Activity 1.1.

2 Design Principles and

Elements
Introduction
Have you ever noticed how buildings of similar size and
shape can have completely different visual effects?
Architects, like artists, must understand the elements
and principles of design and how they affect the visual
impact of the building on a viewer. Whether it is the
intent of the architect to create a feeling of strength and
stability or to create an unusual form that will elicit a
double-take from the public, the elements and principles
of design can be used to manipulate the intellectual and
emotional reactions of the people who see and use the
building.
Equipment
rinciples and !lements of "esign Applied to
Architecture presentation notes
Procedure
#n this activity you will identify design elements and principles as they pertain to
images of structures.
$or each of the following, choose one element of design and one principle of design
that you feel is most prominent in the image and then %ustify your choice.
Word Bank
&alance $orm 'hythm (e)ture
*olor +ine ,hape -nity
!mphasis roportion.,cale ,pace /alue
ro%ect +ead (he Way,

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*!A 3 -nit 2 3 +esson 2.2 3 Activity 2.2.0 3 "esign rinciples and !lements 3 age 2
2. rinciple of "esign
*urved
4ustification5
(he side of the building has
an arc towered it which also
give this vibe of freedom and
creates a soft vibe to the
building
!lement of "esign
Horizontal balance
4ustification5
(he curvature on the left is
also reflected on the right
also combined with the
triangular form in the middle
that gives this sense of
beauty to the building

0. rinciple of "esign
'ough surface
4ustification5
(he surface of big ben
looks very rough and in
person # remember that big
ben was lighter then the color
that is pro%ected in the image.
!lement of "esign
#nfornal &alance
4ustification5
(he balance of big ben has a
very long short strcture with
one skinny very tall structure
that balance the structure

6. rinciple of "esign
/ertical line
4ustification5
7ou can see that the freedom
tower has the strength
symbolized with his long tall
size which also show it
stability

ro%ect +ead (he Way,

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*!A 3 -nit 2 3 +esson 2.2 3 Activity 2.2.0 3 "esign rinciples and !lements 3 age 0
!lement of "esign
8ovement
4ustification5
(he triangles of the
freedom tower make me
feel motion and action
throughout the structure
and gives me a plow of
motion
9. rinciple of "esign
,pace
4ustification5
+evi stadium has lot of
uncluttered space
provided by not having a
roof on the the niulding
and nothing in the middle
!lement of "esign
:raduated rhythm
4ustification5
(he seats go around in a
circle and continue to get
wider till the top

ro%ect +ead (he Way,

#nc.
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*!A 3 -nit 2 3 +esson 2.2 3 Activity 2.2.0 3 "esign rinciples and !lements 3 age 6
;#stockphoto.com
<. rinciple of "esign
4ustification5
!lement of "esign
====================
4ustification5


Conclusion
2. #n what way do certain elements or principles identify the time period in which a
structure was created?
0. What factors might account for an incorrect identification?
6. "escribe an e)ample of a way that design principles and elements could impact
the function of a building.
ro%ect +ead (he Way,

#nc.
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*!A 3 -nit 2 3 +esson 2.2 3 Activity 2.2.0 3 "esign rinciples and !lements 3 age 9