Abtahi Chowdhury

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.

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Abtahi Chowdhury

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 Texture

Color Line Shape Unity

Emphasis Proportion/Scale Space Value

1. Principle of Design

Balance - symmetrical

Rhythm - regular

Emphasis - top floor

Contrast - white and red

Unity - the windows

Element of Design

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Lines - horizontal and vertical

Color - mix of warm and cool

Form - box figure

Texture - rough

Value - tint value

2. Principle of Design

Balance - symmetrical

Rhythm - regular

Emphasis - none

Contrast - none

Unity - the windows

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Element of Design

Lines - horizontal and vertical

Color - cool colors

Form - box figure

Texture - rough

Value - shade value

3. Principle of Design

Balance - symmetrical

Rhythm - regular

Emphasis - none

Contrast - none

Unity - the windows

Element of Design

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Abtahi Chowdhury

Lines - horizontal and vertical

Color - cool colors

Form - box figure

Texture - rough

Value - shade value

4. Principle of Design

Balance - asymmetrical

Rhythm - random

Emphasis - top right corner

Contrast - brick and wood

Unity - windows

Element of Design

Lines - vertical, horizontal, diagonal

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Color - cool color

Texture - rough

Value - shade value

5. Principle of Design

Balance - symmetrical

Rhythm - regular

Emphasis - the parts jutting out

Contrast - the different colors

Unity - the windows

Element of Design

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Abtahi Chowdhury

Lines - vertical, horizontal, diagonal

Color - mix of warm and cool

Texture - rough and smooth

Value - tint and shade value

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

structure was created?

A building built in an earlier time period will generally be built with weaker materials and often have a verity of colors and textures.

2. What factors might account for an incorrect identification?

A factor that could account for an incorrect identification could be if the building was changed as time progressed.

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

An example of a way that design principles and elements could impact the function of a building is that a asymmetrical building could be more of a tourist attraction than an office building.

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