Architectural Words and Definitions

Copyright © Wondershare Software
Architectural Words And Definitions
The University Of Jordan
Prepared by : Khaled Almusa

Architectural Words And Definitions
• Proportion
• Progression
• Rhythm
• Contrast
• Geometry
• Focal Point
• Dominance
• Continuity
• Consistency

Proportion
Proportion : A correspondence among the measures of the members of
an entire work, and of the whole to a certain part selected as standard.
Proportion refers to the proper or
harmonious relation of one part to
another or to the whole.
While the designer usually has a range
of choices when determining the
proportions of things, some are given
to us by the nature of materials, by
how building elements respond to
forces, and by how things are made.

Here is an example about how we use Proportion in buildings interfaces :

Copyright © Wondershare SoftwareThe University Of Jordan
Taj Mahal - IndiaExample :

Example From Jordan-Amman
Shmaisani

Rhythm
Rhythm : Movement characterized by a patterned repetition or
alternation of formal elements or motifs in the same or a modified
form.
Rhythm refers to any movement
characterized by a patterned
recurrence of elements or motifs
at regular or irregular intervals.
The movement may be of our
eyes as we follow recurring
elements in a composition, or of
our bodies as we advance
through a sequence of spaces. In
either case, rhythm incorporates
the fundamental notion of
repetition as a device to organize
forms and spaces in architecture.

Some examples about the Rhythm from Ching’s Book :
Rhythm created by connecting
points in space Contrasting rhythms
Horizontal and vertical
rhythms

Here is an example :
Stone towers by Architect Zaha
Hadid in Cairo-Egypt

Alshmaisani

Geometry
Geometry : an area of research which combines applied geometry and
architecture, which looks at the design, analysis and manufacture processes.
Geometry is all about shapes and their properties.
From geometry we know the
regular shapes to be the circle,
and the infinite series of regular
polygons
that can be inscribed within it.
Of these, the most significant
are the primary shapes: the
circle, the
triangle, and the square.

Geometry is based on the primary shapes
Primary
shapes
Circle Triangle Square

Library and Learning Centre -ViennaExample :

Habiba – Almadina
Almonawara Street

Progression
Progression: Steady improvement, as of a society or civilization. To work
on the new building progressed at a rapid rate and to advance toward a higher
or better stage.(it is the steps that a building goes through to become what
you see in the final construction)
Progressive, reverberating
patterns of forms and spaces can
be organized in the
following ways:
• in a radial or concentric
manner about a point
• sequentially according to size in
a linear fashion
• randomly but related by
proximity as well as similarity of
form

Three ways to organize reverberating
patterns of forms and spaces
In a radial or
concentric manner
about a point
Sequentially
according to size in a
linear fashion
randomly but related
by proximity as well
as similarity of form

Burj KhalifaExample :

Example From Jordan-Amman Jordan Bank

Contrast
Contrast:A principle of art. When defining it, art experts refer to the
arrangement of opposite elements (light vs. dark colors, rough vs. smooth
textures, large vs. small shapes, etc.) in a piece so as to create visual interest,
excitement and drama.
Contrast: Opposition or
juxtaposition of dissimilar
elements in a work of art to
intensify each element’s
properties and produce a more
dynamic expressiveness.

The colors white and black provide
the greatest degree of contrast.
Complementary colors also highly
contrast with one another.
An artist can employ contrast as a
tool, to direct the viewer's
attention to a particular point of
interest within the piece.

Example : Los Angeles

Fitness First
Makka street
Gardens Street

Continuity
Continuity: An uninterrupted succession or flow; a coherent
whole. Some of its synonyms logical sequence, cohesion, or
connection.
searched for continuity in the forms
we see within our field of vision. If
any of the primary solids is partially
hidden from our view we tend to
complete its form and visualize it as if
it were whole because the mind fills
in what the eyes don’t see. In a
similar manner, when regular forms
have fragments from their volumes,
they retain their formal identities if
we perceive them as incomplete
wholes. We refer to these mutilated
forms as subtractive forms.

Continuity reduces the separateness of the parts.
Continuity concentrates on smooth transitions.
Continuity reduces the independence of the
elements and focuses on the largest element of the
whole, while reducing focus on the other
independent elements.

LEVI - FINLANDExample :
Notes :
1) No closed shapes.
2) It looks like the infinity

Focal point
Focal point :element which first catches the attention of
the viewer , ( visual starting point which will begin the
journey of recognizing the whole architecture work ).
Focal point is an important principle of design that relates
to the vertical weight of an architectural composition.

We can notice that most of the Masjeds and Churches
have a Focal Point !
For Example :

Another Example : Blossoming - Dubai

Example From Jordan-Amman Makka Street

Dominance
Dominance: An important principle of design that relates to
the visual weight of an architectural composition.
A form or space may dominate an
architectural composition by being
significantly different in size from all
the other elements in the
composition.
Normally, this dominance is made
visible by the sheer size of an
element. In some cases, an element
can dominate by being significantly
smaller than the
other elements in the organization,
but placed in a well-defined setting.

Blue Mosque - IstanbulExample :

Fitness First
Makka street

Consistency
: the stability in structure. An architectural
structure depends on consistency in which
it has to be stable with a specific repetition.
We usually sense consistency when we
look at a specific structure and we feel
density with in the structure itself.
Architects use this principle to help them
construct the front interfaces of buildings
and houses.
Consistency: the stability in structure. An architectural
structure depends on consistency in which it has to be
stable with a specific repetition. We usually sense
consistency when we look at a specific structure and we
feel density with in the structure itself. Architects use
this principle to help them construct the front interfaces
of buildings and houses.
.

Example : Dubai

Example From Jordan-Amman Alshmaisani

Thank You!

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