Principles of architecture composition

•UNITY
•BALANCE
•PROPORTION
•SCALE
•CONTRAST
•HARMONY

•ACCENTUATION
•RESTRAINT
•DEFINITION
•REPOSE
•VITALITY
•STRENGTH
 UNITY
The principle of Unity deals with
visual composition in design.
Composition means the relationship
between the visual elements.
ey Elements of Unity

•Texture
•Colour
•Tone
•Direction
•Proportion
•Solid and Void Consider materials such as stone,
•Form and Shape glass and steel. They are available in
a variety of colours, tones, textures,
shapes, proportions, etc. Various
The challenge lies in arising at the compositions of these material
most pleasing composition. properties are possible
EXAMPLES : ISKON BANGALORE
:OAK PARK VILLA BY
FLW
:SAGRADA FEMELIA
CHATHEDRAL
:ANY GATED
COMMUNITY VILLA
DEVELOPMENTS.
 The word texture generally refers to the
T appearance and feel of a surface.
However, it could also mean the physical
E composition or structure of something,
especially with respect to its size, shape
X and arrangement of its parts.

T
U
R
E EXAMPLE :QUTUBMINAR

variety of textures can be seen in

the roofs, walls and paving.
Strongly identifiable shapes in
roofs and battered walls are seen
as repeated units, presenting a
definite and distinguishable feel of
the surface.
anielMoreno - Texture_architecture
Colour
Colour is one of the pronounced elements of aesthetics and its selection is
very crucial to the overall effect it has on aesthetics. A variety of effects
can be produced by varying luminance, fullness and its transparency.
Tone
Tone is related to the colour theory and varies from the neutral scale of white to
black through a range of greys. This plays an important role in drawings used to
represent buildings.
 Photonic Centre, Berlin

EXAMPLES :
WHITE HOUSE
RED FOURT
HIGH COURT IN BANGALORE
ST BASILIS CHATHEDRAL RUSSIA
NEWHALL COLOUR PALLET
PHOTONIC CENTRE BERLIN
 D i r e c t i o n
In most buildings, these are strong
elements that suggest vertical and
horizontal direction.
The total shape of the building, or parts of the
building or its structural components (beam,
column, wall, ceiling etc) its windows and other
openings all suggest the direction.

HORIZONTALITY: FRANSWORTH HOUSE

ROBIE HOUSE ( THE SHAPE AND MASSING OF AN OBJECT SHOWING DIRCCTION)
structural components (beam, column, wall,
ceiling etc)
dominance of horizontality given by the roof line and
overhang in contrast from the columns.

The directional emphasis is reinforced by the use of a strongly ribbed cladding tile,
which can be seen running horizontally on the eaves soffit and the beams linking
the column heads and the solid parts of the wall behind them.
LE-CORBUSIER (VILLA SURVOY (PART OF BUILDING SHOWING DIRECTION) THE RIBBON
WINDOWS)
VERTICALLITY:

PAGODAS(The height at the shekara represents connection between earth and heaven )

WTC TOWERS(Central business

district
Commercial importance
Rising economy )

AND BELL TOWERS OF A CHURCH

IN PLANNING ASPECT HUMAYUNS
TOMB AND THE SURROUNDED
MUGHAL GARDENS THE FOUR
ENTRANCES CENTRALLY PLACED
SHOW AXIS AND MOVEMENT
TOWARDS THE MAIN OBJECT( THE
TOMB

VERTICAL CITIES
Proportion
proportion is the geometric relationship of the sides of volumes

It is also the ratio and comparative size of individual parts of the

composition

Ducal Palace, Urbino, Par

We cannot measure these relationships accurately by eye, but we can compare them
and try to judge the relationship of one to another on proportional basis.

PROPORTION
Proportion is largely a matter of relationships
It is evident by a comparison, which the eye makes between the size, shape and tone
of the various objects or parts of a composition
There are certain geometrical shapes with good proportion such as the circle, triangle
and square.
They are dominant shapes in a composition and for that reason should be used for
accents.
1.Proportion is largely a matter of relationships.
2. It is evident by a comparison, which the eye
makes between the size, shape and tone of the
various objects or parts of a composition.
3.There are certain geometrical shapes with good
proportion such as the circle, triangle and square.
4. The eye judges them quickly and classifies
them with no difficulty.
5.They are dominant shapes in a composition and
for that reason should be used for accents.
 DOME OF FLORENCE which is the
largest dome at florence.

EXAMPLE FOR SHAPES

Ducal Palace, Urbino,
PROPORTION IN GEOMETIC
Paris illustrates the concept of unity
SHAPES USED TO SHOW
through proportions
IMPORTANCE OF A SPECIFIC
REASONS: DOME OF
WASHINGTON D.C WHICH IS
THE HEIGHEST POINT
relative proportion – parts of the object as it is

Absolute proportion- parts of the object or the whole to the various parts
EXAMPLE FOR SHAPES PROPORTION IN GEOMETIC SHAPES USED TO SHOW
IMPORTANCE OF A SPECIFIC REASONS: DOME OF WASHINGTON D.C WHICH IS THE
HEIGHEST POINT

PROPORTION IN THERMS OF ACOUSTICS

1. We cannot measure these relationships accurately
by eye, but we can compare them and try to judge
the relationship of one to another on proportional
basis
2. Buildings belonging to Classical and Gothic
Architecture have better proportional relationships
than most buildings today
Types of proportion
SOLID & VOID
The relationship between solid (walls, roofs, etc)
and void (windows and other openings) structural
units is very  important to form a good
composition.
Form and shape can be clearly observed in the
overall arrangement of a building or in parts of a
building (windows, doors etc) which have
geometric shapes. Repetition or variation of a
particular form can provide strong elements of
composition.

The relationship between solid (walls,

roofs, etc) and void (windows and
other openings) structural units is
very  important to form a good
Its unique five-storey exterior is also composition
akin to the honeycomb of the beehive shows the relationship between solid
with its 953 small windows called  and void structural units. In this
jharokhas that are decorated with structure, the dominance of solid
EXAMPLE : INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT BANGALORE:
DESCRIBE THE DESIGN/ CONCEPT WITH THE DESIGN ELEMENTS
LIKE PARGOLAS ,COURTYARDS..ETC.. USED IN THE
CONSTRUCTION .
FORM & SHAPE

united court housere

repeating windows
venetian colonnades that give an
effect of corridor space

Form and Shape

Form and shape can be clearly observed in the overall arrangement of a
building or in parts of a building (windows, doors etc) which have geometric
shapes. Repetition or variation of a particular form can provide strong
elements of composition

Parts of a building, for example, windows depicting form represent geometric

shapes such as a square or a rectangle. Repetition of a window unit form a
good element of composition.

Shape helps to identify different forms, for example, the pitch of a roof will
provide a certain form which is easy to identify and also easy to relate to