MODULE NO.

AR 1141/D
THEORY OF ARCHITECURE 1
RSW # PR-02
“ACTIVITY-PR-02-M-1”
DATE ISSUED: AUGUST 30, 2021

DATE DUE: SEPTEMBER 04, 2021

REFERENCES:

Hepler, D. et al. (n.d.). Architecture:

Drafting and Design 6th edition.
GLENCOE_________________________
___________________________________
_Ching, F. (2007). Architecture: Form,
Space, & Order. John Wiley and
Sons, Inc._______________________

“GABRIELLE PAM P. AGUILEN”

“BS ARCHITECTURE 1”

(SATURDAY 1:30 – 2:30 PM)

AR. BENEDICT PAGADUT JR.

INSTRUCTOR
A. INTRODUCTION

A BRIEF HISTORY
From caves to tents then permanent dwellings, humanity began to flourish and gave rise to
villages. Having grown in numbers, village life created the need for more development to
accommodate everyone. And so, the art and science of architecture began with the
planning and construction of the first dwellings, fortifications, and public spaces. After many
centuries, civilization became even more complex, as people’s lives became more
sophisticated. These lead architectural designs to be more critical, more accurate, detailed,
and adaptable, the need for visual representation was then deemed necessary.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
In general, architecture is conceived, developed, and built in response to a set of
circumstances. These conditions may be strictly functional, or they may reflect the social,
political, and economic climate to varied degrees. Then, the act of creating architecture
becomes a problem-solving or design process. The awareness of a problematic state and the
determination to find a solution are the first steps in every design process. Above all, design is a
deliberate act, a purposeful endeavor. A designer must first capture the problem's current
conditions, identify the problem's context, and gather pertinent data to be absorbed and
evaluated.

B. THE DIFFERENT BASIC ELEEMENTS OF DESIGN

The elements of design are the fundamental tools of the designer in which helps the designer
to visually present his/her ideas as well as convey a certain mood, draw attention, or bring
forth certain emotions/feelings. I’ve summarized it down to point &line, form, color, light &
shadow, space, and materials.

1. POINT, LINE, PLANE, & VOLUME

a. Point Fig. B1 - 1.

- A point indicates a position in space.

- It has no length, width, or height, therefore it has no direction, is centralized and
static. Though, it can have stability when placed within a visual field, such as
shapes, plane, etc. that serves to organize surrounding elements.
- A point can serve as:
- Two ends of a line
- An intersection of two lines
- The meeting ends of lines at the corner of a plane or
volume
- The center of a certain field
- A point must be represented in linear form, as it has no dimensions.
Fig. B1 - 2.

b. Line
- Is formed when two points are connected. A line only has length and has no
width or depth, when it does, it is no longer a line.
- It shows the direction or point in motion that is capable of visually expressing
movement and growth.
- It is the very foundation of any visual construction.
Fig. B1 - 3.
 - A line can serve as:
- join/link other visual elements, as well as support, surround, and intersect
them
- identify the edges of a given shape to planes
- articulate the surface of planes

- A line can also be adjusted through its thickness.

Fig. B1 - 4.

- A repetition of similar eleemnts can also be called a line.

Fig. B1 - 5.

c. Plane
- If two points forms a line, two lines form a plane.
- A series of parallel lines, through their repetitiveness, reinforces your perception
of the plane they describe.

Fig. B1 – 5 & 6.

d. Volume
-A plane extended in a direction other than its intrinsic direction becomes a
volume. It has three dimensions: length, width, and depth.
- It consists of: points (where the planes come together), lines or edges (where to
planes meet), planes or surfaces
- It can also be seen to be a portion of space contained and defined by walls,
ceilings, etc.
 Fig. B1 – 7.

2. COLOR
Color is used to distinguish elements from each other and attract attention that can
greatly enhance an element’s aesthetics.

