1 Introduction: Object, Space, Building, City Potton of Giambattista Noll’s map of Rome, 1736-1748 7 ae Fantheon, Rome, 126 CE The mother at is architecture Wichous an architecture of aur owa we have no soul af our on civilization. — Fra Lloyd WrightWhat Is Architecture? Architectures avery complex discipline, Most people lve the lves in constant contact with architecture, lt provides apace to del, work, and play. With so much responsibilty for determining our experiences, and wich such avaiety of uses, architecture has too mary forms to be precisely categorized. One houseisused essentially the same way as ay other, but tow many afferent sizes, shapes, or configurations are possible fora house? Tere iso single corec formula for determing ‘he perfect layout of a house, or ary other type of building At the same time as architectures indefinite, it also has a responsbility to specific functions. f Doo e HE il pana Hie = ect Because ofthe diverse forms architecture can take and the need forit to function in specific mays should be considered both an art anda science, isan artistic ascipline that seeks to inven Carough design, Iris alsoa techrical profession that relies on specific techniques of building construction Artistic Discipline and Technical Profession Architects can use almost any techniques for draning o making models to develop their ideas. However, they must document and communicate ‘those ideas using a universally understood graphic language Capital complex of Bangladesh, Dacca, 1962, Lous Kabn 1/wrRoDUCTIONCreative Process and Construction Method Architects go through many versions of an idea to perfect. They experiment with diffrent materials and modes of representing their ideas inorder to develop them. However al of the ideas that are layered inta the design ofa bllding must be realized using conventional methods of bulding construction. As the idea develops, must remain something ‘hat is possible to buld ‘The develope ofan idea through a series of sketches leading to construction drawing of the fished idea Intuitive and Acader Many ofthe architects ideas occur spontaneously or through the act of taking a drawing or made. Many also come from saudy and research and ‘he accumulation of knowledge ove sie ‘The Ancient Greets called these two sides of architecture epsteme and techn. Episteme isthe pursut of owledge, Tecne isa craft or artistic pursut. Tounderstand architecture one must realize that these ‘eno notions are intertined and are often overtapped in ways that make ‘hem interchangeable Episteme Techne The wo yarts of architecture are realized through what architects reler tos ‘the design process” The design process isthe series of steps that are taken to develop a building fom nial dea through the ‘inal proposal While designing, architects must continually move back and forth between te creative act of architecture andthe technical understanding of ow a building isbult OBJECT, SPACE, BUILDING, CITY / 3S.Maria Novel, Florence, tly Leon Battista Alberti designed the Renalssance facade (1456-1470) to complete a Gothic church (1278-1850). Episteme Architectural episteme les inthe inquiry that sntinsc tothe design process the desig process mary questions are asked. Those auestions define the problem tat a design is meant to so. To answer these questions, the architect must rel onabody of krowlge bo inform design decision. In designing a bulding the architect tries many aifferent versions of an idea inorder to test and refine. Trough his proces, new ideas ca be generated as discoveries are made—many of hich ae unexoected but can stil traced toa fundamental knowiedge af architecture adits conerbuting disciplines. ‘The following are aspects of architecture that refer toa pursute of knowiedge + History + Theory + Hurtanbehavor + Human perception Thevisual data received by the eels processed tranipulated, and itered by the ind in nace search fr structure and mening 4/ INTRODUCTIONAlternatives for structural elements and construction assembly ~~ Grain directions the major determining factorin the way is usedas a structural material. Techne Architectural techn les nthe rat of building and the application of technique in design Its the ar and craft of building. nthe design process, discoveries are made through the act of making, The architect trust know how to draw ad represent aida be‘oe he or she can see ft adequately soles the design problem. Different techrigues ‘or representing an idea can allow the architect to investigate tna variety of ways and better understand how works, Adlonlly an understanding of conscrucion techniques and technologies can yield a more feasible buldng atthe end of this process. ‘The following are elements of architecture that refer orator technique: + Construction methods + Material ateribtes + Buldng techrolagy + Representation and communication (through drawing or model) ~~ Mechanical and electrical systems maintain necessary conditions of comfort, health. and safety forthe occupants of a bulding Design Thin Taken together, shese qualities of architecture inform design thinking ‘They define the way anatcitect generates ideas for a buldng, They so provide the architect withthe tools necessary for design ina mare general sens ofthe word. The prisity of architecture is habitation—a desiqn ofthe way peopl wl ccupy and use an ervionment This has a