ARCH 1032

BASIC ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN II

LESSON 4 a:- Design element and principles

WOLAITA SODO UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE FO ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
INSTRUCTOR; Sahelu T.
May03, 2017
ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
Colour & Dominance
Shape & Repetition
Dot & Asymmetrical Balance
Texture & Pattern
Line & Plane
Tone & Repetition
Colour & Gradation
Space & Harmony
Value & Focal Point
Value & Symmetrical Balance
Form & Repetition
  ELEMENT
Line & Plane
• Line refers to the horizontal, vertical. diagonal,
straight, curved, continuous, broken or dotted line
within a space.
• In the above case we are referring to the
horizontal, vertical and curved lines of the interior:
the horizontal lines of the panels surrounding
the sitting area , the wood panels in the ceiling,
the white lines of ceiling panels, the two windows
and the horizontal lines of the two lots of stairs.
• Vertical lines of the walls and wood panels,
diagonal lines created by the floor tiles and the
large ceiling beam, and finally the powerful single
curving line of the white staircase.
 PRINCIPLE
• A plane is a surface generated by a straight
line moving at a constant velocity with
respect to a fixed point. It is an area of a
two-dimensional surface having determinate
extension and spatial direction or position.
OUTCOME
• The feature curved line of the white staircase
creates a focal point for all other lines in the
room, it creates a clear plane for all other
lines, horizontal, vertical or diagonal.
  ELEMENT

