line establishing order.

  3. Grid: Framework of intersecting lines.

  4. Rhythm: Patterned repetition in architecture.

  5. Symmetry/Asymmetry: Balance in elements; intentional imbalance.

  6. Proportion: Comparative dimensions for harmony.

  7. Scale: Relative size in context.

  8. Hierarchy: Ordering of elements by importance.

  9. Ordering System: Classical design systems for columns.

  10. Figure/Ground: Relationship between solid and void in design.

Material and Construction Logic

  1. Tectonic: Architectural focus on assembly and structure.

  2. Stereotomic: Mass-based architecture emphasizing solidity.

  3. Masonry: Use of individual units for construction.

  4. Concrete: Composite material for solid structures.

  5. Steel frame: Structural system for large spans.

  6. Curtain wall: Non-load-bearing external wall.

  7. Truss: Framework for spanning large distances.

  8. Span: Distance between supports.

  9. Joint: Connection between elements.

  10. Fabrication: Manufacturing building components.

Concepts and Discourse

  1. Type: Categories of buildings defined by characteristics.

  2. Typology: Systematic classification of building types.

  3. Vernacular: Locally developed architecture.

  4. Pastiche: Imitation of past styles without innovation.

  5. Authenticity: Genuineness in materials and context.

  6. Monumentality: Architecture conveying permanence and significance.

  7. Ornament: Decorative elements in architecture.

  8. Minimalism: Focus on essentials and simplicity.

  9. Contextualism: Architecture responsive to context.

  10. Modernism and Postmodernism: Contrasting architectural practices and theories of the 20th century.

Conclusion

  • Vocabulary enhances clarity and precision in design.

  • Communication relies on shared terminologies for effectiveness.

  • Essential concepts and lexicon create a strong foundation for architectural practice.