BASIC ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

ASHENAFI EZO’O
[email protected]
WOLAITA SODDO UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
LECTURE TWO
THREE COMPONENTS OF ARCHITECTURE

SIZE AND SHAPE TREATMENT

ORIENTATION
 THREE COMPONENTS

SIZE AND SHAPE

• Is self-evident, consisting of an infinite
variety of different sizes of masses or
volumes:
• Such as squares, rectangles, circles,
pyramids, ellipses, curves, cubes, etc.
THREE COMPONENTS
TREATMENT
• What do you do with the sizes and the shapes?
• How many different ways can you treat it in a simple
way?
• How does that treatment alter or change?
• In what ways can you define or manipulate the sizes and
shapes?
• What is your strategy for detailing and joinery
(articulation)?
• Treatment is pattern, texture, color, figure, ground, light,
illumination, contrast, opacity,
• Transparency, translucency, reflectivity, visual density,
thickness or thinness, etc.
THREE COMPONENTS

ORIENTATION
• What is the relative position of something or
someone?
• LOCATION - A PARTICULAR PLACE OR
POSITION:
• External - internal - interstitial
• Placement and displacement
• Edge (periphery) vs. Center (core) or
foreground, middle ground, background
• Relationship of a building to its neighbors
• Relationship of building to sky
• Relationship of building to ground
THREE COMPONENTS

ORIENTATION
• Directionality, redirection or reversals:
• Up vs. Down
• Left vs. Right
• Longitudinal vs. Transverse
• Horizontal vs. Vertical
• Orthogonal vs. Diagonal
• Exposure: north - south - east - west
 THREE TYPES OF SPACE

PLACE - SPACES
PATH - SPACES
TRANSTITION - SPACES
 THREE TYPES OF SPACE
PLACE-SPACES
Major spaces that portray a sense of
definite location or position
 THREE TYPES OF SPACE

PATH-SPACES
Major transition spaces which are
directional; corridor, connector,
passageway.
 THREE TYPES OF SPACE
TRANSITION-SPACES
• Minor spaces which process a change from one
condition to another.
• Joint spaces (or articulation spaces)
• Can define a pause between spaces
• Can juxtapose spaces of contrasting or continuous
character
• Can act as a separator space
• Can act as fastener, joining or linking space
• Servant-spaces are transition spaces that act as functional
support (storage spaces, bathrooms, mechanical voids,
space occupied by structural elements, etc.)
THREE TYPES OF SPACE
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

SITE
Location; (geography)a point or an area on the
earth's surface or elsewhere
Building site, a place where construction takes
place
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

STRUCTURE
it is an arrangement and organization of
interrelated elements in a material object or
system, or the object or system so organized
VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

SKIN
VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

APPROACH; the distant view

ENTRANCE; from outside to inside
CONFIGURATION OF THE PATH; the sequences of spaces
CIRCULATION
PATH-SPACE RELATIONSHIPS; •edges, nodes, and
terminations of the path
FORM OF THE CIRCULATION SPACE; corridors, halls,
galleries, stairways and rooms
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

THE BUILDING APPROACH

• The first phase of the circulation system of a building
is the path that we use to approach the entrance.
• It can be long where we needs long time to pass, and,
in other cases, it can be short where we need short
time to pass.
• If continued into the building, the relationship
between inside and outside will be strengthened.
• The building approach can be frontal, oblique or
spiral.
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

FRONTAL APPROACH
• This kind leads directly to the building’s
entrance along a straight axial path.
• It usually terminates with the entrance of the
frontal façade of the building.
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

OBLIQUE APPROACH
• In this case, the effect of the perspective is
strong on the front facade of the building that
we aim to arrive.
• The path can be redirected one or more times to
delay and prolong the sequence of the
approach.
• If a building is approached at an extreme angle,
its entrance can project beyond its facade to be
more clearly visible.
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

SPIRAL APPROACH
• This kind of paths prolongs the approach to
the building and, at the same time, provide an
over whole idea about the building by
moving around it.
• Accordingly, the entrance may be viewed
from the front or it may be hidden until the
point of arrival.
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