Shape & Repetition • Shape refers to a self-contained two-dimensional

area of geometric or organic type. In this case we
are referring to the geometric shape of squares of
the orange cushions and rectangles of the window
panes and frames.
 PRINCIPLE
• Repetition of elements within a work of art creates
the mood of unity. In the above room we refer to the
repetition of the orange cushions, as well as the
repetition of the rectangles of the window panes
and frames.
 OUTCOME
• Repetition by itself may be a bit monotonous.
However in this case we have a very interesting
juxtaposition of the repetition of bold orange
cushions and peaceful, if not a bit boring repetition
of the window panes. The result is a lively space that
appears well organised and yet energetic.
 ELEMENT
Colour & Dominance Colour refers to the amount and type of pigment,
hue, value, saturation and perceived temperature. In this
example the colour element refers to the bright turquoise
paint on the walls and the ceiling, as well as shades of
turquoise in the mosaic tiles on the bath wall, on the
curtains, and spots of turquoise in the painting on the wall
and inside the washbasin.
PRINCIPLE
Dominance gives a design interest, counteracting
confusion and monotony. Dominance can be applied to
one or more of the elements to give emphasis. The
principle of dominance has been boldly applied to the
colour element in this bathroom. The turquoise colour
dominates the entire space.
OUTCOME
The dominating turquoise colour makes the bathroom vivid
and yet keeps it within the cool range of colours,
reminiscent of waters, seas and sea life. This is a very strong
application, very dominating the interior, and yet it creates
a most attractive impression as the choice of colour is very
natural for this room.
Dot & Asymmetrical Balance
 ELEMENT
• The dot shape is a geometrical two-dimensional shape
that creates a focal point. However in the above case
we have lines of orange dots (wall decals) that have
been employed to dictate the mood of the interior.
 PRINCIPLE
• The principle of asymmetrical balance has been
applied here. Asymmetrical balance brings the
impression of equal and well-weighted design, the
asymmetry breaks the monotony that symmetrical
balance would otherwise introduce. Although the
actual design is made of straight lines of orange dots,
but the perceived impression is of very asymmetrical
balance, due to the perspective that the two
neighbouring walls create together with the curved
corner.
 OUTCOME
• The orange dots have been applied in lines that create
asymmetrical balance. The outcome is a lively and
energetic space that manages to be well-balanced.
It’s not easy to achieve an interior that is lively and yet
well-balanced, so this is a great overall result.
 ELEMENT
Texture & Pattern • Texture is the quality of the surface of an area, its
feel, appearance, thickness, roughness. The texture
can be perceived (visual) or tactile (physical). In the
above image we refer to the perceived texture of
the large painting on the ceiling as well as the
paintings on the walls.
PRINCIPLE
• A pattern is an arrangement of alternated or
repeated elements. In this case we refer to the
pattern of the visually textured images.
OUTCOME
• An interesting pattern has been applied in this posh
Manhattan apartment room: the visual texture of the
paintings (ceiling and wall paintings) creates the
pattern of alternating elements. The feature painting
in the ceiling has been reflected in the pattern of a
number of relatively small paintings on the wall. The
texture of the ceiling painting continues in an
alternated way.
 ELEMENT
Tone & Repetition
• Tone is the lightness or darkness of a colour. The above
interior has organic neutral white tones that are created
by the dominant use of neutral shades of white in the
frames displayed on both walls, the off-whites of the walls,
the ceiling, the shade of the table lamp, upholstery,
cushions and decorative pieces on all tables.
PRINCIPLE
• Repetition of elements within a work of art creates the
mood of unity. This interior has white neutral tones repeated
throughout the imaged on both walls, the decorative
pieces on the main table and both side tables, the table
lamp, the off-white colour of the walls, ceiling and blinds,
and the upholstery and matching cushions. The neutral
tones combined with gentle organic colours of
organic browns are beautifully repeated between the
images on the walls, the decorative elements on tables and
the striped pattern of the upholstery.
OUTCOME
• Repeatedly applying the white neutral tones gently
combined with small elements of wood, small organic
details and off-white fabrics creates a tranquil room that is
both peaceful and yet appealing. Subdued white tones
give this interior a feeling of luxury and sophistication that
continues throughout the room.
 ELEMENT
Colour & Gradation • Colour refers to the amount and type of pigment, hue,
value, saturation and perceived temperature. In this room
the discussed colour is grayish blue.
PRINCIPLE
• Gradation of colour from warm to cool and tone from
dark to light produce aerial perspective. Gradation can
add interest and movement to a shape. A gradation from
dark to light will cause the eye to move along a shape. In
the above example we have a gradation of the grayish-
blue colour, from very light shades of the walls, cupboard
and seat covers, through medium shades of the curtains
and motifs in the painting, to darker shades of the sofa
and cushions, to the darkest, grayish navy colours in the
floor rug, the armchairs, the lounge chair and in the
decorative elements standing on the cupboard.
OUTCOME
• Gradation of the colour throughout the room creates
harmonious but visually interesting space. The mood is
peaceful and relaxed but the eye of the viewer is being
compelled to keep discovering next elements in this
colour gradation spectrum.
Space & Harmony ELEMENT
• Space refers to the area between, above, below
or around images and visual elements. Space
relates and contributes to perspective. In this
example ample space of the room that is both
wide and very long, is bordered by the wall with
pictures on the left, and the windows on the
right.
PRINCIPLE
• Harmony is the arrangement of a space that
gives the viewer the feeling that all elements of
the space form a coherent whole. In this case,
we have a harmonious arrangement of visual
elements on both sides of the picture, as well as
in the front and at the back of the room.
OUTCOME
• Applying harmonious arrangement to the space
creates a feeling of a coherent unity of the
room, while maintaining its gentle and stylish
appeal. The “busy-ness” of the wall on the left is
harmoniously balanced by the presence of a
long table on the right side of the room. The
large space of the timber floors is harmoniously
divided by two matching floor rugs.
 ELEMENT
Texture & Pattern • Texture is the quality of the surface of an area, its feel,
appearance, thickness, roughness. The texture can be
perceived (visual) or tactile (physical). In the above
image we refer to the variety of physical textures of the
armchair covers. The most notable armchairs are made
with cow hide, the two armchairs in the front are made
with brown fabric with golden patters reminiscent of snake
skin, and the two high armchairs at the back of the room
are upholstered with light grey velvet.
PRINCIPLE
• A pattern is an arrangement of alternated or repeated
elements. In this interior a pattern has been established
with the use of three pairs of armchairs, each pair
upholstered in a cover of significantly different texture.
OUTCOME
• The application of different textures to the three pairs of
armchairs in one room is rather unusual, and it creates an
interesting pattern. The viewer’s eye is compelled to keep
discovering the patterns of the armchairs, both regarding
the textures of their upholstery, and the arrangement and
spread of this pattern throughout the room.
 ELEMENT
Value & Focal Point • Value refers to the darkness or a lightness of a colour.
Adding white to a colour creates its tint, while adding
dark to the colour creates a shade. In the above
interior we notice the value of the pink colour of the
large flowers, as well as pink bowls on the side table
at the front, pink bowls on a side table at rear, and a
pink shape (possibly a chair) far back.
PRINCIPLE
• The focal point is the element of a space that
unanimously draws the viewer’s eye to itself at the first
glance at that space. It is the focus of the room, the
main visual element of the room.
OUTCOME
• Large pink flowers in two floor vases create a strong
focal point for this room. Different values of the other
pink elements create the secondary and tertiary focal
points for the space. The eye naturally goes to the main
focal point, and then viewing flows to the second
focus, and the third one. The values of pink enliven the
space and the well coordinated focal points make it a
pleasant and relaxing visual journey through the
interior.
 ELEMENT
Value & Symmetrical Balance
• Value refers to the darkness or a lightness of a colour.
Adding white to a colour creates its tint, while adding dark
to the colour creates a shade. In the above interior we
notice a variety of values of golden yellow colours, from
bright sofas, to lively chandelier, srtipey golden yellow
backdrop of the room, lighter yellow tinted armchairs,
lamp shades and pieces of decorative timber, to darker
shades of old gold yellow panels at the front and in the
rear, and elements of darker values in some armchairs.
PRINCIPLE
• Symmetrical balance is the even distribution of the visual
weight of objects, colours, texture, and space on both
sides of the interior. In this room we see an almost ideal
symmetry of all pieces of all items occupying the space.
OUTCOME
• The use of a broad range of golden yellow values creates
the atmosphere of rich luxury. Symmetrical balance
creates the mood of formal space that is appropriate and
well balanced towards very upmarket users.
 ELEMENT
• Form is a 3D (three-dimensional) shape of either
Form & Repetition geometrical or organic lines. In the above room we
have two marvelous forms that resemble a rotated and
reversed letter “L”. The first, the smaller one, is the form
of the kitchen benchtop, the second – the larger one –
is the wooden panels that embrace the side of the tall
kitchen cupboards.
PRINCIPLE
• Repetition of elements within a work of art creates the
mood of unity. The two “L” forms create significant
repetition within the space. Also, the white cabinets
above the cooking area combined with the white side
wall refer to and emphasize the repetition of the two
main forms.
OUTCOME
• This very modern kitchen is well united in its sophisticated
design. The repetition of the “L”forms is the
uniting principle. The kitchen is harmoniously united in
the composition of its leading elements.
• ACTIVITY ON ELEMNETS AND PRINCIPLES