In the context of Architecture, DESIGN means the activity of generating proposals that

change something that already exists into something that is better.

Initial State > Transformation > Future State

DESIGN PROCESS:
- Design Stages

- Programming
- Program Document
- Issue-based Program
- Checklist of Issues
- Mission and Goals
- Performance Requirement
- Required State Program

- Design Philosophy
- Design Concept
- Design Breakdown
- Translation Guidelines

DESIGN PROCESS (ARCHITECTURAL PROGRAMMING):

1. INITIATION - problem seeking and identification
2. PREPARATION - collection or analysis of data
3. PROPOSAL MAKING - synthesis or bringing together the variety of considerations
4. EVALUATION - based on goals
5. ITERATION - cycles and feedback phase

DESIGN PROCESS
- the process of managing information
- Process that creates the structure for fulfilling the dreams, hopes, wishes, and
desires of the building’s future inhabitants
- PROBLEM-SEEKING phase of the design process
- Gathering, organizing, analyzing, interpreting and presenting of the information
relevant to a design project

PROGRAM DOCUMENT “ISSUES”

● The current or the existing situations (something that you want to change) -
“ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTING STATE/CONDITION
● The change that the designer wants to happen (something that you want to happen) -
“PROJECTION OF WHAT THE FUTURE STATE SHOULD BE”
EXISTING STATE
The setting: Cultural, Social, Political, Historical, Economic, Physical Conditions, Site
Data, Geography, climate, Archaeology, Geology, Client/User Profile-Demography
Organization, needs, Behavior, Constraints Legal, Financial, Technical, Market

FUTURE STATE
- Mission
- Goals
- Performance requirements
- Concept

PARTS OF ISSUE-BASED PROGRAM

- Issue - any matter, concern, question, topic, proportion or situation that demands
a design
- Fact - objective, specific, and verifiable by some measurement or observation;
existence is not subject to judgment but their use and interpretation is based on
values
- Values - different building types require different design responses
- Goals - statement of intention; strives to attain or that toward which effort or plat is
directed; an action statement; PROJECT GOAL // MISSION STATEMENTS
- PROJECT GOAL - goals that relate only to the outcome of the project
- MISSION STATEMENTS - the overall purpose; a statement that concisely explains
the need to undertake a project in the first place
- Performance Requirements - measurable level of function that a designed object,
building or place must provide for a good to be met; performance specification
standard or criterion
- Concept - statement of an ideal set of relationships among several of the elements;
concept statement is made up of a single diagram and a few words

CHECKLIST OF ISSUES:
A. AUDIBILITY - ability to hear what needs to be heard and to mask unwanted sounds
BS. BEHAVIORAL SETTING - interdependencies of activity and physical settings
C. CIRCULATION - movement of people, information, or substances
C. COMFORT - providing ease and enjoyment
C. CONVENIENCE - ease of access to places, materials, and information
D. DURABILITY - ability to endure the designed use over time

REQUIRED STATE PROGRAM:

1. DESIGN PHILOSOPHY AND OVERALL CONCEPTS - statement of beliefs, values,
or viewpoints from which the development of the design solutions take off; CONCEPT -
initial generalized idea, perception about form or relationships among variables
2. CONCEPT BREAKDOWN - consists of sub-concepts that corresponds to particular
areas of archi’l concerns
 3. TRANSLATION GUIDELINES - specific design guidelines formulated out of the
sub-concepts; guidelines prescribe performance and quality standards that are
based on the design parameters
4. THE SYNTHESIS

What do we basically answer when we are doing the architectural concept?

- CONTEXT: site, climate, building
- NEED: program, functions, user, clients
- FORM: exterior-interior, principles, elements

CONCEPT
- CONCEPT simply define as an abstract idea or a general notion
- “Architecturally speaking”, this means the backbone and foundation of a design project
- One that drives it forward then it becomes the identity behind a project’s progress
- Ideal set of relationships among several of the elements
- Can be represented by a diagram and should have a brief caption that is a whole idea

“Diagram or graphical translation shows the process of transforming one basic form (raw
form) into the architect’s desired final form.”

5 TYPES OF ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPTS

1. ANALOGIES - “looking at other things”
- used to identify possible and literal relationships between things and the most
frequently used
- “WHAT YOU SEE IS LITERALLY WHAT YOU GET”
- Examples: Kansas City Library,

ANALOGIES can be broken down into:

- Superficial Analogy - to take the same shape of something without any
change
- Structural Analogy - to make a structure of building from a shape or
something
- Holistic Analogy - combination of both

