Prepared by: Ar. J. F. Sta.

Juana, CCI - Architecture

UNIT 15
What are concepts?

CONTENTS
15.0 Learning Outcomes
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Design Concepts
15.3 Context for Concept Getting
15.4 What is the Difference between Design Philosophy, Design Concept and Design
Consideration

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Prepared by: Ar. J. F. Sta. Juana, CCI - Architecture

15.0 Learning Outcomes:

1. Define and differentiate design philosophy, design concept and design

consideration from each other.
2. Formulate a design philosophy that will always bring out the designer’s identity
and values in designing a built environment.
3. Construct design concepts according to designer’s design philosophy and apply
them to their design solutions.

15.1 Introduction

The means of design development lies in the cautious and educated execution of
the concept. Elements in it. It is only through adequate preparation, practice and
eventually personal perception that effective solutions are given in order to fulfill,
improve and affirm our ideas.

The complexity of architectural design lies in the role of addressing a wide variety
of problems. Variety of functional and esthetic requirements (problem) in a coherent
manner, satisfies the form (solution).

In this manner, concept will play a significant role in the design process, for it will
be the guiding principle that the architect must follow from the start of conceptualization
until the actual execution of the problem.

15.2 Design Concepts

Concepts are ideas identified by the designer as a foundation for giving form to
space, building and or site.

Architecture starts with an idea. Good concept strategies are not only visually
exciting, but they are also guided by basic concepts. The concept is a particular
conceptual process in which we coordinate, interpret and give meaning to experiences
and knowledge.

The central idea or concept of a building is called “Parti”. A parti may be

articulated in a variety of forms but is most commonly represented in a diagram
illustrating the general floor plan of the building and, as a result, its experiential and
esthetic sensibility. A parti diagram can define massing, entry, spatial hierarchy, site
relationship, central position, internal circulation, public and private zoning, solidity and
transparency, and many other issues. The proportion of consideration paid to each
element ranges from project to project.

In a conceptual diagram or parti, it is quite possible and acceptable to derive form

from:

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 Prepared by: Ar. J. F. Sta. Juana, CCI - Architecture

a. spatial functions,
b. relationships,
c. previous structures, and
d. even other cultures.

15.3 Contexts for Concept Getting

The formulation of design concept may be derived, originated and developed by
the following:
1. General philosophy and life values of the designer
2. Design philosophy of the designer
3. View of the problem by the designer

15.3.1 Design Philosophy

Again, architecture is defined as the art or science of building specifically,
the art or practice of designing and building structures and especially habitable
ones.
Design means to create, fashion, execute, or construct according to plan.
Philosophy is the most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or
group.

Examples of Design Philosophy

1. The building should be what it wants to be, not what designer wants to be.
2. The solution to the problem is contained in the problem itself.
3. The simpler the building the better.
4. Architecture should be expressive of the values of the culture where it occurs.
5. Building forms must be clear with their messages.
6. The more complex the problem, the less human experience.

For Your Reflection

From the given examples, select 3 design philosophies and express your
interpretation in three sentences each.

15.4 What is the Difference Between Design Philosophy, Design Concept and
Design Consideration?
1. Design Philosophy is “What do you believe in?”

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Prepared by: Ar. J. F. Sta. Juana, CCI - Architecture

This is what you believe architecture should be. It’s more about you and the core
themes that describe your design process, and not the exact project itself.
For instance.
Design Philosophy 1: "Architecture must be pure soul, devoid from needless
baggage, and stripped down to its bare essentials".
Design Philosophy 2: Architecture should be a vibrant canvas of human experience
and history, an expressionist manifestation of the complexity of human creativity and
curiosity.

2. Design Concept is “How did you choose to approach this specific project?”
The keywords here are approach and specific project.
A design philosophy is more general and belief-oriented, while a design concept
is more context-specific and application-oriented. The two are closely related,
because the design concept stems from the design philosophy.
Going back to the example we created earlier:
Design Philosophy 1: "Architecture must be pure soul, devoid from needless
baggage, and stripped down to its bare essentials".
Design Concept 1: "Informed simplicity of a work environment - creating a functionally
comprehensive architecture with as little planes and walls as possible".

