This document discusses the elements of architectural design, focusing on color, texture, space, and materials. It provides details on the characteristics, psychological aspects, and uses of color, including warm and cool colors. Texture is described as visual or tactile, with examples of smooth and rough textures. Architectural space is defined as positive or negative space. Finally, the document outlines the evolution of materials used in architecture from natural to modern synthetic materials.

1. Architecture & Town Planning
1
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST
Class# 7: Elements of Architectural Design

2. Isn’t This a Great Day to Study
Architecture & Town Planning???
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 2
Source: Sydney Opera House “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52fqFVuaBhE”

3. Today’s Agenda
• Architectural Design
• Elements of Architectural Design
o Color
o Texture
o Space
o Materials
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 3

4. Elements of Architectural Design
Elements of Architectural Design
• Design elements are those which can be defined as
specific "parts" of a design
• Architectural design elements include:
• Line • Shape
• Mass • Color
• Space • Texture
• Materials
Note:
Though these elements are reviewed independently, it should be
remembered that they are inherently linked, acting on and contributing to
each other's influence in the design solution.
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 4

5. Elements of Architectural Design
Color
• Color is an element of architectural design which provides
a wide array of potential affects
o Can be used to emphasize on any one component of a building
o It may be used to accentuate form and materials
o It may be used to separate and define distinct divisions of an
overall scheme
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 5
Source: towers hindu temples the window niche,“http://www.stockphotos.ro/towers-hindu-temples-window-niche-image56725646.html”

6. Elements of Architectural Design
Color
• Characteristics of Color
Color as an entity contains three characteristics;
1. Hue – relates to the pure state of color
• In simple words, “Real name of the color”
• They are of two types;
a) Primary Hues
• They could be mixed to make other colors but mixing others
can’t make them
• Red, blue and yellow
b) Secondary Hues
• Made by mixing equal quantity of primary
colors
• Orange, green and violet
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 6
Source: Notes on Color Mixing, “http://www.andrewnewland.com/homepage/teaching/techniques/painting/colourmix/colourmix.html”

7. Elements of Architectural Design
Color
• Characteristics of Color
2. Value – relates to the lightness or darkness of the hue
• A color may be lightened or darkened, but hue will remain the
same
• Two aspects of value of a hue
a) Tint: Degree of lightness of the hue
• Value of a hue can be made lighter by adding white
• Pink is a tint of red
b) Shade: Degree of darkness of the hue
• Value of a hue can be made darker by adding black
• Maroon is a shade of red
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 7
Source: Design with EMELINE; “https://designwithemeline.wordpress.com/tag/color-wheel/”

8. Elements of Architectural Design
Color
• Characteristics of Color
3. Intensity – relates to the brightness and dullness of a hue
• Expresses the purity of color
• Colors come in different shades
o When the hue is strong and bright, it is said to be high in
intensity
o Whereas, when the hue is faint, dull and gray, it is said to be
low in intensity
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 8
Source: Color; “http://home.ipoline.com/~legends/Insatiable/artbasics/html/color.html”

9. Elements of Architectural Design
Color
• Psychological aspects of Color
o Color bears specific psychological aspects to a design
o The definitive effects have been and continue to be studied
relative to human response (majority overview)
o A summary of the color definition w.r.t. psychological aspects
divides colors into two categories
a) Warm Colors
b) Cool Colors
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 9
Source: Notes on Color Mixing, “http://www.andrewnewland.com/homepage/teaching/techniques/painting/colourmix/colourmix.html”

10. Elements of Architectural Design
Color
• Psychological aspects of Color
a) Warm Colors
• Made up of the range of red to yellow colors
• This color range is also regarded as the "advancing" series
• They are referred as warm colors because they are usually
found in things such as fire and sun which gives heat and
make people feel warm
• They tend to stimulate and uplift the senses
• Appear more dominant than cool colors
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 10
Source: Color; “http://home.ipoline.com/~legends/Insatiable/artbasics/html/color.html”

11. Elements of Architectural Design
Color
• Psychological aspects of Color
b) Cool Colors
• Made up of the range of green to violet colors
• This color range is also regarded as the "recessive" series
• These colors relate our senses to the natural environment i.e.
forests, green spaces, sky etc.
• They tend to sooth and calm the senses
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 11
Source: Color; “http://home.ipoline.com/~legends/Insatiable/artbasics/html/color.html”

12. Elements of Architectural Design
Color
• Combination of color and light
o Lighting is an important consideration when the use of color is
considered
o The influence of daylight or artificial lighting can alter the effect
of color
o Lighting can be focused to create an effect relative to the color;
e.g. softer warm hued lighting cast more of a glow which will
provide a calming affect
12
Source: “http://miriadna.com/preview/tallship-at-the-evening”

