Outline on Article: Concepts in Architecture

***Concept- are ideas that integrate various elements into a whole.***

1. What are Concepts?

a. Specific thoughts we have as a result of an understanding, but it is a thought concerning the way several elements or characteristics can be combined into a single thing.

b. To visually show:

i. Parti

1. Scheme

ii. Esquisse

1. Sketch

iii. Literal Translations

c. Architectural Ideas can influence the general design

i. Daylight

ii. Space

iii. Sequences of Spaces

iv. Integration of Structure and Form

d. Theme

i. A specific pattern or idea that recurs throughout the design of a project.

2. Concepts Formulation

a. Communication

i. Explain the concept to yourself and others

ii. graphics

b. Experience or lack of

3. Ideas

a. Are specific, concrete thoughts we have as the result of an understanding, insight, or observation.

4. Notions

a. Very similar to ideas except that there is a connotation of “randomness”.

b. They are often trivial when tested against other ideas.

c. Synecics- random idea generation

5. Conceptual Scenarios

a. Short essays or scenarios that tie together all the important factor and ideas that influenced their solution.

b. Charette- a marathon work session that compresses decision making into a few days.

6. Concept Hierarchies

a. An understanding of the hierarchical relationship between notion, idea, concept, and conceptual scenario.

b. It becomes the foundation for developing a process for generating appropriate concepts for designs.

i. Metaphors, analogies or scenarios

7. Five Types of Concepts

a. Analogies (looking at other things)

b. Metaphors (looking at abstractions)

c. Essences (looking beyond the programming needs)

d. Programmatic Concepts (looking at the stated requirements)

e. Ideals (looking at universal values)