Fig. B2 – 1.

a. The Color Spectrum

-The Color Spectrum is divided into primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.
- Primary colors – these colors are the very basis of every color where you can
combine them to create a new kind of color but can never be made from any
other colors. It consists of the colors: red, blue, and yellow.
- Secondary colors – it is made from the combination or two primary colors such
as violet (red and blue), orange (red and yellow), and green (yellow and blue).
- Tertiary colors – a combination of a primary and a neighbouring secondary
color. Examples are red-orange, blue-green, red-violet, etc. a visual
representation is shown of fig. B2 – 2.
- Neutral colors – shows no colors.
 Fig. B2 – 2.

b. Color Quality
-Created to distinguish/describe a color’s exact appearance. Distinguished in
three qualities: hue, value, and intensity.
- Hue – basic consistent identity. Even when a color is lighter or darker, the hue
remains the same.
- Value – lightness or darkness of a hue that creates an illusion of a room being
smaller/larger than it seems and sets different kinds of moods in a room (tint &
shade).
- Tone – is produced by adding gray or some value to the normal color.

Fig. B2 – 3.

c. Color Effects
-Color is used to change the apparent visual dimensions of a building.

3. LIGHT AND SHADOW

-Light reflects from the surface and shadows appear where light illuminates but is
blocked by a structure, this creates the illusion of a third dimension.
 Fig. B3 - 1.

4. SPACE
- The space surrounds the form and is contained within it. The idea and practice of
creating and constructing inhabited environments in space, in response to the
fundamental human need to explore and inhabit new settings.

Fig. B4 - 1.

5. MATERIALS
- The raw substances needed in order to complete the design.

C. THE DIFFERENT PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

The different principles of design serves as guidelines in using the elements used in the design
to create a functional and attractive design.

1. BALANCE
- Having a state of equilibrium of the visual forces in a composition. As mentioned in
the reference, drafting and design by Hepler, we have two kinds of design: Formal
and informal. Formally balanced are symmetrical in composition, while informally
balanced designs are a combination or distribution of space, form, line, color, and
shade with a sense of a harmonious relationship.
 Fig. C1 – 1&2.

2. RHYTHM
- A rhythm is achieved when lines, planes, and surface treatments form a pattern or
show a repetition of elements in a regular sequence. It is used to create an illusion
that a building is in motion that carries the viewer’s eyes to various parts of the
space.

Fig. C2 – 3&4.

3. EMPHASIS
- Emphasis is used to draw attention to a certain area or subject. It’s accomplished by
the arrangement of features, the use of contracting colors, line direction, etc.
- Subordination – when there is there will be some elements that will naturally become
lesser in emphasis or importance.

Fig. C3 – 5.
 4. PROPORTION & SYMMETRY
- An ordered set of mathematical relationships among the dimensions of a form or
space.
- Equivalent shapes and spaces are distributed and arranged in a balanced pattern
on opposing sides of a dividing line or plane, or around the center or axis.

Fig. C4 – 6&7.

5. UNITY & DATUM

- A line, plane, or volume that, by its continuity and regularity, serves to gather,
measure, and organize a pattern of forms and spaces. Creating a sense of
wholeness in the design.

Fig. C5 – 8&9.

6. VARIETY
- Is a combination, contrast, and other kinds of portrayal that can add some
charisma/interest to your design.

Fig. C6 – 10.
 7. REPETITION
- Vertical lines, spaces, and textures that are repeated to create aesthetic unity.

Fig. C7 – 11&12.

8. OPPOSITION
- Involves contrasting elements such as short and long, thick and thin, straight and
curved black and white. When used effectively, it can create a great design.

Fig. C9 – 13.

9. TRANSITION/TRANSFORMATION
- Having changed the composition/form of an element while maintaining the unity of
the design, is known as transition/transformation. In the process of designing an
architect analyse and synthesize, trial and error, many probabilities that can further
develop the design.
 Fig. C9 – 14.

D. CONCLUSION:

Points define lines, lines define planes, and planes define shape and space volumes. Beyond
their visual purposes, these elements transmit concepts of domain and location, entry and
course of movement, hierarchy, and order through their connections to one another and the
structure of their arrangement.

Going through the elements and principles of architectural design, it is important to

understand how each of them can be used or how it can be developed to leave an impact
on your work. But there’s no need to overthink it, you can still create a good design without a
thorough understanding of these elements and principles of design. Although, it’s going to
take a lot of trials and errors that’s why we have these elements and principles together with
their own manual on how can it be used in a design.