5. Design Brief
An architectural brief is a statement of a client's
requirements, which form the basis for appointing
an architect. The brief describes the requirements
that need to be reconciled and accommodated, and
is developed first as a design which is submitted for
approval, and subsequently constructed as a
building or other structure. A brief is a written
document that might be anything from a single
page to a multiple volume set of documents. The
term program is often used today, in conjunction
with, and in part as a synonym of, an 'architectural
brief'. 'Program' is used more often in the United
States whereas 'brief' is used more outside the
United States, internationally. An architect's design is
considered the response to the building program.
http://www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk/how-to-develop-architectural-concepts/
7. Site Analysis
Site analysis is a preliminary phase of
architectural and urban design processes
dedicated to the study of the climatic,
geographical, historical, legal, and
infrastructural context of a specific site. The
result of this analytic process is a summary,
usually a graphical sketch, which sets in
relation the relevant environmental
information with the morphology of the site in
terms of parcel, topography, and built
environment. This result is then used as a
starting point for the development of
environment-related strategies during the
design process.
12. Demographic
analysis
Demographic analysis includes the sets of
methods that allow us to measure the dimensions
and dynamics of populations. These methods
have primarily been developed to study human
populations, but are extended to a variety of
areas where researchers want to know how
populations of social actors can change across
time through processes of birth, death, and
migration. In the context of human biological
populations, demographic analysis uses
administrative records to develop an independent
estimate of the population. Demographic analysis
estimates are often considered a reliable standard
for judging the accuracy of the census
information gathered at any time. In the labour
force, demographic analysis is used to estimate
sizes and flows of populations of workers; in
population ecology the focus is on the birth,
death, migration and immigration of individuals in
a population of living organisms, alternatively, in
social human sciences could involve movement of
firms and institutional forms. Demographic
analysis is used in a wide variety of contexts. For
example, it is often used in business plans, to
describe the population connected to the
geographic location of the business.
Demographic analysis is usually abbreviated as
DA.
http://www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk/how-to-develop-architectural-concepts/
13.
14. Bubble Diagram
Architects use these ‘bubble’ diagrams to explore
relationships among the sizes, adjacencies,
and approximate shapes of the spaces needed for
various activities. The architect sometimes draws arrows
or lines between functions that must communicate, or
small tics to indicate an adjacency requirement
between two functions, as distinct from pairs of
functions that simply happen to be adjacent in the
drawing.
A bubble helps the architect consider possible changes
to the design. Each bubble represents the space
needed to carry out a function (living, dining, sleeping,
etc.) For example, were the architect to enlarge one
space, the diagram reveals how the adjacent spaces
would need to be correspondingly adjusted to remain
adjacent and stay within their own size constraints. On
the other hand, the architect can see when squeezing
the diagram would make the dimension of a space too
small for its intended function. In short, a bubble
diagram helps the architect understand the constraints
of a floor plan and the consequences of proposed
changes to the design. The diagram makes adjacencies,
overlaps, and relative dimensions available by
inspection
http://www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk/how-to-develop-architectural-concepts/
18. Idea + Solution = Concept
One aspect of the design process is the
development of your concept. This is not an area
that was covered all too well on my degree course.
Of course we learnt how to develop our design,
solve design problems and so on. But I have found
for some students there is a heavy emphasis on
CONCEPTS, and during crits there seems to be
many questions of “what is your concept??”
http://www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk/how-to-develop-architectural-concepts/
19. Architectural
Concepts
Concept: Definition
an abstract idea; a plan or intention; an idea or
invention to help sell or publicise a commodity idea,
notion, theory, conviction, opinion
Architectural concepts are the designers way of
responding to the design situation presented to them.
They are a means of translating the non-physical
design problem into the physical building product.
Every project will have critical issues, central themes or
problem essences, and the general issues of designing
a building can come under the following categories:
• -functional zoning
• -architectural space
• -circulation and building form
• -response to concept
• -building envelope
Obviously many elements and factors fall under these
categories, with much consideration required to the
broader general issues, along with the technical details.
http://www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk/how-to-develop-architectural-concepts/
20. Design
Philosophy
In order to develop your concepts first consider your design philosophy. Your
philosophy is a set of values that you use to inform your design. Often this is
considered to be the life values of the designer. For example:
• artistic vs. scientific
• rational vs. irrational
• personal vs. universal
• visual vs. non visual
• needs vs. wants
• individual vs. society
Then you can go on to look at your values in terms of design. How do these values
work with the design problems you face on this particular project?
