1. IDEAS FOR ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPTS
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2. Ideas for Architectural Concepts
Table of Contents
1. Ideas for Architectural Concepts
1.0.1. Site
1.0.2. Building Requirements:
1.0.3. Building Type:
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3. 1.1. Developing the Concept
1.2. Developing the concept from the site
1.2.1. Views
1.2.2. Light
1.2.3. Topography
1.2.4. Vernacular of the location
1.2.5. History
1.2.6. Natural features
1.2.7. Existing Structures
1.2.8. Orientation
1.2.9. Cultural context
1.2.10. Weather
1.3. Developing the concept from the building requirements
1.3.1. Function First
1.3.2. Use
1.3.3. Who?
1.3.4. Privacy – public spaces vs private
1.3.5. Space
1.3.6. Movement
1.4. Developing the concept from the building type
1.4.1. Precedent Study
1.4.2. Materials
1.4.3. Structural strategy
1.4.4. Building form
1.4.5. Traditional or different
1.4.6. Building Type
1.5. Other architectural concept ideas!
1.6. You might also be interested in:
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4. To develop an architectural concept we must �rst gather a set of
information before we can start any sort of design process. We
can categorise these initial �ndings into three distinct areas:
• Site
• Building Requirements
• Building Type
Site
Before we can start to design a scheme we must carry out a
thorough site analysis in order to understand the location and
surrounding context of where our project is situated. Every
building must be designed to re�ect and complement the site it is
on and the area that surrounds it. I am not suggesting that it must
blend into the site, but it must be aware of the context. We have a
number of detailed articles relating to carrying out a Site Analysis
which you can explore at the end of this post.
We can use our site analysis �ndings to develop architectural
concepts and ideas. We list some of these ideas below. Read on.
Building Requirements:
The next stage of the process is to understand the requirements of
our building. This is where we must communicate with the client
to understand their needs and what the demands of the building
will be. You cannot design a building if you don’t know what it will
be used for, or who will use it. You can read our article on
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5. Developing the Design Brief at the end of this post.
Once we have developed a solid understanding of the
requirements of our building, we can use this data to help inform
our architectural concept development. We list some ideas for this
below.
Building Type:
This relates to the type of building that we are designing. It is a
hospital, a museum, a home? This is where we collect information
to better understand the type of building we are designing, look at
precedent studies and gain a thorough and informed
understanding of the project. What problems are we trying to
solve for the client and the building users? What kind of structure
is suited to this building type?
We have an article on Precedent Study at the end of this post.
You can download this blog post as a handy pdf by clicking on the
button below. Useful to keep it for your records so you can easily
refer to this list anytime.
Click here to download
Developing the Concept
All of this information that we have collected with help inspire and
guide us towards developing an architectural concept or a seed
idea that will bring our design forward. You are setting the
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6. foundations of the project by carrying out thorough research, only
to build on your ideas and develop your concepts based on these
early stages. The following ideas are intended to serve as thinking
points, things for you to consider about your project and questions
to ask in order to develop your concepts.
During your concept development stage, it is a good idea to keep
sketching. Explore your ideas through concept sketches, concept
models, and anything else that will help you be more creative and
expand your thinking. Don’t come up with your �rst single idea and
stick with it. Try out many other ideas before settling on one, even
if you go back to the �rst! Keep experimenting!
I hope that this helps!
Developing the concept from the site
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7. In this section we are turning to our site to inform us, and develop
our architectural concept ideas. We are reacting to the constraints
or the bene�ts of the site and using these to solve design
problems.
Views
Does the site have views that should be maximised? Can the
design make a play on those views and reveal them as the user
moves through the building. Will some aspects of the building
require a view, while others should be more shielded? If there are
no views, can inward views be created instead?
Light 2
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8. What is the light like on the site? Is it open and bright or
overshadowed and dark? Could the light be something that is
developed and interwoven into the design?
Topography
What is the site like in terms of levels and layout. Is there a strong
topography that should be developed into the design. Does the
topography dictate areas of the site that can and can’t be built on?
Are some parts of the site more exposed than others? Will this
have an impact on the orientation of the building? Is the site steep
or �at?
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9. Vernacular of the location
Can your concept be developed based on the existing building
vernacular in the area? Are you looking to re�ect the style in your
design or challenge the existing style? Perhaps you want to put a
more modern twist on the existing context. Fully understanding
the buildings in their context and developing your research can
create exiting opportunities to create concepts based on the
progression of the surrounding buildings.
History
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10. If your site is in a historical area or perhaps has listed buildings
nearby, this may be something you would like to consider and
develop. Having a strong concept that is based around the past
in�uences of your site can create interesting journeys not only
through your design but the �nal project itself. Certainly worth
considering.
Natural features
Some sites will have natural features such as trees, rivers, rocky
landscapes, vegetation, cliffs, valleys, and much more. Think about
how these natural features can inform your design or even
become a part of it.
Existing Structures
Are there existing structures on the site or around the site that
might in�uence your design decisions? What are the existing
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11. structures used for? Consider how the current use of the site and
its area might be developed into your concept.