13. Elements of Architectural Design
Color
• Use of color must be appropriate to the intended function
and aesthetics of the design
• Color must be used in a specific balance unless deviation
from a balance is desired
• Color schemes look best when one color dominates
o Dominating color should cover about two-thirds of the room
area
o An equal split between areas of dominating and subordinate
color is far less pleasing
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 13

14. Elements of Architectural Design
Color
• Some general recommendations
o 􏰀Use of “reflective” colors (white in different intensities) which do
not absorb the sun rays, at facades strongly receiving
sunlight
o Use of light warm colors at the inside of rooms poorly lit,
and of dark cold colors in rooms with strong lighting
o Use of light colors in rooms with small spaces, and darker
colors in big spaces
o Use of light cold colors in kitchens
o Use of light, pastel (soft) and soothing colors in dining and
living rooms
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 14

15. Elements of Architectural Design
Color
• With all the great influences of color on architecture, it
needs to be understood that color is not the solution to
a bad design
• A paint job is merely the application of a product, not a
remedy to an aesthetic failure
• The use of color is one of the most appealing design
elements, to enhance the product, not to resolve it
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 15

16. Elements of Architectural Design
Texture
• Texture is a design element that relates to the surface
appearance of an item
• Texture is perceived architecturally in two ways:
a) Visual (by the sense of sight)
• Often patterns or colors are used to create illusion of texture
b) Tactile (by the sense of touch)
• True texture (no illusion)
• Texture of various materials relates to the manner by
which we perceive the feeling of an item’s surface;
smooth or rough
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 16

17. Elements of Architectural Design
Texture
• Smooth texture
o Creates a cool, clean pristine appearance
o They tend to reflect more light and look lighter and brighter
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 17
Glass façade of a high rise office building
Exterior metal façade of Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles

18. Elements of Architectural Design
Texture
• Rough textures
o Create a warm natural appearance
o They tend to absorb more light and look darker and less
intense
o By catching light to greater depth they present an increased
visual weight than smooth textures
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 18Park Guell – Barcelona, Spain

19. Elements of Architectural Design
Texture
• Some general recommendations
o Use of texture in design must be carefully considered in
combination with the use of color
o Excessive use of a certain type of texture;
• Excessively rough textures may provide a crude, unfinished
appearance
• Excessively smooth textures may appear to be overly finished and
present a "cold" appearance
o A room with the same texture throughout is monotonous,
but too many different textures can appear disjointed and
distracting
o Most well-designed rooms have a dominate texture with
some distinctive contrasting textures
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 19

20. Elements of Architectural Design
Space
• Space is an immaterial element that can only be
highlighted by bordering or closing in between material
elements
• Any space, no matter what size can be divided into
distinct parts and shapes
• Architectural design involves the practice of enclosing
undefined space to serve a defined use or need
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 20

21. Elements of Architectural Design
Space
• Architectural space can be expressed as;
a) Positive Space
• Represents the actual form of the enclosure
• It contains a measure volume of enclosure that is visible and
tangible
• Deliberatively designed under a preconceived plan
• E.g. Staircase in a room space
b) Negative Space
• It is created by hollowing out a solid that already
exists
• The open space left after construction
• E.g. Space left below stairs
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 21
Source: ARCHITEXT; “http://djcoregon.com/news/2000/12/04/architext-positive-versus-negative-space-as-architectural-concept/”

22. Elements of Architectural Design
Space
• Space as a Psychological Concept
o Space as a psychological concept may be understood, though
its influence on the mind can render lives unbearable
o Two extremes;
i. Claustrophobia
o A psychological condition brought on by the fear of
enclosure
o Relates to the absence of space
ii. Agoraphobia
o A psychological condition brought on by the lack of
enclosure
o Relates to the fear of exposure in open spaces
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 22

23. Elements of Architectural Design
Materials
• The use of materials in architectural design has evolved
along with the technology used to produce them
• Architectural forms have evolved making use of most new
materials
• Early materials consisted of available rock, mud and
minor wood elements
• Civilizations evolved, allowing for the increased mining of
stone, production of brick and the use of cement paste
and plaster
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 23

24. Elements of Architectural Design
Materials
• Architectural design evolved to make the best use of
these available materials, creating new structures (arches
and vaults) through which to expand the design
opportunities
• Glass, steel and concrete were developed and with them
a new aesthetic of buildings
o The modern building was envisioned with a new paradigm for
the lifestyles of mankind (feature of flexibility and strength)
• The latest developments include metal production and the
use of plastics in the materials sectors
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 24

25. Elements of Architectural Design
Materials
• In broad sense, materials can be categorized as;
o Natural materials
• Materials like wood and stone etc.
• These materials are those that provide a sense of
connection with our environment
o Synthetic materials
• Materials like Glass, steel, metals, etc.
• These materials provide a smooth polished look that is in
contrast with our raw natural environment
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 25

26. Questions ???
Department of Civil Engineering, MUST 26