Activity 1.1.2 Design Principles and Elements

IntroductionHave you ever noticed how buildings of similar size and shape can have completely different visual effects? Architects, like artists, must understand the elements and principles of design and how they affect the visual impact of the building on a viewer. Whether it is the intent of the architect to create a feeling of strength and stability or to create an unusual form that will elicit a double-take from the public, the elements and principles of design can be used to manipulate the intellectual and emotional reactions of the people who see and use the building.

Equipment Principles and Elements of Design Applied to

Architecture presentation notes

ProcedureIn this activity you will identify design elements and principles as they pertain to images of structures.

For each of the following, choose one element of design and one principle of design that you feel is most prominent in the image and then justify your choice.

Word BankBalance Form Rhythm TextureColor Line Shape UnityEmphasis Proportion/Scale Space Value

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1. Principle of Design: Symmetry, Contrast

Justification: Each individual arch has horizontal symmetry, and each 2 arches have horizontal symmetry between them. The whole building is not visible, but if it could be seen, I would guess that it would have horizontal symmetry as well.

Element of Design: Shape, Texture

Justification: The shape used is the arch, and the form used is the columns.

2. Principle of Design: Symmetry (Formal Balance), Proportion and Scale

Justification: The building has horizontal balance. If a line were drawn down the center, the left and right would be mirror images.

Element of Design: Contrast, Lines

Justification: Curved and Vertical lines are used to offset the feeling of stability and strength with a more soothing

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and relaxed feeling

3. Principle of Design

Balance, Proportion and Scale

Justification: Asymmetrical (Informal) balance is used because the taller, thinner building is equal in visual weight with the wider, shorter building.

Element of Design: Line, Form and Shape

Justification: Both parts of the building are similar to boxes in their form. The left’s form is square box-like and the part of the building on the right’s form is rectangular box-like. Both parts use some rectangular windows.

4. Principle of Design

Rhythm, Proportion and Scale, Movement, Unity

Justification: The building has a feeling of action and flows up and to the right.

Element of Design: Line, Color, Texture, Value

Justification: The building’s texture is smooth, and appears to be made of glass

City Hall and London Bridge

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©Istockphoto.com

5. Principle of Design: Balance, Emphasis, Movement, Unity

Justification: The center of the design attracts the eye because the color stands out from the rest of the design.

Element of Design: Line, Color, Space, Value

Justification: The outside of the design’s space is cramped and busy, but the center is more spacious and uncluttered.

6. Principle of Design: Rhythm, Contrast, Emphasis, Unity Justification: The darker greenish-blue color on the right stands out from, and contrasts with the lighter green color on the left.

Element of Design: Line, Color, Space, Texture.

Justification: The exterior structure is smooth, and appears to be glass.

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©Istockphoto.com

7. Principle of Design: Balance, Emphasis, Movement, Contrast

Justification: The bright pink flowers provide a stark contrast with the green grass.

Element of Design: Color, Space, Line

Justification: The curved lines of the path create a relaxed feeling.

8. Principle of Design

Balance, Rhythm, Proportion and Scale, Unity

Justification: Regular Rhythm is used because the same arches are repeated as far as is visible down the aqueduct.

Element of Design: Line, Form and Shape, Texture

Justification: The curved lines are used to create a relaxed feeling, and that goes well with the purpose of aqueducts (to transport water).

Roman aqueduct

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©Istockphoto.com

Microsoft Office clipart

9. Principle of Design: Balance, Rhythm, Emphasis, Contrast, Unity

Justification: The columns stand out and contrast with the center of the design because of their color, shape, and size.

Element of Design: Line, Value, Texture, Space

Justification: Vertical lines are used in the columns, probably to provide a sense of stability and strength

10. Principle of Design: Rhythm, Contrast, Unity

Justification: The variety of different colors used are noticeably different, and therefore contrast with each other.

Element of Design: Line, Color, Value

Justification: Many different colors of houses are used. Both cool and warm colors are used.

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Conclusion1. In what way do certain elements or principles identify the time period in which a

structure was created?

Certain elements and principles are associated with certain time periods. In other words, different societies and cultures typically have a tendency to use different architectural styles, and therefore to use different design principles and elements.

2. What factors might account for an incorrect identification?

Some societies use some similar designs, some designs overlap between societies, and some design principles and elements are used in all societies in different ways. As a result an incorrect identification is not only a possibility; in fact, it is likely.

3. Describe an example of a way that design principles and elements could impact the function of a building.

If a building’s interior gets designed using pink and blue colors, it would probably not function well as a government building or as a building for anything formal. However, most people would not want to live in a building with the interior painted mostly black. How, and which, different design principles and elements are used, can impact, or even determine, the function of a building.

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