UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR

Institute of Technology
Department of Architecture

FUNDAMENTAL OF ARCHITECTURE
CEng3094

Instructor : Eden Tekle (BSc in Architecture)

UOG.2022
Nature and origin of Architecture

 What is Architecture ?

 How is Architecture started?

 What is the significant of Architecture?

 Elements of Architecture?
……….

• ….”Structuring of the physical space for

life to flourish”….
Dr. Zegeye Chernet

 ….”I believe that the way people live can

be directed a little by Architecture”….
Tadao Ando

 ….”is the art of making shelter,

period!”….
Renzo Piano

 ….”We shape our buildings, thereafter

they shape us”….
Winston Churchill
What is Architecture….?

 It is an intellectual representation of
functions into spaces and time.

 It is an interpretation of social structure,

social values…

 It is an art and science of designing

buildings.

 Architecture is both the process and

product of planning, designing and
construction.

It is An ART and SCIENCE of designing

a building.
……
Architecture as an Art

 Creativity/abstract

 Aesthetics/beauty

 Cultural

 Identity
……
Architecture as a science

 Defined as the process of planning,

designing and constructing building and
other physical structures.

 Related with other Engineering fields

 Associated with mathematics.

 Material science

 Climate

 Demography etc.
Origin of Architecture
 Development of Early Cultures

Living in caves – hunting

Settlements developed near the caves or along shores

and streams – farming and hunting

Understanding of seasons – Cultivation – domestication of

animals

Specialized tools were developed. Religious and communal

aspects – buildings arts developed

Different societies developed differently

Origin of Architecture
• The historical timeline of Architecture

- Pre Historic
- Near East
- Egyptian
- Greek
- Roman
- Early Christian
- Byzantine
- Islamic
- Romanesque
- Gothic
- Renaissance
- 18th – 19th Revival
- 20th C Modern
Origin of Architecture
 Natural and man made determinants

Natural determinants Man made determinants

- Topography (location) - Trade

- Climate - Political power
- Natural resource - Religion
- Building material and - Mobility
technology - Ethnical issues

Forces that shaped the form of dwelling and settlement

- Functional need
- Availability of resource and materials
- Technology
Significance of Architecture

Why do we need Architecture ?

Why do we deign buildings ?

Significance of Architecture

- Providing safe and comfortable

environment

- It brings quality to our life

- Answers society needs

- Improve the life style

- Answers to desires and dreams

- It tells history

- Express culture and identity

- Show power, luxury and dominance

etc.
..…..
The characteristics that distinguish a work of
architecture from other built structures are:
1) The suitability of the work to use by human
beings in general and the adaptability of it
to particular human activities
2) The stability and permanence of the work’s
construction,
3) The communication of experience and
ideas through its form.

All these conditions must be met in

architecture. The second is a constant, while
the first and third vary in relative importance
according to the social function of buildings.
What is Designing & Planning

 Architectural design is a discipline that

focuses on covering and meeting the needs
and demands, to create living spaces, using
certain tools and especially, creativity.

 Planning is the process of particularizing

and, ultimately, of harmonizing the
demands of environment, use, and
economy.

 Planning may control the environment by

the design of architectural forms that may
modify the effects of natural forces
What does an Architect do?

 Architects create designs for new

construction projects, alterations and
redevelopments. They use their specialist
construction knowledge and high-level
drawing skills to design buildings that are

• Functional
• Safe
• Sustainable and
• Aesthetically pleasing

 They design structures such as

• Houses,
• Apartment complexes,
• Shopping centers,
• Office buildings, and factories.
……

 Through considering their physical

appearance, they also make sure these
structures will be functional, safe,
economical, and suit the needs of the
people who will use them

 The Architect will plan and design,

and/or facilitate the execution of new
building designs, and plan, design
and/or facilitate the execution of
building expansions or renovations
according to clients needs, desires, and
financial resources
……

 The practice of architecture1 consists

of the provision of professional services
in connection with town planning as
well as the design, construction,
enlargement, conservation, restoration,
or alteration of a building or group of
buildings

 There are 6 Types of Architects:

 Residential Architects.
 Commercial Architects.
 Restoration Architects.
 Landscape Architects.
 Interior Designers.
 Green Design Architects.
 CHAPTER TWO
Determinates of Architectural Design
Elements of Architecture

Space
Function

Form
Structure
Elements of Architecture
Space
- Essence of Architecture
- Habitable / functional emptiness
- Usable void

Function
- Purpose of the space
- Variable use of space

Form

- Exterior appearance of a space / building

- Three dimensional representation of space
- The enclosure of space

Structure
- Load bearing member of architecture
- The back bone of Architecture
DESIGN, FORM AND SPACE

 What is Design ?

 What are the Primary elements of Design ?

 What are the Properties of Form ?

 What are Space defining elements ?

What is Design ?

 The general arrangement of the different

parts of something that is made.

 The art or process of deciding how

something will look or work.
Primary elements of design

 point

 Line

 Plane

 Volume

 Texture

 Color
Point

• Indicate position in space.

• With out length, dimension and area.

• At the center point is stable and at rest ,

organizing surrounding elements around
itself and dominating the field.

• When moved off center , the field become

more aggressive and unstable.

• Visual supremacy.
Line
 Extended point.

 It has length, direction and position.

 Critical element in the formation of and

visual information.

 vertical line express  An oblique express  Horizontal line express

state of equilibrium dynamism, visually stability, the horizon,
with the force of active and unbalance rest.
gravity, symbolize state.
human condition and
mark a position.
Plane/ surface/ shape
 Extended line.
 It has length, width and position.
 Shape , surface and orientation.
 Visual mass and weight.

• Shape is the identifiable characteristics of a

plane.

• It surface has color, pattern and texture.

• A plane serve to define the limits and

boundaries of a volume.
Form / volume / mass
• Extended plane.
• Length, width and depth.
• It has form and mass
• It has surface, orientation and position.

• A form is primary identifying characteristic

of a volume.

• A volume can be either a solid- space

defined by mass or a void space contained
or enclosed by planes.
Texture/ pattern

• Visual and tactile quality of a surface.

• The roughness and smoothness of a

surface.

• The degree of texture affect the amount of

incident light the material receive .
Color
• The appearance that things have that
results from the way in which they reflect
light.

• The attribute that most clearly distinguish a

form from the environment.
Primary colors
• It also affect the visual weight of a form. • Yellow
• Blue
• Red
Properties of form
Shape

• The characteristics outline or surface

configuration of a particular form.
Size/ scale
• The physical dimension of length, with
depth of a form.

Color
• A phenomenon of light and visual
perception that may be described in
terms of an individuals perception of hue,
saturation and tonal value. Texture

• Visual and tactile quality of a surface..

....... Position

• The location of a form relative to its

environment or the visual field within which
it is seen.

Orientation

• The direction of a form relative to the

ground plane or the compass (North).

Visual inertia

• The degree of concentration and stability of

a form.
Space

• What is space ?

• What are the elements that define space ?

• What is positive and negative space ?

Space

• The amount of an area or of a place that is

empty or that is available for use.

• Habitable / functional void.

• It can be enclosed, semi enclosed or open

spaces.
Space defining elements
Horizontal Element
Space defining elements
Vertical Element
Space defining elements
Openings
Three spaces in Architecture

Place space
• Major spaces
• Which has defined location and boundary
• Functional spaces

Path space
• Major spaces
• Directional and connector spaces
• Example , corridors, passageways etc.

Transitional space
• Minor spaces
• Intermediate spaces between two different
space characters
Thank you!

To be continued …..