2. METAPHORS - “looking at abstractions”

- Used to identify abstract relationships or patterns of possible relationships
- “Allegory”
- “YOU NEED MORE IMAGINATION TO INTERPRET”
- Examples: Milwaukee Art Museum (Santiago Calatrava), Guggenheim Museum (Frank
Gehry), Lotus Temples (China)
 3. ESSENCES - “looking beyond the programmatic needs”
- distill and concentrate aspects of more complex issues into terse, explicit statements
- connotes insights into the most critical and intrinsic aspects of the thing being analyzed
- identifying the roots of an issue
- “When the basic requirements are met, this also helps the architect to visualize
deeper and bigger”
- Examples: TWA Airport (Eero Saarinen)

4. DIRECT RESPONSE & PROBLEM SOLVING - “looking at the stated requirements”

- aka “programmatic concept” which refers to abstract ideas intended mainly as
functional solutions
- using pragmatic issues to identify building program
- a performance requirement related to methods of solving a problem or satisfying a
need
- “STRAIGHTFORWARD: you give exactly what is being asked based on the
requirements and considerations available”

4 MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS OF PROGRAMMATIC CONCEPT;

“ function, economy, time, form “ - these considerations typically cover the functional
program, the site, the budget and the implications of time; useful in large projects; identify what
problems need to be solved

5. IDEALS / IDEAS - “looking at universal values”

- applying the right concept to certain design problem
- (Frei Otto) - taking inspiration from nature and developed a method
- Examples: Waves and Dynamic, Honeycomb, Biomimicry/Organic, Intelligent Building

CATEGORIES OF ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPTS

1. Thematic
2. Functional
3. Structural
4. Environmental
5. Technological

1. THEMATIC OR SYMBOLIC
- literally means relating architectural forms with other object or processes
- can be broken down into 4 ANALOGIES: Biological, Mechanical, Gastronomic,
Linguistic
- other Thematic Concept: Modernism / Expressionism, Classical / International Style,
Brutalist
Biological Analogy - based on anatomy, organic arch, form, influence of environment

Mechanical Analogy - based on scientific and artistic evolution that follows the same
principles, movement, and function

Gastronomic Analogy - combination of material strength, beyond scientific analysis,

requires intuition, imagination, and organizational skills

Linguistic Analogy - based on eloquence and expression, emotion, vocabulary and

composition

2. FUNCTIONAL CONCEPT
- Traditional definition of good architecture based from Marcus Vitruvius Pollo’s “Utility,
Strength, and Beauty”
- based on the architectural programming and optimization / satisfaction of needs
- Form follows function

3. STRUCTURAL CONCEPT
- Based on gravity, post and lintel, domes, arch and vault, buttresses, fabric tensile
and space frames
- “STRENGTH AND AESTHETIC COMBINED and not overshadowing each other”
- Examples: Shell Structure // Fabric Membrane // Tensile // Space Frames // Steel and
Metal

4. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCEPT
- Building can be seen as living organism with functional processes
- Using what is there, design takes off from the natural features of the site. Concept is
based on the available resources
- Light and color as a modifying element of space
- Examples: Louvre Abu Dhabi (ENVIRONMENTAL THEORY OF PERCEPTION),
Supertree Grove Singapore (EVOLUTIONARY ARCHITECTURE), Biotecture
(ORGANIC ARCHITECTURE)

5. TECHNOLOGICAL CONCEPT
- Deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life,
society, and environment
- TECTONICS - arts and science of shaping, ornamenting, or assembling materials
- BAUHAUS - means to unite art and technology under a purified aesthetic
- Examples: Al Bahar Tower Abu Dhabi (Kinetic Architecture),
CONCEPTS

Combined creative and logical thinking = EFFECTIVE SOLUTION (the project/building)

Building (house) design includes understanding of;

- Size of the building
- Location of the building
- Users / occupants
- Regulations / codes
- Spaces / requirements
- Costs / materials
- Utilities / mobility
- Aesthetic / form / appearance

Design Conceptualization Process; concept means general idea and design

conceptualization process is divided into 3 steps;

1. IDEATION - coming up with ideas. Best ideas are always those that are related to the
project

2. EVOLUTION - process of undergoing change. This is the series of changes that the
idea has to undergo before it achieves the desired architectural form

3. APPLICATION - integration of ideas.

Some concept ideas according to Type:

THEMATIC OR SYMBOLIC CONCEPT

- according to a specific or particular theme
- Examples: Organic Architecture, Classical Architecture, Tropical Architecture

FUNCTIONAL CONCEPT
- According to a specific usage and function of the building
- Examples: Hospital and Healing, Learning/Education

STRUCTURAL CONCEPT
- According to structural integrity and durability
- Examples; Post and Lintel, Fabric Membrane, Domical

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCEPT
- According to its immediate environment, sustainable
- Examples: Green Architecture
Historical landmarks like the Parthenon, Pantheon are examples of classical architectural
style under what category of concept?
- THEMATIC OR SYMBOLIC

Who is the architect of Villa Savoye?

- LE CORBUSIER

One of the best and classical examples of building in which the 5 POINTS of good
architecture were highlighted as clear evidence of functionality, efficiency, and intelligent
planning.
- VILLA SAVOYE