Orientation
How important is the orientation of your building? Obviously we
always think of our sun path and aim to orientate the building as
best we can according to the sun path. However, is there anything
else that might dictate a certain orientation to the building? If we
are looking at a large site, is there a natural �ow of visitors to the
site? Is there a natural axis to the site? Or do we want to change
that axis? Considering how the proposed building is positioned on
the site creates an interesting concept.
Cultural context
Does the context of the surrounding society have an in�uence on
our design? What are the cultural aspects of the locality? Will this
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12. information form part of your concept as you move your design
forward?
Weather
How does the weather affect our site? Is the site exposed to the
elements and need to be protected? How much shelter needs to
be provided? Do we want to turn the building away from strong
prevailing winds? What if the winds come from the same direction
that has the best view? How can we develop a concept that serves
all the solutions we look to create?
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13. Developing the concept from the building
requirements
In this section we look at requirements of the building to inform
our architectural concept. This is looking at what the client or end
user wants and needs out of the building and how we will
approach these design problems.
Function First
Is our priority to nail the function of the building over the form? Is
our key goal and concept to deliver on the requirements of the
building before considering the overall form? How important is the
form vs the function of the building?
Use
What is the building going to be used for? How much space is
required? Will the building always have one use or will it change
over time? Can our concept re�ect the end user of the building?
Who?
Who is going to use the building? How often? A home is very
speci�c to and personal to a small group of people who are using
the building on a daily basis. A museum is used by many people
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14. who may only visit for a couple of hours, once. These different
building users may be key to how you develop your design and in
turn your architectural concept.
Privacy – public spaces vs private
How will the building be used? Will it need private and public
spaces? How will this be achieved? This is dependent on the
building type and the site – but a concept can be developed based
on how the different spaces differ in their privacy and how they
are connected.
Space
This is more based around speci�cs of requirements. For example,
if you are designing a new home for a client, they may be very
speci�c in how many rooms they would like and what size those
rooms need to be. It is your task to consider how those spaces will
interact, connect, and feel. In a museum design, there may be
speci�c requirements for displaying exhibits, how can you ful�l
this criteria?
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15. Movement
How will the building user move through the building? Will you
create a journey in your design to pull the visitor through the
building? How will you make the experiences differ as the user
passes through the different spaces? How will you connect the
spaces? How will the visitors �ow? A home will have a very
different journey to a hospital, or a museum or school – how can
you draw from these differences?
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16. Developing the concept from the building type
In this section we will think speci�cally about the type of building
we are designing and how our architectural concepts may develop
from this information.
Precedent Study
When we are working on a design project we can draw from
precedent studies to inform our designs. A precedent can
communicate a meaning to your design, and be used as an idea or
guide. The precedent study can be a starting point for your own
concept or seed idea.
(See Precedent Study article)
Materials
Perhaps we want to approach our design looking at the materials
of the structure as a part of our early concept? Does this building
type naturally lend itself to a type of material? What might you be
trying to achieve by using a particular material? Local materials,
comfort, familiarity? Consider how material choice will affect the
aesthetics of your design and the experience for the building user.
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17. Structural strategy
Does this building type have a particular structure that it is most
suited to? Will this inform your concept? Perhaps it is a grid form,
cantilever, natural organic shapes? Solid structures like concrete
and masonry, or lightweight like glass?
Building form
How are you imagining the building form in 3D? Does the mass of
the building re�ect the purpose? How will your proposed form
impact the building users, the feeling of space? How important is
the form when developing your concept?
Traditional or di�erent
Do you want your design to be traditional in the sense of the
building type, or do you want it to break the mould and be
different from what we normally expect of that type of building? If
we want to be different and controversial, why? What is driving
your decisions?
Building Type
Are you designing a hospital – consider the practical use for the
staff but also the feel for the patients…How can you achieve a
feeling of safety and comfort for patients while making sure the
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18. spaces are practical and useful for the staff.
Are you designing a school – consider what the building is for the
students, teachers and parents… a place of learning, safety,
community, development – how do all these elements weave into
your concept?
Other architectural concept ideas!
Moving away from the three main areas, I want to take a look at
some other ways you may develop your architecture concepts. We
covered some of these ideas in a previous architectural concept
post, but they are very relevant and worth considering in your
design development.
Consider your design philosophy. This is a set of values you use to
inform your design. The values could be of the designer, or
perhaps a re�ection of the design brief, or the context of the site –
or indeed a combination of all three.
You could investigate and consider some of the following
statements:
artistic vs scienti�c
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19. rational vs irrational
personal vs private
visual vs non visual
wants vs needs
individual vs society
In terms of design, how to these values work with the design
problems you face on this particular project?
ordered vs random
structured vs unstructured
objective vs subjective
one answer vs multiple solutions
creative vs conservative
speci�c vs general
man vs nature
complexity vs simplicity
design for now vs design for the future
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20. pattered process vs random process
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25. Don’t forget – this post can be downloaded as a handy pdf so that
you always have these ideas to hand! Just click on the button
below to get your download of our Ideas for Architectural
Concepts.
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26. You might also be interested in:
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