Design Process

The architectural design process is

organized to ensure that objectives are
reached in order of priority; the highest
priorities are addressed and the largest
design solutions are arrived at first,
then the details fall in place in concert
with the larger issues and ideas. 
Without this approach, the resulting
building is just a random collection of
unrelated decisions.

Conceptual Design Phase

1. Pre-design phase
-often referred to as a
programming

- to Duerk (1993), architectural

programming is the systematic process
of gathering and analyzing information
about a building or other setting, and then
using that information to create guidelines
for the performance of that setting.´
 Programming is also defined as
consultation to establish and document the
following detailed requirements for a
project.
In general, pre-design is a
problem-seeking stage.

2. Site Analysis is treated as distinct

phase probably because it involves on-site activity in real projects. In contrast to the pre-design stage

3. Schematic design phase is a problem solving stage in this phase. What is called creative part, usually refers to the schematic design phase
where main concepts of form and space are generated.

The Architectural Design Problem’s Three Main Variables

1. NEED
 Programming
Programming the requirements of a proposed building is the architect’s first task, often the most important.
1. Establish Goals
2. Collect and analyze Facts
3. Uncover and test Concepts
4. Determine Needs
5. State the Problem

 Design Data
An important activity in the beginning of the design process is the collection of relevant design data and examples.

 The Program
The architectural design programs are usually complicated. We are going to use here a small and simple program of a small house
or chalet containing the following spaces:

 Program Analysis

BUBBLE DIAGRAM RELATIONSHIPS DIAGRAMS ADJACENCY DIAGRAM

  Circulation
Circulation, patterns of movement, is one of the most important aspects of design because it affects the human experience of space
and place. The needs of special groups should be considered especially while designing public buildings.

 Social and Cultural Variables

Patterns of behavior are different from country to country and among people of same country according to social and cultural
backgrounds. The meaning and use of spaces in western countries is different than in Eastern and Middle Eastern countries. Spaces are not
understood and used the same way by all people. In order to satisfy the end users of buildings, design should meet the specific needs of people
such as: space configuration, use, form, orientation, control, privacy, etc.

2. CONTEXT
 Site
 Zoning
 Services
 Macro Climate
 Micro Climate
 Adjacent Buildings
 Geographical Factors
 Vehicular Access

The selection of site is a very important and sensitive task. It affects the success of the project. Site features include macro and
microclimates, topography, natural circulation, views and landscaping elements such as trees, bushes, rocks, or water.

The site analysis can be further extended taking into account program area needs to explore some preliminary alternatives for building
massing.

3. FORM
 Zoning
 Circulation
 Structure
 Enclosure
 Construction Type
 Construction Process
 Energy
 Climate Control
 Image
 SPACE AND ORDER SCALE AND PROPORTION

UNITY AND DIVERSITY MASS AND BALANCE VOLUME AND COMPOSITION