broad range of applications that demand that the architect deslan ata variety of scles—from the sizeof doorknob to that of city back, OBJECT, SPACE, BUILDING, CITY / 5Living rom, Vila Mairea, Noormartu, Finland, 1936-71939, Aivar Aalto 6 / wrropucTion The Scale of Design Tue domain of architectures rat ust buldings. Te architectural design process is one that translates toavariety of scales andi applicable to the design of objects, spaces ard even cities, Ofcourse, the primary role cf the architect es in designing buldings, but here are many aspects of abulding that eure the architect to design at both smaller and larger scales. Archiectat is a discipline o desig, andthe folowing ae other facets of architectural design Designing Objects Bulding desig ranges from considerations of size down to the etal Bulding details are designed toward specific functions of space They also require the skils necessary te design as avery small cae. n addition tothe detail the architec can apply these stil toward the design of objects, Those objects might be drectly lated to building design such as an ornament or door handle. They might also be ‘solved projects that tap the sil sets possessedby an architect + Furniture design requires te architec’ design sensibility and knowledge of ergonomics, + Lighting design requires an architect's understanding ofthe behavior flight and desire to create a particular experince with igh + Sculpture and panting ae often pursued by architects because of she similarity of compositional piciples and crafting technique Designing Spaces One of the fundamental qualities of architecture is space. The architect ‘notustrequied to design a buldng but to conigure the spaces within tat buldng so that they canbe use fora specific function. Designing spaces requires the architects understanding of proportion, ongarization, ight, and atrial + room eure an architect's understanding of design tobe configured fora specie function, + outdoor space requies an architect's understanding of composition to define ts edges without fuly enclosing + Buldings are experiential constructs. Experience is dependent on the configuration of spaces t infor the way it perceved This requires the architect's understanding of material, proportion colar, texture, and the way environments are sensedDesigning Buildings ‘The first understanding of the role of the architect is at the scale of ling. Buildings have specific purposes ard mustbe orgarized ‘to fulfill those purposes. The architect also has the obligation to ‘configure spaces win the lng ana to postion the buldng within its surroundings. Both of these influence the success of the buldnginfulingits designed purpose. Fallingwater (Kaufmann House), Bear Run, Pennsylvania, 1936~ + Thearchtect positions a building on ts site to define relationships 1987, Frank Loyd Wright wish the buildings around + Thearcitect configures a ulin ora specific function, + Thearchitect distributes spaces within he building to adequately support its functien OBJECT, SPACE, BUILDING, CITY /7of auldings characteristics. They ae spatial constructs, experiential environments. and designed with specific fuctins in ind These similarities pace the achivectnanideal position to influence the design, growth, and developmen of urban environments, Architects ae alo responsible for the buildings that compose city and through their design they can affect the urban environment directly. BROS ORM WUT FESS KILO ME \ + Teesqn of pace the spac of OBS SUG Dif B SES RE “S| lites ard wap i cect IY Ey ities for the development of public space PESTS EN and streetscapes + Buldings compose a cy pacing architects ina position to define the Aevelopmert ofthe city + The zoning of city determines the relationship between ts various functions, requiing an architect ro understand programmatic ratonships a Lo Ww Gor oe . VM Le so ey a =e Rp PR OIGOANRXE Pan of seveneenth-centary Paris Australia, 1912 8 / wwrRopucTiON‘Architectareisaveryold and multifaceted dscplin. [touches on mary subjects that influence the way we line Arcitectare isa fin ar shares many ofthe same compositional pritcples that are apledto painting, sculpture, music, and literature Through those srincipes of design and composition t'salied with the other artistic disciplines, Itis alo responsible for creating products that work tofacitate the way we ie. This aligns architecture with othe design disciplines suchas interior design urban design, and industrial design, With thir emphasis ‘on inhabtable environments, icerior design and urban design are historically rooted in architecture -Architectareis also a construction ‘based scence that employs a krowledge of form and material to realize buildings and predic how they will act under tess, This ales architecture wth the various construction industries and physical sciences, tals employs knowledge of human behavior, perception, and culture to create spaces that support the way of life oF those who inhabit it Tis allies archiectare withthe social sciences, Architects must havea gereal understanding of shes allied disciplines even f they are not exper This krowledge pays a crucial rolein determining the success of abiding. It enables the architect to make functional, humane designs that positively affect our ways off © re Structure and materials Human factors OBJECT, SPACE, BUILDING, CITY / 9