Twenty Six Principles of Architecture
By Joseph Bourque
Table of Contents Chapter 1 Mass Void Volume Context Scale
Chapter 2 Light Hard Shadows Soft Shadows
Chapter 3 Structure Form Public Versus Private Movement View
s Chapter 4 Decomposition Transformation Hierarchy
Chapter 5 Materials Texture Surface Color
Chapter 6 Planes Grid Geometry Symmetry Asymmetry Contrast
Mass
Solids Solid objects are the basis for mass and weight. In order to give a structure heft, one must make that structure take up volume and demonstrate density. The object above shows this idea off.
Gaining Weight
Mixed Uses
The foam stack to the left exhibits how mass can be added and expanded with more volume.
Mass can be added in many forms and create the air of a monolith within a structure. The drawing above has mass added to the top of it that displays its solid construction.
Void
Missing Pieces Voids created by missing pieces can act as reminders of what was originally there. The voids created in the clay above imply that the cube was once a whole shape before being carved away.
Lock and Key Some structures have voids that leave the presence of a keystone object. That is, an object that fills the void completely and re completes the structure such the image to the left.
Textured Voids Some voids add texture to previously flat planes. The object below demonstrates this ability of voids and shows the completeness that can still be found in the object.
Volume
Space Volume is very simply the space that an object or structure inhabits. This volume can be spread out like in the image above or condensed together.
Condensed The cube to the right is a condensed version of the image on the previous page. It still holds the same volume but now it is simply put back together.
Adding Volumes Together The volumes of objects, like mass, can be added together to increase the size and space that a structure inhabits. This can be seen to the left.
Context Scenery Beautiful views can act as a context surrounding a building. Structures like those to the right attempt to maximize window use and create the impression of an open and airy structure.
Harsh Terrain Height Many times a building is given height due to its context. Like the structure above, these buildings are located in dense cities with small plots available for foundations. The only option to create a sizable building practically is to go up.
Difficult terrain that is hard to traverse quickly can act as another context for structures. These structures must adapt like the bridge to the right in order to function well.
Scale
Changing Size As objects shrink and grow, they change scale. The purple foam above shows this idea as the pieces slowly get larger through their individual progressions.
Units The triangles above display a unique way of scaling. Instead of actually growing, the triangles can be reassembled into a larger triangle. These smaller triangles act as units of the larger one.
Another Example The circles to the right act as another example of scale as they grow larger than the original circle in the center as they spiral outward.
Light
Illumination Light can illuminate surfaces and appear to create new moods surrounding those surfaces by giving light to shady areas and given shadow to areas blocked to the light’s path.
Soft Lighting The object above is receiving soft lighting from a lamp. This lighting creates a more pleasant and less harsh environment.
Shadows The shadows cast by light sources can create long spindly shadows that drape across a landscape. This is shown in the drawing to the left.
Hard Shadows
Harshness The shadows created from a bright direct light create a harsh environment. This environment displays deep dark shadows that contrast with the sharp lighting such as in the image above.
Painting the Ground The deep shadows created from harsh lighting can paint the area surrounding the object that is casting the shadows. These shadows, as seen to the right, add new texture to flat and formally unshaded ground.
Distortion The image below gives an idea of the distortion possible with hard shadows. These shadows obscure areas and bleed over the object below.
Soft Shadows Soft Edges As exampled to the left, soft lighting casts shadows with unclear edges. These edges are lost in a fuzziness that surrounds the shadow.
Less Distortion The shadows created from soft lighting help to illuminate a structure rather than hide in hard shadows. The image to the left displays this attribute.
Gentle Shadows Shadows created from soft lighting can create a gentle and pleasing atmosphere. The object below is bathed in soft lighting which helps to avoid hard shadows.
Structure
Holding Weight The structure in a building acts to uphold it from the forces of gravity. The pillars seen above distribute the load of a building and carry gravitational forces into the ground.
Spanning Distance The cables on the bridge to the left hold the road above a valley in order to traverse it.
Pillars The pillars in the bridge below help to keep the structure intact and usable.
Form
Simple Design The boxy design of the structure above reveals a simplicity in its form.
Design Language
Elegance
The form of a structure can speak and reveal its purpose through design. The structure to the left towers into the sky. Its design consists of long thin lines that travel upward and converge to a point. This exemplifies its height and reach.
The structure to the top left displays an air of elegance in its ornate form.
Public Versus Pr
Enclosed Spaces The narrow and tight passageways of the structure above create visible public and private areas, as one wonders away from the larger rooms, they enter more private and closed off chambers.
rivate Surrounding the Public The private spaces to the left surround the main public ones and act as places of refuge from publicity.
Offshoots The more private chambers located in the structure to the left are offshoots of the main chambers. These private areas are only connected by the public ones.
Movement
Natural Characteristics Some structures, despite being static, retain a sense of movement from their design. The building above takes on the ideas of loftiness and flight in its design. It almost resembles a bird taking to the sky and moving through the air.
Shifting The structure to the left moves in the sense that one side of the building has been shifted upward into the sky.
