2 nd year architectural design

1. LECTURE 3 - PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
Prep. by. Eden Dires
Nov. 2024

2. Design
principles

3.  Composition
• Arrangement of design elements to express something
 Elements of Design
• Building blocks of compositions
 Principles of Design
• ways of arranging or organizing design elements to
express something.
Design principles

4.  The principles of design are the rules a designer
must follow to create an effective and attractive
composition.
Design principles

5. • Seven principles encompass an interesting design.
1. Balance and Axis
2. Rhythm and repetition
3. Emphasis and Hierarchy
4. Scale and proportion
5. Datum
6. Harmony and Unity
7. Contrast and Variety
8. Movement
Design principles

6. balAnce

7. • Parts of the design are equally distributed to create
a sense of Stability.
• Both physical and visual balance exist.
• Types
 Symmetrical or formal balance
 Asymmetrical or informal balance
 Radial balance
 Vertical balance
 Horizontal balance
 Diagonal balance
Balance

8. • The elements within the design
are identical in relation to a
centerline or axis.
Symmetrical or Formal Balance
Balance
Center line

9. Axis
• The axis is a line established by two points in space, about which
forms and spaces can be arranged in a regular or irregular
manner.
Balance

10. Axis
Balance

11. Axis & Symmetry

12. Symmetrical or Formal Balance
•The downside of symmetrical balance is that :it’s static and
sometimes regarded as boring. Because half of the composition
mirrors the other half, at least half of the composition will be
rather predictable. But sometimes its necessary for monumentality
Balance

13. Asymmetrical or Informal Balance
•Parts of the design are not identical but
are equal in visual weight.
•Asymmetrical balance is more dynamic
and interesting. It evokes feelings of
modernism, movement, energy and vitality.
Asymmetrical balance offers more visual
variety, although it can be more difficult to
achieve because the relationships between
elements are more complex.
Balance

14. Asymmetrical or Informal Balance
Balance

15. Radial Balance
•Design elements radiate outward from the
center.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Milan, Italy Frauenkirche Deresden, Germay
Balance

16. Radial Balance

17. Radial Balance

18. Because everything radiates from a common center,
everything also leads to that center, making it a strong point
of attraction.
Radial Balance

19. Vertical Balance
•Design elements above & below are symmetrical
Balance

20. Balance
• The parts on the left and right sides are
symmetrical.
Chi Lin Buddhist Temple and Nunnery
Kowloon City, Hong Kong Building façade Limberg, Germany
Horizontal Balance

21. Balance
Diagonal Balance
• Design elements above & below diagonal line are symmetrical

22. Visual balance

23. Which one of the following is visually balanced in a
better way?
A
B

24. Which one of the following is visually balanced in a
better way?
A
B

25. What kinds of Balance do you observe?

26. What kind of Balance do you observe?

27. What kinds of Balance do you observe?

28. • Write-down the different types of balance, that you
can see on the picture in the next page and illustrate
your answers with sketches and descriptions.
Exercise
Balance

30.  Create a model showing the application of all the different types
of balance by using elements of design you have learned so far.
• A4 base, Max 5-10 cm ht.
• Material: The sky is the limit
• Out put: Creativity & Concept
• Submission Date: Friday/ Nov. 22, 2024
Assignment 1

31. Rhythm

32. • Any unifying movement
characterized by motifs at
regular or irregular intervals.
• The movement may be of our
eyes as we follow recurring
elements in composition.
• These elements provide
continuity and lead us to
anticipate what comes next.
Rhythm

33. Rhythm
• Types
 Regular rhythm
 Gradated rhythm
 Random rhythm
 Progressive rhythm

34. Regular Rhythm
•An element is repeated at the same repetition/interval each time.
Repeating shape, color, pattern, line, surface
Cube house design
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Rhythm

35. Regular Rhythm

36. Random Rhythm
•The beats of the element are random or are at irregular
intervals.
Rhythm

37. Random Rhythm

38. Gradated Rhythm
•Rhythm created by gradual change in size or color.
Rhythm

39. Gradated Rhythm
•The repeated element is identical with the exception of one
detail increasing or decreasing gradually with each repetition.
Left: Stack of rocks used as
focal point in landscaping
Right: The Chinese Tower
English Gardens, Munich,
Germany
Rhythm

40. Gradated Rhythm

41. • A progressive rhythm shows a sequence of forms
through a progression of steps.
Progressive Rhythm
Rhythm

42. Progressive Rhythm

43. Rhythm in architecture

44.  Create a model showing the application of the different
types of Rhythm by using the elements and principles of
design.
• A4 base, Max 5-10 cm ht.
• Material: The sky is the limit
• Out put: Creativity & Concept
• Submission Date: Friday/ Nov. 22 2021
Assignment 2

