DESIGN METHODOLOGY
Design is seen to be a strategic problem solving which utilizes creative ability along with arts and science to generate apt solutions to problem situations. These problems can be solved in many different ways and each way is co-related to conscious and subconscious thinking of the designer; however, they go through a pattern or sequence of steps for achieving their designs from conception to completion. This methodology critically analyze, evaluate, compare, and propose alternative methods for creative problem solving. Each architect uses his own conceptual frameworks that can assist in setting boundaries and framing reasonable objectives.
LAYOUT OF A DESIGN PROCESS
The final product of the of the design process depends on three primary operations:
· Gathering information: information that conveys how to organize, analyze and pick a design approach. Such information should be seen as a whole.
· Testing: Relating the gathered information to architect’s capabilities.
· Evaluation process: judgment on the appropriateness of these decisions to the problem of design.
Balance between conscious and unconscious activities
Conscious activities relates to the designer’s intellectual and creative abilities.
Unconscious activities relates to the designer’s rationality and logical abilities.
This leads to two approaches (Information Methods For Design & construction, 1980) :
The Rational Model:
This approach is based on the fact that the design process is a logical process and can be explained, it depends on analyzing all the design problems and attitudes to a group of minor problems and initial molecules that are easily analyzed to basic components and solving each part separately, and then assemble These molecules once again well to create the best solutions.
The Intuitive Model:
represents the development of the patterns language penned by Christopher Alexander , so that they become more flexible and tailored creative thought of the designer, which he described as Black Box, where the more creative ideas inside the mind of the designer, involuntary way inside the dark box containing the stock of knowledge and previous experience of the designer.
Balance between rational and intuitive model
The Design process is a very complex process which contains two types of intellectual activities: Unconscious and Conscious intellectual activities.
How to combine and compose out of the conscious and unconscious activities.
A foremost general approach satisfying the above notions towards an architectural design process would be to gather knowledge about the project and analyse the inventory of ‘To-dos’. Once the knowledge is attained, tools have to be developed accordingly to act on it. Inspiration could be derived from existing and relevant buildings, architectural styles and nature. The developing tools and inspiration has to act together to form an invention that is our design concept.
Concept Inspiration: How to develop a design concept in architecture?
The site
Buildings interpret their surroundings and reformulate them in a way architect can react to views light topography historical features vegetation and others structures. A building concept in a rural setting, it establishes a dialogue between natural and manmade; in urban and sub urban contexts, it’s a boundary between what one can design and what one cannot can editorialize this relationship: will it oppose nature or the local surroundings or compliment it? Will it disregard it or adapt to it? will it impose order on it or will it assume a different order?
The site informs the organisation of public and private spaces. How one arrives and moves from the public gathering of spaces to more private sleeping. It shapes the location of windows which would be towards the sun to catch sunlight.
The Client
The client is the major force driving the concept. Not only from an aesthetic point of view, but also programmatically. The client provides financial framework for realizing the architecture. A good architect artfully addresses a client’s need.
A design concept is to divide public and private spaces and then take a position on their relationships. From here one can diagram their concept and iterate it.
The Narrative
The built space and how he would interact to people.
Materials
Architects often use raw materials of the building as their starting point for the design process.
Structural concepts
Conceptual structural design is about structural design aiming for more than solely carrying loads; it is about carrying loads in ways that, in addition to being structurally sound, appear meaningful, beautiful or otherwise interesting. Applied on work across the professions of architecture and structural engineering, the term conceptual structural design is about developing structures that unite structural functionality and visual form into a meaningful and interesting whole.
Manifesto
Design is a composition of elements. Elements can be compromised as point, line, form, shape, texture and color. A designer apply design principles such as balance, proximity, alignment, repetition, contrast, space and datum on the design elements to make a composition. Manifesto is the brochure of design principles the architect is going to apply over the design problem.
Form
Design is a composition of elements. Elements can be compromised as point, line, form, shape, texture and colour. A designer applies design principles such as balance, proximity, alignment, repetition, contrast, space and datum on the design elements to make a composition.
Form is the shape and structure of something as distinguished from its material. Form characterizes the structure’s shape, texture, size, position, colour, orientation, visual inertia.
Form can be molded into a more interesting or harmonious 3-D composition. To work on a form of an architectural structure it’s an approach to take a basic shape and then transform it.
How to mold the concept into functional entity ?
There are many ideas that we must then edit into coherent primitive building. To get here, the best general area on the site to build and the approximate size of the structure.
From this point, rough sketching has to be done to over the site plan for allocating spaces where they make sense. This stage is called bubble diagram. The bubbles represent the rough size of the rooms and each has specific adjacency requirements.
After having the basic plans layout done, decision making of form is proceeded.
An approach :
(Pattern Language, 1977)
Zoning : Identify functional zones or realms. There might be a very nested system of realms.
characterize the first and largest of these realms as the entire complex.
Each realm has a main circulation space, which opens up directly from the entrance to the realm. The entrances to any realm open directly off the circulation space of the next larger realm.
Layout very large buildings and collection of small buildings so that one reaches a given point inside by passing through a sequence of realms, each marked by a gateway and becoming smaller and smaller, as one passes from each one, through a gateway to the next. choose the realms so that each one can be easily named, so that you can tell a person where to go, simply by telling which realm to go to.
Verify the structural capability
How to verify column sizes and column spacing?
As the span increases thickness of columns and beams would increase. Maximum span noticed is 12m and minimum is said to be 4m for feasibility. Overhead room decreases as the span increases.
The column layout depends on the design.
How to incorporate sustainable design techniques in initial design concept?
Whether we want to play with light or retain heat or make the spaces cool. Whether we want to add green roof or green garden. It all comes around to our site constraints. The temperature, the view, the wind etc. Once the site constraints are noted, sustainable techniques are selected and added to the design when the form and functionality of the built is being decided.
Sustainable Architecture Techniques
Sustainable architecture is designing buildings to comply with the principles of social, economic and ecological sustainability. These buildings also resist negative environmental impacts throughout their lifespan.
There are numerous sustainable techniques that can be applied to make a building more green and energy efficient but to pick one. It depends on the site, typology of project, budget, scale of project and focus of design.
Why am I telling you these cheat codes?
‘Fear of blank canvas’
When I begin with a painting; I have a concept in mind.
I want to put it on the white screen but there is something which doesn’t let my brush move. It’s perfection. It’s the child’s voice to make something grand and authentic. I get baffled by so many constraints in my mind such as what colors to use? How deep the hue should be? Which type of stroke should I use? Where should I make a contrast?
How to begin?