BUILDING ENTRANCE
• It is the space from which we penetrate from one space
to another.
• Its concept is more than punching a hole in a wall.
• It can be determined by vertical or horizontal elements.
• It can range from a simple hole to an elaborate,
articulated gateway.
• It is preferred to be designed perpendicular to the path
of the approach.
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

BUILDING ENTRANCE
• Entrances can be classified into three
groups:
• FLUSH ENTRANCES, which maintain the continuity
of its plane surface.
• PROJECTED ENTRANCES, which provide shelter,
provide an exterior added space and announce their
function to the approach.
• RECESSED ENTRANCES, which also provide shelter
and form.
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

BUILDING ENTRANCE
• The form of the entrance can be similar to the form of the
interior space or it can differ to emphasize its character as a
place.
• An entrances can be distinguished according to its location
with respect to the frontal façade:
1. It can be centered within the frontal plane of a building.
2. It can be placed off-center and create its own symmetrical
condition about its opening.
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

BUILDING ENTRANCE
• The location of the entrance, relative to the space
entered, will determine the configuration of the path
within the space and the pattern of the activities
within the space.
• Entrances can be reinforced by:
• Changing the dimensions (lower, wider,
narrower) from the anticipated.
• Making the entrance extra-deep or circuitous.
• Articulating the opening with decorative
ornaments.
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

CONFIGURATION OF THE PATH

• The movement path is always linear.
• This means that there is a starting point and an end point.
• Human has much more freedom than vehicles or even
than bicycles in changing direction in his movement path.
• Vehicles need the path to be smooth, but dimensionally
limited.
• Pedestrians, on the other hand, require a greater volume
of space than their bodily dimensions, and greater
freedom of choice along the path
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE
• FIVE TYPES: CONFIGURATION OF THE PATH
1. The linear Configuration
2. The radial Configuration
3. The spiral Configuration
4. The grid Configuration
5. The network Configuration
6. The composite Configuration
VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

PATH-SPACE RELATIONSHIP
• Paths may be related to the spaces they link in different
ways:
1. THE PATH PASS BY SPACES: The identity of each
space is maintained. The configuration of the path is
flexible. Mediating spaces can be used to link the path with
the spaces.
2. THE PATH PASS THROUGH SPACES: The path may
pass through a space axially, obliquely, or along its edge.
The path will determine the configuration of the space.
3. THE PATHS TERMINATE IN A SPACE: The location
of the space establishes the path. The relation is used to
approach and enter functionally or symbolically important
spaces.
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

FORM OF THE CIRCULATION SPACE

• Circulation space forms an integral part of
any building organization.
• Its volume of space can not be ignored
anywhere.
• It can behave as functional space, corridor for
example, linking many other spaces.
• Its volume, form and scale must
accommodate the movement of people in
addition to their facilities and services.
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

THE FORM OF A CIRCULATION PATH

DEPENDS ON
• The definition of its boundaries.
• The relationship with the spaces it links.
• The articulation of its scale, proportion, light
and view.
• The opening of the entrances coming into it.
• The changing in levels with stairs and ramps.
VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

• A circulation space can be either enclosed, open

on one side or open on both sides .
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

THE CONFIGURATION OF A STAIRWAY

• The configuration of a stairway determines the direction
of our path as we ascend or descend its steps. There are
several basic ways in which to configure the runs of a
stairway.
• Straight-run stair
• L-shaped stair
• U-shaped stair
• Circular stair
• Spiral stair
 VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE

SERVICES
• Structural
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Fire safety
• Maintenance
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
 STUDIO ACTIVITY
1. From the THREE COMPONENTS of architecture, the first one is shape and size, please
sketch at list three from them.
2. What do you do by the shape and size, through using different shapes and size, sketch your
own 3D forms which can show isometric projection.
3. In architecture there are THREE TYPES OF SPACE, please illustrate all spaces in freehand
sketching.
I. Place - spaces
II. Path - spaces
III. Transition - spaces