Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, 24.02.20091 Theories of Architecture(EAPS4202) Lecturer 2 Theory &...

Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, 24.02.2009 1

Theories of Architecture(EAPS4202)Lecturer 2

Theory & Design Methodology (Part I)

Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf

University of Palestine

Faculty of Applied Engineering & Urban Planning

Dept. of Architecture, Interior Design & Planning

Theory: Categories A meaningful categorization is as follows:

Descriptive aim at reporting the present (or past) state of the object which, in architectural studies, can be either one building and/or any defined class or series of buildings while considering those related to these buildings. Monographs of the buildings often belong to this category, in addition to a great part of the history of architecture.

Explanatory try to find out why each building has taken the shape that it has. The reasons can be taken either from the past (causal explanation), from the concurrent context, or alternatively, from the future (i.e. from the intentions of the builders). See also Explaining Development.

Normative attempt to point out in which respects the object could be improved, and the method adopted in doing so. When the outcome of normative theories is generalizable to later similar objects, we can call it theory of design.


Traditions of Theory: Paradigms (Style)Paradigms are classified into two types: Thematic theories Theories of synthesis

Thematic or "analytic" theories are treatises which aim at the fulfillment of one principal goal of architecture.

They are often based on profound analyses of this goal, usually made at the cost of other customary goals of the building. This adds to the clarity of the theory, and also to the buildings that are designed on its basis. Such theories are admirable works of art and can be used as exemplars in the education of younger architects.

On the other hand, over stressing just one goal of building has often made these edifices impractical and inadequate in other respects. Indeed, many of them are today no more used for their originally intended purposes but are instead serving as tourist attractions or museums.


Traditions of Theory: Paradigms (Style)Thematic TheoriesParadigms of Architecture Basic Presentation of the TheoryDoric, Ionian and Corinthian style and their varieties in ancient Greece and Rome

It is mainly a documentation of earlier architectural traditions.

Romanesque and Gothic styles . Medieval anonymous tradition of trade guilds has not survived to us; minor fragments are the following: Villard de Honnecourt and Schmuttermayer.

Renaissance, baroque, rococo, neo-classical Architecture style

Alberti: De re Aedificatoria. Serlio, Vignola, Palladio...

Large constructions: bridges and halls. “Structuralism” style (emphasizing the structure).

Galilei: Discorsi e dimostrazioni matematiche intorno a due nuove scienze. Hooke, Bernoulli, Euler...

Art Nouveau. Personal Styles of architectural geniuses: Gaudi, Le Corbusier, & etc.

Viollet-le-Duc: Entretiens sur l'Architecture. The book showed logical basis for new form languages but it did not

create them yet..

Functionalism The teaching of Gropius and Bauhaus. Adolf Loos. Neufert(1936): Bauentwurfslehre

System Buildings from Prefabricated Components The lectures and exemplars given by Mies van der Rohe and others. Habraken.


Traditions of Theory: Paradigms (Style)Thematic TheoriesParadigms of Architecture Basic Presentation of the TheoryEcological Architecture (energy collectors etc) Eco-philosophy by Henryk Skolimowski was one of the

pioneering works.

Symbolic Architecture Norberg-Schulz: Intentions in Architecture, Jencks ...

Postmodernism & Deconstruction Robert Venturi: Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture


Some of the theories in the table are now certainly outdated and have little interest to a modern thinking in Architecture, but some theories still contain valid information about important goals & principles,

Notably, on the questions of functionality, construction, economy and ecology.

Postmodernism & Deconstruction are still valid theories that can be seen as building-specific branches of the general goal-specific theories which pertain to all types of products. These are listed in Paradigms of Design Theory.

Traditions of Theory: ParadigmsTheories of architectural synthesis are examples of theories which aim at fulfilling

simultaneously several goals, usually all the goals that are known.

These paradigms are commonly applied in conventional construction projects which then not only produce practical but also customary looking buildings that will probably never be included within the books of architectural history.

By the contrast, thematic theories are treatises which aim at the fulfillment of one principal goal, usually at the cost of other customary goals of building.

The theories of architectural synthesis do not encourage creating such unique monuments and/or architectural styles, as do the thematic theories, each aiming at one goal. Instead, they can help at producing practical and useful buildings for average people.


Traditions of Theory: ParadigmsTheories of Architectural Synthesis

Architectural synthesis theories are useful in practical design projects They are also named as “Design Theories”. Such theories are grouped into:

1. Universal Meta-theories

since the Middle Ages no philosophical structure of synthesis regarding the goals of building has reached an universal acceptance to construct an objective synthesis of all goals of the building acceptable to all people.

2. Design Theories for Building’s Types

Methodologically this means that Normative Case Study and Normative Comparison are relatively often used, as a contrast to the Normative Study of Variables closely related to the study of goals.

3. Procedures for Subjective Arbitration of Goals In professional design, the architect, together with a team of engineers, prepares

the project proposals, followed by evaluation at a meeting with the customers, and the architect prepares renewed outlines until the customers and other involved parties are satisfied.

