Architectural Design

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 52

1 Linear sequence

2 Testing or scanning

3 Systematic production of

alternatives

4 Forming alternatives in a multi-step

process

The design process

Finding a process

Analysing the process of design

In his book Tools for Ideas: Introduction to Architectural

Design, Christian Gänshirt shows four alternative diagrams

that Horst Rittel used to describe the design process. The

first and simplest diagram, a ‘linear sequence’, shows activity

followed by a decision, which leads to further activity, which

leads in turn to another decision and so on. In theory, this

linear process could describe a very experienced architect

who is solving a problem similar to previous, successfully

solved ones. However, when applied to architectural

problems, this makes the assumption that an architect would

wish to solve a similar problem in a similar way rather than to

continually seek innovation, as most would strive to do.

The second diagram, ‘testing and scanning’, shows an

attempt by the designer to use the first solution that occurs

to them. When this does not produce the desired result,

the designer returns to the beginning and tries a different

solution. The third diagram, ‘systematic production of

alternatives’, shows a designer who is consciously setting

up several alternative approaches and exploring them before

using critical judgement to make a decision. The fourth

diagram, ‘forming alternatives in a multi-step process’,

describes a designer who will develop multiple solutions

but with self-imposed constraints to reduce the number

of alternatives to a manageable amount.

The fourth version seems the closest to the reality of the

design process. It admits the imposition of constraints by the

designer in order to make the task manageable and therefore

introduces an element of arbitrariness and subjectivity, which

certainly exists, however logical the reasons for the decision

made by the designer.

Horst Rittel’s diagram of four

‘design processes for generating

variety and reducing variety’:

12

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 52