45. em
p
hasis

46. • Reflecting the degree of
importance.
• The star of the show.
Emphasis

47. • The visual emphasis can be achieved endowing a form or shape
with:
1. Exceptional size
2. Exceptional color
3. A unique shape
4. A strategic location
Emphasis

48. • The feature in a design that attracts one’s eye – the focal point.
• Emphasis can be achieved through size, placement, shape, color,
and/or use of lines.
Emphasis

49. Emphasis in architecture

50.  Create a model showing all the different methods of making
Emphasis by using the elements and principles of design.
• A4 base for each, Max 5 cm ht.
• Material: The sky is the limit
• Out put: Creativity & Concept
• Submission Date: Friday/ Nov 22, 2021
Assignment 3

51. hierarchy

52. • Way of establishing order from most
dominant to least dominant element.
• It establishes primary and secondary
elements that have a dependent
relationship.
• Achieved by changing size, shape or
location relative to the other forms.
Hierarchy

53. • Hierarchy by size
• Hierarchy by shape/orientation
• Hierarchy by placement
Hierarchy

54. Hierarchy in architecture

55. Hierarchy in architecture
•Hierarchy is created by sequential
arrangement of shape, color, pattern
and position of the central atrium.

56.  Create a model showing all the different methods of
making Hierarchy by using the elements and principles of
design.
• A4 base for each, Max 5-10 cm ht.
• Material: The sky is the limit
• Out put: Creativity & Concept
• Submission Date: Friday/ Nov. 22, 2021
Assignment 4

57. scale

58. • Comparative
relationships between
elements in a design
with respect to size.
Scale

59. How big is this bad guy?

60. How big is it now?

61. And here…?

63. • Scale in architecture is the proportional representation of a real-
world object in a drawing or model. It's expressed as a ratio, like
1:100, which shows how much smaller the object is. For example,
in a 1:100 scale drawing, 1 mm on the drawing represents 100
mm in real life.
Scale

64. proportion

65. • The relationship in size of one component (part) of a work of
art to another.
Proportion

66. The size of their head relative to their body

67. • the relationship between the different parts of a building,
and how those parts relate to the whole building. It's a key
aspect of architectural design that affects the building's
aesthetics, functionality, and how it impacts its surroundings.
Proportion

68. Proportion
•Golden mean- The natural and god's
proportioning method.

69. Proportion

70.  Read about the different types of proportioning systems in
architecture.
Reading assignment

71. Da um

72. • A reference to which other elements in a composition can relate.
• It organizes random pattern of elements through its regularity,
continuity, and constant presence.
Datum

73. • The introduction of one dominant element is needed otherwise
disordered composition will be produced.
• As an effective ordering device, a linear datum must have
sufficient visual continuity to cut through or bypass all of the
elements being organized.
Datum

74. • A datum, however, need not be a straight line. It can also be
planar or volumetric in form.
• A linear datum must have sufficient visual continuity to cut
through or bypass all of the elements being organized.
• If planar or volumetric in form, a datum must have sufficient
size, closure, and regularity to be seen as a figure.
Datum

75. • Line
• Plane
• Volume
Datum

76. Datum in architecture

77. harmony

78. • Pulling different pieces to have a visual togetherness.
Harmony

79.  Create a model showing datum and harmony as a
principle of design by using different contrasting elements
and principles of design.
• A4 base for each, Max 5-10 cm ht.
• Material: The sky is the limit
• Out put: Creativity & Concept
• Submission Date: Friday/ Nov. 22, 2021
Assignment 5

80. cont rast

81. • Noticeably different
• Can be created with
• Color
• Proportion and scale
• Shape
• Texture
• Etc.
Contrast

82. Contrast in architecture

83. • The visual quality of wholeness or oneness that is achieved
through the consistent use of lines, color, material, and/or texture
within a design.
Unity

84. Variety

85. Then variety might be
something like this.
• Variety consists of the
differences in objects that
add interest to a visual
image.
If this is harmony
Variety

86. • Variety can be achieved through differentiating the objects by
their line type, shape, color, texture, space, etc.
Variety

87. movement

88. Movement

89. 1. What elements of design serve as datum in the following
photo and describe how.
Exercise

90. 2. What elements of design create harmony in this photo
and describe how.
Exercise

91. 3. What elements of design shows unity in the following photo
and describe how.
Exercise

92. 4. What elements of design are contrasted in the following
photo and describe how.
Exercise

93. 5. What elements of design bring variety in this photo and
describe how.
Exercise