3. Design Consideration is “What are the things you gave importance to while you
were designing?” “What are the major issues and circumstances you thought
long and hard about for this work?”
Design Philosophy 1: "Architecture must be pure soul, devoid from needless
baggage, and stripped down to its bare essentials".
Design Concept 1: "Informed simplicity of a work environment - creating a functionally
comprehensive architecture with as little planes and walls as possible".
From the concept, we can see the spirit of what architect 1’s office building
design will prioritize. Moving forward, it’s likely that his major design considerations
for the project will be along the lines of the following:
Design Considerations 1:
Circulation and Workflow - the design must synthesize the varying interactions and
activities to create a spatial flow that is efficient and productive, simple yet sublime.
Accessibility - the design must provide an equal experience for all people from all
walks of life. It should be sensitive to safety and operability regardless of age,
gender, and disability.

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Prepared by: Ar. J. F. Sta. Juana, CCI - Architecture

Well-Being - the design must be an inspiring and therapeutic environment to ease

the stresses of workload. It should provide means to induce judicious natural lighting
and ventilation, provide beautiful vistas and access to greenery, and be wary of
spatially caused defects like claustrophobia.
Energy-Efficiency - the design must synthesize context, climate, and technology to
provide means to reduce daily operational costs. It should harness the benefits of
proper orientation, resource harvesting and recycling, as well as circumvent needless
heating or cooling.
A final word on design philosophies, design concepts, and the final design – they
must connect. The reason why we go step-by-step from philosophy, concept, to
consideration is because we want our work of architecture to be cohesive. We want it
to have integrity, and so we follow this guiding chain.
But sometimes, beginning designers tend to forget to look back at the chain,
getting lost in new ideas that come and go, and by the time the final work is fleshed
out, there is no connection to any of the prior resolutions.

Summary

Architectural design is the result of programming, identifying the problem and

formulating solutions carried out through a design process or conceptualization
technique to solve the users’, building and functional issues.

Every design has the origin for its existence; otherwise there
would be no point in the solution. The intention of architectural design is to create the
potential built solution to satisfy the purpose of the building and need of the client.

The most effective, most creative problem solvers engage in a design process
are” Meta-thinkers” means that they are aware of how they are thinking as they are
doing the thinking. They engage in continual internal dialogue of testing, stretching,
criticizing, and redirecting their thought processes.

Final Term Project

Activity No. 14: Mountain Lodge

A. Instructions:
1. Imagine you were given a plate to “Design a Mountain Lodge on a site where there
are many trees, and the topography is a rolling hill.

2. Formulate your own

- Design Philosophy
- Design Concept
- Design consideration.

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3. Write a brief explanation. (Justification of your design philosophy, concept and

consideration)

4. Show the design development. (from bubble diagrams, floor plan to perspective
drawing)

B. Requirements
1. Design Philosophy, Design Concept, Design Consideration
2. Bubble Diagrams (main consideration is sun and wind orientation, slope of site)
3. Form concept or evolution of form
4. Schematic Floor Plan in Scale 1:50 MTS
5. Exterior Perspective

C. Materials/Medium
15” x 20” Illustration Board – Pen and Ink, Color Rendered

D. Manner of Submission
Submit photos of your work in jpeg or pdf format at MS Teams under assignment
folder.

Reference

Ching, F. D., & Eckler, J. F. (2013). Introduction to Architecture. Hoboken, New Jersey: John
Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Conway, H., & Roenisch, R. (2005). Understanding Architecture, An introduction to architecture

and architectural history. Oxon: Routledge.

Frederick, M. (2007). 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School. Cambridge: The MIT Press.

Janson, A., & Tigges, F. (2014). Fundamental Concepts of Architecture, The Vocabulary of
Spatial Situations. Basel, Switzerland: German National Library.

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