• ordered vs. random
• structured vs. unstructured
• objective vs. subjective
• one answer vs. multiple solutions
• creative vs. conservative
• specific vs. general
• man vs. nature
• complexity vs. simplicity
• design for now vs. design for the future
• patterned process vs. random process
http://www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk/how-to-develop-architectural-concepts/
21. Design Problem
So now you have identified your philosophy and your values you now need to
identify your design problem. How will you interpret the design problems and use
your values and philosophies to come up with the design solution?
How do you understand the design brief? What are your responsibilities as a
designer? Some of the factors you will need to consider are:
• function
• form
• space
• geometry
• context
• human factors
• economic constraints
• enclosure
• limits
• opportunities
You need to break down the elements of the brief and give yourself a full
understanding of the requirements of the project. Consider all of the above in
relation to your project. Draw out diagrams. The following diagram is a reaction to
the brief for a cancer care centre to be built in the grounds of a hospital. It
addresses a few of the elements discussed above – it is not an extensive list but
gives you an idea of the sort of things to be thinking about.
http://www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk/how-to-develop-architectural-concepts/
24. Design Approach
1: Concepts
This method is called 'Concept'. It is
commonly used throughout the design
world. Titles of concepts tends to lean
towards a usage of a certain 'unique
keywords' (or as I called a 'Bombastic
Keywords') an attempt to make it more
appealing for the impression that it
consisted a certain uniqueness either in
it's design and approach.
This approach is a natural steps in the
journey of designing and understanding
design for beginners. However, it could
also be misused as a shortcut for design
with less depth into it. For example, after
a brief visit to the site, I've overheard an
information that the site are constantly
flooded by rainfall. Literally, I began to
associate these factors keyword site =
(flood + rain) therefore design will be rain
= umbrella, to make it more design-ish,
I'll name it, 'The Liquid Repellent'.
http://asasku.blogspot.sg/2011/08/tips-4-approach-to-architecture-design.html
25. Design Approach
2 : An Issue
Based
If we began to address the flooding or any other
problems in the proposed site and to resolved it
through design - this method is called an 'issue
based' approach.
Issue based could also be not just from the site
but also from the problem with the current design
or any other matter faced by users. The lack of
access to the disable for example, or the lack of
communal spaces, etc. The attempt to improved
the current condition or to resolved this issues
with design is the core for the issue based
approach.
To achieve the solution, we could began by
comparing current ideas and solutions from other
designs. This is known as 'precedent studies'.
A combination of issue, precedent studies and
idea in an attempt to resolved this issues will be
the design. The name of this attempt will also be
the title keyword of the design. Perhaps it might
take more than several words, this is where
choosing a holistic keyword to represents it really
comes in handy during presentation.
http://asasku.blogspot.sg/2011/08/tips-4-approach-to-architecture-design.html
26. Design Approach
3: Design Theory
& Philosophies
Design Theory approach is based on an
architects design philosophies and views
towards the design. In this approach, we are
not addressing the raising issues in the
proposed site, but perhaps it is more towards
answering the project brief and requirement.
This approach seems similar to 'Concept
Approach', however it is complex and
requires a deeper and thorough studies and
understanding.
Consider yourself as a disciple to these
philosophies because we are borrowing their
theories in our path towards the design
solution.
Without it (an in-depth understanding where
we will be constantly challenged in our
attempt towards the design solution), the
produced design will be considered as a poor
& vague imitation attempt towards the
design solution.
http://asasku.blogspot.sg/2011/08/tips-4-approach-to-architecture-design.html
27. Design Approach
4: 2+3
The fourth is a combination of
approach no.2 and 3. It is an
attempt to solved site issues with
design theory to produce a
solution through our design.
Such solution could be a
combination of several other
theories that you feel relevant
and necessary in order to
resolved several raising matters
regarding the site, building or
space and to follow through all
these theory as a problem
solving guideline through the
design.
http://asasku.blogspot.sg/2011/08/tips-4-approach-to-architecture-design.html
