Diagramming the Big Idea Methods for Architectural Composition

As a beginning design student, you need to learn to think like a designer, to visualize ideas and concepts, as well as objects. In Diagramming the Big Idea, Jeffrey Balmer and Michael T. Swisher illustrate how you can create and use diagrams to clarify your understanding of both particular projects and organizing principles and ideas. With accessible, step-by-step exercises that interweave diagrams, drawings and virtual models, the authors clearly show you how to compose meaningful and useful diagrams.

As you follow the development of the four project groups drawn from the authors’ teaching, you will become familiar with architectural composition concepts such as proportion, site, form, hierarchy and spatial construction. In addition, description and demonstration essays extend concepts to show you more examples of the methods used in the projects. Whether preparing for a desk critique, or any time when a fundamental insight can help to resolve a design problem, this book is your essential studio resource.

CONTENTS

1. Introduction

• 1.1 Read Me First!
• 1.2 What is Architecture?
• 1.3 Organization, Order, Composition
• 1.4 Utility, Function, Purpose
• 1.5 Measure, Matter, Method
• 1.6 Design and Method
• 1.7 Method and Methodology
• 1.8 How This Book Works
• 1.9 Two Roles for Precedents
• 1.10 The Form of the Argument
• 1.11 Glossary
• 1.12 Description 1: Order and Measure
• 1.13 Demonstrations

• 2.1 Diagrams as Method
• 2.2 Diagram Types
• 2.3 Diagram and Design Education
• 2.4 Learning Diagrammatic Form
• 2.5 Gestalt Sub-categories
• 2.6 The Diagram and Visual Order
• 2.7 Our Purpose
• 2.8 Glossary
• 2.9 Description 2: The Essential Hut
• 2.10 Demonstrations

3. Order First

• 3.1 On Order
• 3.2 On Measure
• 3.3 Dividing the Square
• 3.4 Rules of Engagement
• 3.5 Positive and Negative Space
• 3.6 Order and the Orthogonal
• 3.7 Glossary
• 3.8 Description 3: Order, Orientation and the Orthogonal
• 3.9 Demonstrations

4. Design and Drawing Fundamentals

• 4.1 On Drawing
• 4.2 Relevance to Design
• 4.3 Deriving Order in Drawing
• 4.4 Exercises in Relational Geometry
• 4.5 Defined and Implied Space
• 4.6 Analyzing the Composition
• 4.7 Three Variant Compositions
• 4.8 Contrast, Repetition, Alignment and Proximity
• 4.9 The Variations Considered
• 4.10 General Observations
• 4.11 Motif, Pattern and Theme
• 4.12 Defined Fields
• 4.13 Sorting Through Results
• 4.14 Implied Fields
• 4.15 Adding Fields
• 4.16 Combining Fields
• 4.17 Summary
• 4.18 Glossary
• 4.19 Description 4: The Courtyard
• 4.20 Demonstrations

5. Building on Proportion

• 5.1 Object on a Field
• 5.2 A figure in the Relational Field
• 5.3 Looking at the Groups
• 5.4 Adding to the Quadrants
• 5.5 Two Elements
• 5.6 Refining the Figures
• 5.7 Observing the New Figures
• 5.8 Observing the New Group
• 5.9 Glossary
• 5.10 Description 5: Figures and Fields
• 5.11 Demonstrations

6. Conventions in Design

• 6.1 Drawing in the Third Dimension
• 6.2 Adding Fields and Overhead Planes
• 6.3 Turning the Grid
• 6.4 Reading the Section
• 6.5 Plan Layers
• 6.6 Final Relief
• 6.7 Summary
• 6.8 Glossary
• 6.9 Description 6: Axis and Path

7. Starting in Three Dimensions

• 7.1 Design on a Grid
• 7.2 The Site
• 7.3 Three Figures
• 7.4 Spatial Models
• 7.5 Visualizing Axes
• 7.6 Spatial Hierarchy – Field, Grain and Path
• 7.7 Clarifying Plan Elements
• 7.8 More Complex Strategies
• 7.9 Diagram Model #1
• 7.10 Three Diagram Models
• 7.11 Five Diagrams
• 7.12 Constructing the Model
• 7.13 Glossary
• 7.14 Description 7: Spatial systems

8. Precedent in Two Dimensions

• 8.1 Introduction
• 8.2 Two Concepts
• 8.3 Two Expressions
• 8.4 Two Dimensions
• 8.5 House with Three Courts
• 8.6 The Danteum
• 8.7 Glossary

9. Precedents in Three Dimensions

• 9.1 Introduction
• 9.2 Representing the Third Dimension
• 9.3 Phillips Exeter Academy Library
• 9.4 Plan + Section = Isometric
• 9.5 Three-dimensional Anatomy
• 9.6 Unity Temple
• 9.7 Fundamental Diagrams
• 9.8 Cubes in Common
• 9.9 Diagram as Generator
• 9.10 Glossary

10. Color & Material in Diagrams

• 10.1 First observations
• 10.2 Initial Encounters
• 10.3 A first Visual Palette
• 10.4 Color and Materials
• 10.5 Color and Material as Identifiers in Diagrams
• 10.6 Glossary
• 10.7 Demonstration Appendices Glossary Sources Index

242 pages / 21,5 x 28 cm / English