Brief Introduction to Architecture

Brief Introduction to Architecture

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  ARCHITECTURE?  Architecture isboth the process and product of planning, designing and construction.  It is the art and science of design and erecting buildings and other physical structures.  It is a style and method of design and construction of buildings and other physical structures.  It is a design activity, from the macro-level (urban design, landscape architecture) to the micro-level (construction details and furniture).  The term "architecture" has been adopted to describe the activity of designing any kind of system, and is commonly used in describing information technology.
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  Elements of architecturalDesign 1. Space: Area provided for particular purpose 2. Line: Basic component of a shape and represents the continuous movement of a point along a surface • Continued on next page…
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  3. Color  Coloris seen either by the way light reflects off a surface, or in colored light sources.  There are primary colors, secondary colors, and tertiary colors.  Complementary colors are colors that are opposite to each other on the color wheel. Complementary colors are used to create contrast.  Analogous colors are colors that are found side by side on the color wheel.  These can be used to create color harmony.  Monochromatic colors are tints and shades of one color.  Warm colors are a group of colors that consist of reds, yellows, and oranges.  Cool colors are group of colors that consist of purples, greens, and blues.  Color and particularly contrasting color is also used to draw the attention to a particular part of the image.
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  4. Shape  Ashape is defined as an area that stands out from the space next to or around it due to a defined or implied boundary, or because of differences of value, color, or texture.  Natural objects such as trees form natural shapes; man made shapes form geometric shapes. In a landscape, natural shapes, contrast with geometric shapes such as houses.
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  5. Texture  Textureis perceived surface quality.  In art, there are two types of texture: tactile and implied.  Tactile texture (real texture) is the way the surface of an object actual feels. Examples of this include sandpaper, cotton balls, tree bark, puppy fur, etc.  Implied texture is the way the surface on an object looks like it feels. The texture may look rough, smooth, granular etc. but cannot actually be felt. The textures you see in a photograph are implied textures.
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  6. Form  Formrepresents any three dimensional object. Form can be measured, from top to bottom (height), side to side (width), and from back to front (depth). There are two types of form, geometric (man-made) and natural (organic form). It may be enhanced by tone, texture and color.
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  7. Value  Valuerefers to the relationship between light and dark on a surface or object.  It gives objects depth and perception. Value is also called tone.
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  Principles of design Designprinciples are as follows:  Unity: Sense that everything in a piece belongs there. Achieved through design harmony, repetition and balance.  Contrast: It is the occurrence of differing elements such as color, value, size etc.  Repetition (rhythm, pattern, recurrence)  Variety (alternation)  Emphasis (dominance or focal point)  Balance (placing of elements)  Proportion (scale)  Functionality  Proximity
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  • An architecturaldesign generally has the following components 1. Programming (Pre design phase): Identification and documentation of goals, objectives, needs and requirements 2. Schematic Design: A preliminary design stage in which a rough spatial, technical and conceptual design is prepared. 3. Design development : An in-depth design is produced and finalized 4. Construction documentation : Preparation of drawings, reports and contract documents. 5. Implementation (contract administration): Involves Site visits and development of progress reports. Reviewing construction and installation.
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  Architectural history 10000-3000 BCNeolithic architecture – mud bricks, images of animals painted, Stone construction 3000 BC – 300 AD Mud bricks, Limestone, Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Stone 300s – 1300s Medieval architecture – Romanesque, Pre- Romanesque, Gothic – differed in designs of arches and vaults 1300s – 1500s Renaissance architecture – focus on aesthetic quality (geometry, proportion, symmetry) rather than on functionality 1600s Baroque – focus on color, light, shade. 1700s – 1800s Neoclassical – visuals and decorations, public buildings 1890 – 1910 Early modern 1910 – 1950 Modern – focus on simplicity and practicality 1950s – 1980s Post modern – focus on practicality, use of shapes 1980s onwards Deconstructive – multiple shapes usage, practicality and aesthetic balance.
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  Islamic Golden age671 – 1600 AD • Arabic numerals basis for modern day numbering • Invented complex algebra • Paper manufacturing comes to the west from China; spread of Islamic empire • Greek philosophical and technological wisdom returned to west • Scientific prowess of muslims was unmatched
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  Islamic arch. • Islamicarch. is a blend of Islamic values and cultural values of muslims across the globe. • Islamic art focused on following aspects: 1. Engineering design – elements of mosque : minbar, mihrab, ivan, courtyard(sahn), domes, arches, minarets, Qibla, Ablution Kiosks, Fountains 2. Geometric patterns – Tessellations , star , arabesques, geometry, symmetry, repetition, stucco, patterned brickwork or tiles , woodcarvings and latticing , water and light. 3. Arabesques – patterns of lines, vines, leaves and flowers 4. Calligraphy – Quranic inscriptions in a variety of scripts and shapes.
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  • Persian architecture:tapered pillars, large arcades and arches supported by several pillars. Grand entrances and ewans. Shah Mosque in Iran. • Moorish Architecture: Arabesque designs, Calligraphy, walls covered in glazed tiles, use of red and gold tiling, open and breezy interior spaces. Multiple arch designs, Squinches were first seen. Influenced by Arab architecture. Example Alhambra, Granada, Spain. • Timurid architecture: derived from Persian architecture. Symmetry, Facades, double domes. Use of brilliant colors. Gur-e-Amir in Samarkand is an example. • Turkish architecture: Multiple domes, Harmony and balance between interior and exterior spaces. Rooted in Byzantine architecture. Vast inner spaces. Technical balance. Blue Mosque, Istanbul is an example. • Fatimid Architecture • Mamluk architecture: Ligth effects, gilded and enameled glass, inlaid metalwork and woodwork, textiles. • Mughal Architecture: Gardens, inlays of precious and semi-precious stones, symmetry, mix of Persian, Arabic and Hindu elements.