Moving Around The pieces to the right seemingly expand away from each other despite no actual movement.
View Narrow Focus Narrow hallways, such as the one to the left, can force the perspective of one traveling through them to a unique view.
Scenic Routes Simply pathways like the one below can be made scenic by the inclusion of natural elements that catch the eye of passerby.
Immediate Environment The immediate environment of a structure can demand a large amount of views. Buildings overlooking cliffs and valleys can bring with them an open design with many windows like the structure above to maximize views.
Decomposition
Deconstruction Taking a preexisting structure and breaking it down into its individual parts acts as the basis for decomposition. The pieces above were once joined together into a structure.
Individual Elements Elements, such as the one to the left that were not originally in the perspective of the building, can be added to create new design.
Decorative Pieces The elements below act as pieces that are not essential to the design of the structure but instead add flair to it.
Transformation
Redesign Transforming old pieces into something fresh is an interesting concept in architecture. The redesign to the left reincorporates elements from the deconstruction before into a new structure.
Second Redesign The second redesign to the left attempts to exemplify the temple like elements of the original decomposition.
Modern and Ancient Combing two systems into one, as seen in the image above, can create unique structures that compliment both systems. The ancient and modern elements play off one another and add to a cohesive building.
Hierarchy
Large and Small Often times, larger rooms within a structure hold a greater importance than smaller ones and are ultimately made up of small elements. This simple hierarchy can be seen above with the smaller chambers making up greater ones.
Open Chambers Large open chambers can act as a focal point for a building. These chambers act as public spaces that hold greater importance to smaller chambers on the side. This can be seen in the plan to the right.
Materials
Lightweight Thin design can be achieved with thin material. Paper, like that to the right, can be folded and creased into new shapes to benefit the design of lightweight structures.
Use Materials dictate the use of a structure and the construction of it. The structure to the left is dictated by its thin dowels and light construction.
Flexibility Some materials, like the foam to the right, give a large amount of flexibility to the structure.
Texture
Roughness The foam above exhibits a rough texture that holds grip.
Smoothness Some textures, like that of the clay to the left, have a smooth texture that is simple and flexible.
Simple The texture of paper allows for simple constructions that are not distracting due to texture or feel.
Surface
Facade The facade of a building is often times the side of a building that people see the most. Many elements can be incorporated into it like voids like the structure above.
Texture The surface of an object also contains its texture. These two elements play hand in hand to presents the outside of an object, such as the foam to the left, or a structure.
Uneven Many times facades and surfaces can have an uneven roughness or bumpiness about them. The building below exemplifies this concept.
Color
Triadic Colors The colors used in the image above represent a triadic color scheme.
Analogous Colors The colors used above blend nicely into one another due to their analogous color scheme.
Black and White Black and white color schemes, like the one presented to the right, add a nice simplicity to a drawing.
Planes
Boxes The boxy design above is filled with planes the bisect the structure.
Design Focused Some structure like the one below are designed with planes in mind. These planes create and divide the space provided by the structure and act as a unifying element in the design.
Another Example Another view of the planes contained within the box can be seen to the left. These planes inhabit space and divide the structure into different parts.
Grid
Grid Design Sometimes, grids can completely influence the design and construction of a building or structure. The cube above acts as an example of this design philosophy.
In Plan The plan to the left displays the grid like structure that often times inhabits the basic structure of many buildings. This grid breaks the structure into many chambers.
Less Obvious Some grids are less apparent in a 3d setting. The grid that creates the texture of the building to the left can be hard to spot.
Geometry
Circles and Spirals The drawing above displays the use of circles within a structure as the staircase slowly spirals downward into the void.
Angular Design Sharp angles can help to create a nice contrast with a surrounding environment and exemplify the geometric principles that go into design and execution. This can be seen above in the design of the doorway.
Cubes The module design of cubes lends itself for use within buildings. These cubes clearly display the geometric ideas that went into the construction of the building above.
Symmetry
Completeness Symmetry can add to an idea of completeness within a structure. Structures can feel whole and fully represented following the theme of symmetry as seen above.
Edges Symmetry is not exclusive to facades or flat surfaces. It can also be applied to edges and corners as well. This is displayed to the left.
Geometric The image to the left shows a geometric symmetry that permeates the design of this structure.
Asymmetry
Deliberate Design The structure above exhibits deliberate asymmetry. The contrast of the two halves that are almost whole creates an interesting image.
Shapes Even with geometric designs, some buildings retain an asymmetry. The small structure above creates the illusion of a completed roof line despite actually having a gap.
Almost Symmetrical Some buildings almost achieve perfect symmetry but fall slightly off. This plan to the left shows the symmetrical nature of the main chamber and the asymmetrical nature of the side chambers. Sometimes, simply due to design or constraint this cannot be avoided.
Contrast
Difference The differences in the two halves in the object above help to exhibits different approaches to the same problem. The problem in this case being have to fold and slice a flat plane of paper into a 3d object.
Contrast can Compliment The mix of old and modern design as presented above creates a nice contrast that displays how the two systems work well together and show off each other’s best attributes.