It is usual that much of the work of defining and arbitrating of goals is done already before the architect begins with the design. This initial phase of the building project is often called a feasibility study.


Architectural Process: ElementsAreas of architectural design (Buildings' type):

Residential buildings: flats, row house, terrace house, & etc

Commercial buildings: institutional, administrative, commercial, industrial, health, educational, services, & etc

Transportation buildings: stations, airports, cross borders, & etc

Sports buildings: playgrounds, stadiums, & etc


Architectural Process: Elements

Recreational buildings: clubs, theatres, casinos, & etc.

Worship buildings: mosques, churches, & etc. Monumental buildings: triumphal vault, tombs,

cemeteries, & etc Military buildings: camps, fortresses, & etc. Civil structures: storages, bridges, water tanks, &

etc Interior design and exterior design.


Areas of architectural design (Buildings' type):

Architectural Process: Assessment GuideBelow are the ‘Design factors’ that have to be of key consideration: Functional elements: Space arrangement within buildings and how these

spaces do relate to each other Circulation: collective, vehicle & motor ways, pedestrians, links between

buildings, colonnades, porch, portico, gallery, entrance hall, lobby, corridors, stairs, lefts, escalators, & etc

Service elements: service court, servants and guards rooms, laundry, garages, storages.

Ventilation : open court, inner court, balconies, windows, ventilation shaft. Acoustic: particular demanding in theaters, schools, universities & music

halls where there is a desire for an open-plan arrangements i including a number of activities

Natural lightening: It covers task/activity lighting, lightening for visual amenity, architectural integration, energy efficiency,

maintenance & costs. Access: Vehicular and pedestrian access on site as well as inner circulation Site & Building layout: Thinking about the relationship between inner & external

spaces Sustainable buildings: not wasting existing recourses leaving little to future generation

focusing on approaches of providing a quality of life.


Architectural Process: Design ProcessBuilding’s Component

Structural elements: walls, foundations, columns, slabs, domes, vaults, trusses, shells

Visual elements: external surfaces, fences, roofs, interiors, gardens

Safety elements: exposure from wind, heat & rain (external surfaces, sheds),

privacy(curtains, retaining walls, trees ), risk (fire escape, shelters, doors)

Color Materials adoptedOne building’s element could play multiple & varied functions


Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, University of Palestine

International

Commodity

Utilitas

FirmnessFirmitas

Delight

Venustas

Vitruvius & Wootton

FUN

CTIO

NA

LITY IM

PA

CT

BUILD QUALITY

Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, University of Palestine

International

> Form & materials

> Internal environment

> Urban & social integration

> Character & innovation

> Performance

> Engineering systems

> Construction

> Use

> Access

> Space

FUN

CTIO

NA

LITY IM

PA

CT

BUILD QUALITY


Architectural Process: Design Process

The stages of the design process starts with an initial stage called ‘feasibility study’ including;

lists of the intended activities that are to take place in the future building; lists of people to be accommodated; lists of the rooms or spaces for these; positioning and connections of the spaces;

definitions of quality level. These can relate to e.g. safety, durability, finishing, intended life-time of the building

time-table; & calculation of costs.


Architectural Process: Design ProcessA "technical team" -- a group of professionals that shall produce studies of available alternatives. The team may be a governmental and/or local agency, or a consulting firm.

Typical phases in participatory urban planning projects are:

Initial survey. The technical team finds basic data and develops an understanding of the interests, needs and desires of all potentially affected interest groups. It creates an initial statement of issues and goals. It assembles data that will later help generating some initial, alternate project ideas. Issue analysis. In this phase, both the team and the interest groups shall develop a clear understanding of the general goals, interests, and problems. The technical team shall develop alternatives that may represent widely different assumptions of the project's objectives. These help the various interest groups to clarify their own objectives. The technical team shall present the evolving alternatives and their impacts several times to the interest groups (and perhaps also to the general public). Design and negotiation. The objective of this phase is to produce "substantial" (= not necessarily total) agreement on a single alternative. To reach an agreement, it may be necessary to include compensating actions that do not strictly belong to the initial project. In this phase, the technical team produces basically similar alternatives (to the ones in the preceding phase) but with minor variations to help the negotiations. Ratification. The participation process normally finishes with a public hearing, where the technical team presents the final proposal, the main interest groups present their views, and a possible agreement can be confirmed. If there is no agreement, the technical team presents its own recommendations and its views of the advantages and disadvantages of the alternatives. The final decision is then up to the legal (or commercial) authority responsible for the project.


Architectural Process: Design Process

The design and negotiation stage involves:

1. Elementary design (concept): organizing of the ground

plane to create functionality in the design.

It stays very general in nature.2. Architectural drawings : Draft

plans (Floors plans & elevation in 1:200 scale)

3. Discussion with the client to feed in the design.

4. Shop drawings & the bill of quantities for

implementation.

Prepared by Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf, 24.02.20091 Theories of Architecture(EAPS4202) Lecturer 2 Theory &...

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