Architectural Design

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1st ProofTitle: BA: Architectural Design

Job No: PD0710-67/4028

Chapter 2 final_.qxd:layouts to chapter one 7/24/10 9:01 AM Page 39

‘I know that I become very impatient about speed once we know where we’re

going. So it is a very dilatory sort of a process where you orbit the thing and

actually, you often try to avoid it for as long as possible, and then you can’t

avoid it any longer, and then you pounce, and after that you want it done as

fast as possible.’

John Tuomey, O’Donnell + Tuomey

Problem solving

› NL Architects: Prisma housing

It is important to ask how critical judgement is learned,

because it is a technique so central to architectural design.

The answer is not an easy one. As with much architectural

education, there is a strong element of learning by doing and

less evidence of instructive forms of teaching. You may find

that it simply becomes necessary to make a choice between

several promising ideas and the deadline normally compels

you to make a decision. However, it is important not to

become rigid in your thinking, always opting for the first

solution. Tutorials offer an opportunity for you to reason

through the decisions made. Critical judgement is primarily

verbal and you should become skilled in ‘architectural

language’ to understand and participate.

Architecture: Plane /envelope

English: Floor, wall, roof

Meaning: It is too early to fix the form by naming

a surface as vertical, horizontal or inclined.

Architecture: Describe the materiality of your proposal

English: What is it made from?

Meaning: Don’t just assume ‘brick’ if your drawing

suggests a light, delicate structure.

Architecture:Describe the scale of your proposal

English: How big is it?

Meaning: How do the proportions of the building

relate to the occupants and the context

(rural or urban)?

Text

1st ProofTitle: BA: Architectural Design

Job No: PD0710-67/4028

Chapter 2 final_.qxd:layouts to chapter one 7/24/10 9:02 AM Page 39