This document provides an overview of a lecture on architectural programming. It discusses programming as the first step of the project lifecycle where the goals and requirements are defined through research. This establishes the criteria to guide the design solution. The lecture notes then outline the programming framework, including preparing for programming through analyzing and synthesizing information at different scales. It also discusses common characteristics of programming formats such as defining goals and gathering/analyzing data. The goals of programming are to separate the definition of criteria from design and understand implications on costs.

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 4 - Programming

3. Dr. Yasser Mahgoub
The Project Lifecycle
• Project Selection - define the goals (wants, needs, requirements, etc.);
• Programming - research and document the related issues (facts,
problems, potentialities, etc.);
• Preliminary Design - in a schematic form, acknowledge the impact of
those issues on the goals;
• Design Development - interpret the spatial expression of the design,
goals and issues;
• Final Design - resolve the issues, and the inter-relationships, of the
design, goals, and issues;
• Documentation - prepare the contract drawings and specifications;
• Construction - facilitate and monitor the fabrication and assembly of
the built environment; and,
• Evaluation - assess the quality of the built environment and its impact
on the project's goals and users.

4. Dr. Yasser Mahgoub
INTRODUCTION
What is architectural programming?
 Architectural programming is the research and decision-
making process that defines the problem(s) to be solved by
design.
 Architectural programming is basically a research process
to gather, analyze and document relevant information
(human factors, functions & activities, relationships, cost,
ordinances, site, climate…etc.) and then reach a conclusion.
 Architectural programming establishes the appropriate
criteria for the proper design solution (a guide), to identify
the forces that influences the design (both internal and
external).

5. Dr. Yasser Mahgoub
Architectural programming is the first step
of the project lifecycle. Decisions taken at
this stage affect the cost and operation of
the project in the future.

6. The most cost-effective time to make changes is during
programming. This phase of a project is the best time for
interested parties to influence the outcome of a project.
Dr. Yasser Mahgoub

7. PROGRAMMING FRAMEWORK
Dr. Yasser Mahgoub

8. Dr. Yasser Mahgoub
PROGRAMMING FRAMEWORK

15. Part I: PREPARING FOR PROGRAMMING
Ch. 1: Introduction
• The Professional Practice Arena
– Programming vs. Design
• The act of programming implies a separation of the
criteria definition process from the design act

16. Part I: PREPARING FOR PROGRAMMING
Ch. 1: Introduction
• Professional Issues and Programming
P D
P D
P D
P/D
ProjectScale

17. Part I: PREPARING FOR PROGRAMMING
Ch. 1: Introduction
• Who does architectural programming?
– Clients: Those who build frequently – developers
– real-estate companies - …
– Consultants: Develop the program independently
of the design architects
– Architects: In-house effort.
– A designer should always review the entire
document before proceeding with design.

18. Part I: PREPARING FOR PROGRAMMING
Ch. 2: Thinking About Thinking
• Analyze and Synthesize
– To Analyze means to take something apart
mentally and examine its parts.
• Social situation: who, what, …
• Building: site, dimensions, interior layout, structural
system, mechanical systems, initial and operating cost,
architectural style, the precedents of its style.

19. Part I: PREPARING FOR PROGRAMMING
Ch. 2: Thinking About Thinking
• Analyze and Synthesize
– To Synthesize means to put parts together and
understand the whole.
• Social situation: Statement that sum it up.
• Building: Neo-classical, neo-colonial

20. Part I: PREPARING FOR PROGRAMMING
Ch. 2: Thinking About Thinking
• Analyze and Synthesize
– Analysis and Synthesis are opposites.
Analysis Synthesis

21. Part I: PREPARING FOR PROGRAMMING
Ch. 2: Thinking About Thinking
• Analyze and Synthesize
– Scales of Design
• Site analysis: topography, vegetation, wind direction,
sun angles, parking

22. Context
Problem

25. Part I: PREPARING FOR PROGRAMMING
Ch. 2: Thinking About Thinking
• Common Characteristics of Architectural
Programming Formats
1. Literature search on building typology
2. Definition of goals, criteria, objectives and issues:
Performance criteria, Priority statements, Goals for
priority issues, Establish goals, …
3. Gather data, analyze information and Synthesize:
Literature survey, User descriptions, …
4. Develop alternatives, strategies and approaches
5. Evaluation
6. Separate programming from design
7. Costs implications

26. Part I: PREPARING FOR PROGRAMMING
Ch. 2: Thinking About Thinking
• Phasing Architectural Programming
InformationScale
Master Plan
Small Remodeling Project
Schematic Design
Design Development

27. Dr. Yasser Mahgoub
Design Considerations - Facts
• Human (activities and characteristics)
• Environmental (site and climate)
• Cultural (traditions, laws, codes, and
ordinances)
• Technical
• Other

28. Dr. Yasser Mahgoub