Activity 1.1.

2 Design Principles and Elements

Introduction
Have you ever noticed how buildings of similar size and
shape can have completely different visual effects?
Architects, like artists, must understand the elements
and principles of design and how they affect the visual
impact of the building on a viewer. Whether it is the
intent of the architect to create a feeling of strength and
stability or to create an unusual form that will elicit a
double-take from the public, the elements and principles
of design can be used to manipulate the intellectual and
emotional reactions of the people who see and use the
building.

Equipment

Principles and Elements of Design Applied to

Architecture presentation notes

Procedure
In this activity you will identify design elements and principles as they pertain to
images of structures.
For each of the following, choose one element of design and one principle of design
that you feel is most prominent in the image and then justify your choice.

Word Bank
Balance
Color
Emphasis

Form
Line
Proportion/Scale

Rhythm
Shape
Space

Texture
Unity
Value

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Activity 1.1.2 Design Principles and Elements Page 1

1. Principle of Design
Rhythm
___ _______________
Justification: The continuity it is
showing gives it a rhythm.

Element of Design
____________Form _________
Justification: 3D elements that it
is showing

2. Principle of Design
Balance
___________________
Justification: It is Symmetrical

Element of Design
______Value______________
Justification: The darkness of or
shade that it is showing.

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3. Principle of Design
Proportion and scale
___________________
Justification: It is showing the
size difference of the whit big
tower with its body

Element of Design
______Line______________
Justification: The line that serves
as

Istockphoto.com
4.
Principle of Design

____Scale ___ ____________

Justification:
Because of the bridge at the back

Element of Design
____________Form and

City Hall and London Bridge

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shape________
Justification: The Shape and form
is attractive to human eyes

5. Principle of Design
___________Balance________
Justification: Its proportionaly
balanced

Element of Design
___________Texture_and
color________
Justification: The color is
attracting but the texture are also
contributing

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6. Principle of Design
Emphasis__________________
_
Justification: It giving emphasis to
the cool color that it shows.

Element of Design
Istockphoto.com

__________Color__________
Justification: It has a cool color

7. Principle of Design
_________Emphasis_________
_
Justification:
I can literally see the house because
Istockphoto.com
of the way the it was designed

Element of Design
________Color____________
Justification: The color chosen
gives a good apearance

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8. Principle of Design
______Rhythm_____________
Justification: It shows movement
and continuity

Microsoft Office clipart

Roman aqueduct

Element of Design
_________________Line___
Justification: Lots of curve lines

9. Principle of Design
__________Emphasis________
_
Justification: its making people
notice the center

Element of Design
Space
____________________
Justification: Because of the area
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Civil Engineering and Architecture Activity 1.1.2 Design Principles and Elements Page 6

that was given to show emphasis.

10. Principle of Design

Rhythm
___________________
Justification:
They look all the same

Element of Design
Color
____________________
Justification:
It is very colorful

Conclusion
1. In what way do certain elements or principles identify the time period in which a
structure was created?

2. What factors might account for an incorrect identification?

3. Describe an example of a way that design principles and elements could impact
the function of a building.

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