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Lecture 4 Function, Structure and Form in Architecture

The document discusses the relationship between function, structure, and form in architectural design. It states that function dictates the placement and quantity of spaces, structure is used to enclose these spaces, and form is the visual outcome. The three elements are intrinsically related. While some argue that form follows function and others that function follows form, the document concludes that all three must be resolved in design, with priority given to one element depending on the building type and context. Monuments may prioritize form, while factories prioritize structure and routine buildings prioritize function.

Uploaded by

Arun Ahlawat
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© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
373 views

Lecture 4 Function, Structure and Form in Architecture

The document discusses the relationship between function, structure, and form in architectural design. It states that function dictates the placement and quantity of spaces, structure is used to enclose these spaces, and form is the visual outcome. The three elements are intrinsically related. While some argue that form follows function and others that function follows form, the document concludes that all three must be resolved in design, with priority given to one element depending on the building type and context. Monuments may prioritize form, while factories prioritize structure and routine buildings prioritize function.

Uploaded by

Arun Ahlawat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 38

ARCHITECTURAL

DESIGN THEORY II
LECTURE 4

FUNCTION, STRUCTURE AND


FORM
22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

The basic ingredients to be analyzed for


any architectural design are:
Beauty, Strength and Utility.
Beauty: The visual outcome.
Strength: The physicality of the built space
and its expression.
Utility: The reason for making the building
or organizing the space.
22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

Beauty is manifest in the Form of the built


space or organization.
Strength is manifest in the Structure of the
building.

Utility of a spatial organization can be


seen as its Function.
22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

Different kinds of FUNCTIONAL requirements to


be resolved through Architectural design:
Corbusier has identified these in four broad
categories:
Living
Working
Care of Body and Spirit
Circulation
22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

LIVING:
The built space typologies under this
Category could be: Houses

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM


LIVING:
The built space typologies under this Category could be:
Housing

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

LIVING:
The built space typologies under this Category could
be: Hostels

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

LIVING:
The built space typologies under this Category
Could be: Hotels (These could also fall under care
of body and spirit as recreational areas)

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM


WORKING: The built space typologies under this
category could be: Offices

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

WORKING:
The built space
typologies under this
category could be:
Factories

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

10

WORKING:
The built space typologies under this category
could be: Shops (Multi category)

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

11

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

CARE OF BODY AND


SPIRIT:
The built space
typologies under this
category could be: Malls

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

12

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

CARE OF BODY AND


SPIRIT:
The built space
typologies under this
category could be:
Restaurants

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

13

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

CARE OF BODY AND


SPIRIT:
The built space
typologies under this
category could be:
Clubs and Community
spaces

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

14

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

CARE OF BODY AND


SPIRIT:
The built space
typologies under this
category could be:
Cinemas and theaters

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

15

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

CARE OF BODY AND


SPIRIT:
The built space
typologies under this
category could be: Art
Galleries and
Museums

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

16

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

CARE OF BODY AND SPIRIT:


The built space typologies under
This category could be:
Religious spaces

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

17

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM


CIRCULATION:
The built space typologies under
this category could be:
Roads
(Interior circulation within
buildings needs to be seen as
part of that activity space)

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

18

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM


CIRCULATION:
The built space typologies under
this category could be:
Pathways (open and covered)

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

19

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

CIRCULATION:
The built space
typologies under this
category could be:
Piazzas

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

20

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

CIRCULATION:
The built space
typologies under this
category could be:
Railway and allied
spaces
(Interior circulation within
buildings needs to be
seen as part of that activity space)
22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

21

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM


CIRCULATION:
The built space
typologies under this
category could be:
Airways and allied
spaces
(Interior circulation within
buildings needs to be seen as
part of that
activity space)

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

22

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

The different kinds of spatial orders listed on


the previous slides are an outcome of the
different activities that need to be
performed by different people for their
normal day to day living.
Each space has to be designed according to
the envisaged function in that space or in
other words no space can be organized
without a function.
22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

23

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

STRUCTURE: Like
the human skeleton
that supports the
human body, the
structure supports
the building.

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

24

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

STRUCTURE:

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

25

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

Structure thus forms the back bone of a


building and represents the element of
strength in architecture.
It should also be appreciated that the
element of strength besides representing
structure also denotes the strength of
expression or the capacity to say
something to the viewer.
22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

26

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

Structure also forms the key to the


enclosure i.e. it provides the elements
that actually, physically enclose space.
Structure, hence, forms the basis for the
ultimate form though the skin and
cosmetics also finally effect the visuals.

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

27

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

Structure in buildings
can be of numerous
kinds. The more
common types are:
Masonry: Brick or stone
walls and roofing
Trabeated: Columns
and beams
22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

28

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

Architectural Structures
Domes and Shells

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

29

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

Architectural
structures: Vaults

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

30

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

Architectural structures:
Cable Satyed

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

31

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

Form of a built organization is the visual


outcome or the look of the building that is
finally seen by the viewers.
Form has no limitation except its relationship
with function and structure and is
dependent on the creative and aesthetic
sensibilities of the designer.

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

32

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM


Architectural forms
are of many kinds
depending on the
time, function and
the creativity of the
designer

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

33

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

Structure is also dependant on the


technology available at a given time. This
is the only limitation in the creation of new
architectural forms.

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

34

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

Relationship of Form and Function


The element of Function dictates the
quantity and placement of spaces in a
spatial organization. To enclose these
spaces Structure is deployed. The
outcome is Form. The three are hence
intrinsically related and

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

35

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

There has been a debate as to Form follows


Function or Function follows Form.
As these are both inherent to an architectural
design both need to be resolved preferably
simultaneously.
However, in buildings like monuments, Form
becomes more important and in normal utility
buildings, Function needs to be resolved more
efficiently.
22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

36

FUNCTION STRUCTURE AND FORM

In can be concluded that Form, Function and


Structure are interrelated and are inherent in a
design. All the three have to be present in a
design. Priority can be given to any one
depending on the context and situation.
Monuments may be form emphatic, large span
buildings like airports and factories may be
structure emphatic and routine buildings are
function emphatic, but all the three have to be
resolved in an architectural design exercise.
22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

37

Class Evaluation

Date-04.02.2013

Define in your own words (word limit : 150)


a. Form follows function
b. Function follows form
Which idea (above mentioned) according to you is perfect in Architectural
Expression? Give justification to your answer.

22nd April 2014

Sat Priya school of Architecture & Design,


Rohtak

38

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