This document outlines basic and advanced concepts for architectural design. It begins by defining what a concept is, noting that it provides both exterior expression and interior experience. It then discusses various dimensions of concepts including form and space, context, need, and concept solutions. The document proceeds to discuss physical concepts, cultural factors, spatial relations, qualities of space, visual design factors, visual organization, shapes and patterns, size, color, age, construction methods, structural systems, Arabic/Islamic design ideas, and the use of analogy and metaphor in architectural concepts.

1. ASU – Ain Shams University
Faculty of Engineering
Department of Architectural Engineering
ARC 122: History & Theory of Architecture
Fall 2017
Instructor: Dr. Yasser Mahgoub
Lecture 6 - Basic and Advanced Concepts

3. Content
• Basic concepts and fundamental
considerations
• Ideas and design
• Concepts for some types of buildings
• Advanced concepts

4. What is a concept?
Why is it important to have a
concept in your design?
How to communicate your
concept?

5. Definitions of Concept
• Idea
• Theory
• Notion
• Parti (French)
• Conception
• Opinion
• Abstraction
• Philosophy
• Belief
• Inspiration
• Image
• View
• Intention
• Plan
• Fancy
• Thought
• Impression
• Hypothesis
• Supposition
• … DESIGN

6. Dimensions of Concepts
Any building concept should provide:
• Exterior Expression
• Interior Experience
Exterior Expression Interior Experience

9. FORM &
SPACE
Exterior Form
&
Interior Space
CONTEXT
Site
NEED
Program
ConceptSolution
Site
Climate
Building
Sun
Wind
Topography & Soil
Shape & Dimensions
Surroundings & View
Sand
Forms
Colors
Height
Functions
User
Client
Areas
Relationships
Spaces
Number
Socio-Cultural
Vision
ProportionSize
Scale
Rhythm
Idea
Metaphor
Analogy
Elements Principles
Volumes
Symmetry
Sketches
Drawings
Details
Asymmetry
BalanceTexture
Color
Humidity
Gender
Budget
Schedule
Shapes
Unity
The Concept
Variety
Organization
Material
Models
Renderings
Animations
Structure
Technical
Roads & Access
Temperature
Symbolism
Activities
Equipment

11. Elements of Concept Generation and Expression
Function
Form
Materials
Structure
Lighting
Ventilation
Socio-Cultural
Experiential
Meaning
Philosophy

12. Concepts Translations – Visual and Verbal

18. Concept Generators

20. Site Determinants
• Topography
• Climate
• Geography
• Demographic
• Geology
• History
• Social characteristics and conditions
• Economic conditions
• Legal, legislative and administrative conditions
• Location and visual aspects
• Land use
• Characteristics of man-made environment
• Circulation
• Technology
• Others

21. Physical Concepts
• Location
 View
 Harmony with nature
 Underground architecture

22. Cultural Factors
• Historical factors
• Religious factors
• Social factors
• Economic factors
• Political factors
• Functional factors

23. Spatial Relations
 The pragmatic space
 The perceptual space
 The existential space
 The cognitive space
 The abstract space

24. Qualities of Space
 Proportion
 Scale
 Form
 Definition
 Color
 Texture
 Pattern
 Enclosure
 Light
 View

25. Visual Design Factors: Form Characteristics
• Continuity
 Sequence
 Repetition and Rhythm
 Balance: Symmetrical & Asymmetrical
 Proportion
 Pattern, texture and color
 Hierarchy
 Transparency
 Direction
 Motion
 Time
 Sensory Qualities

26. Visual Design Factors: Visual factors
• Visual perception:
– Structural approach
– Evaluative approach
– Orientation
– Spacescape
 Lynch 1 (Image of the City):
path, node, edge, district, and
landmarks
 Lynch 2 (Theory of Place):
Legibility, Structure and
Identity, Imageability and
Sequentiality

27. Visual Design Factors: Visual Organization
Gestalt Theory (Proximity, similarity,
continuity, closure)
 Law of Proximity
 Law of Similarity
 Law of Continuity: good
continuance
 Law of Closure: forces of
organization
 Symmetry, Inclusiveness, Unity,
Harmony, Regularity, Conciseness,
Maximal Simplicity

28. Visual Organization
• Figure/Ground
 Surface/Edge
 Outline/Object
 Autonomous figures

29. Architectural Compositions
• Unity
• Coherence
• Incoherence

30. Visual fields
 Minimal heterogeneity
 Proximity
 Resemblance
 Enclosure
 Common orientation
 Symmetry
 Repetition

31. Shape, Pattern, and Form
• Linear shape
 The circle
 The ring
 The organic shape
 The square
 The ellipse
 Star shape
 Hexagonal shape
 Rectilinear shape
 The grid
 Radiocentric shape
 Branch shape
 The organic pattern

32. Size (Scale)
• Monumental
• Bulky
• Minimal
• Human
• Vehicular

33. Color
• Theory of colors
• Formal organization
• Properties
• Perception

34. Age: The traditional and the modern
 ignore
 respect
 imitate
 copy
 contrast
 hide away
 integrate

35. Construction
• Materials
 Methods
 Systems
 Cast-in-situ
 Pre-cast
 Lift-slab
 Tunnel form
 Flying shutters
 Pre-stressed

36. Structure System
• Bearing walls
 Skeleton
 Shell and Vault
 Space truss
 Space frame
 Geodesic dome
 Tent Structure
 Folded plates
 Verandel Girders
 Verndeal Floors
 Tensile Structures
 ...

37. Arabic/Islamic Design Ideas
• The Courtyard
• The alleyway and the courtyard
• Al Saha
• Al Qasabah
• Al Mafrouka
• The Islamic Star

38. Other Ideas
• Using the hard line
 Using straight and hard lines
 Using straight and curved lines
 The curved paths
 The axis and the courtyard
 The organic pattern
 The cal-de-sac
 The spine
 The inclined axis
 The irregular axis
 Direction
 Tilting the mass

39. Other Ideas
• Shifting the center of the shape
 The arcade
 The crack
 The podium
 The layers
 The cluster
 The organic disorganic contrast
 Contrast between the solid mass and the fragmented
masses
 Contrast between the curved solid mass and the fragmented
masses
 Transition in space: open, semi-open, closed
 Sequence of space
 Satellite

40. Other Ideas
• The frame
 The rounded corners
 The muqarnass
 The triangle
 Parts of the octagon
 Square with a circle
 Part of a curve
 Shapes at random
 THE SQUARE
 Circles
 Tilted square
 The octagon
 Straight line with free line

42. Analogy and Metaphor

43. Analogy and Metaphor

46. END