Monday, September 19, 2011

the design is based on allowing on to feel as though they are in nature and can experience
<to be continued>

Monday, July 11, 2011

What makes a good architectural design? (V2)


Please ignore the post below. I did not understand my objective then.

1. Sydney Opera House


The Sydney Opera House is a performing arts venue whose idea was conceived by Danish Architect Jørn Utzon who won the Pritzker Prize, which is the highest honor an architect could receive. This building has also been named a UNESCO Heritage site and is one of the most famous performing arts centers in the world.


2. Madrid-Barajas Airport Terminal 4




Madrid Bajaras Airport's Terminal 4 was designed by Richard Rogers and Antonio Lamela who were the winning team of the 2006 IStructE Award for Commercial Structures, contructed the terminal on some specific criteria. It is designed to give passengers a stress free start to their journey, achieved by

• Careful use of illumination, with glass panes instead of walls
• Numerous domes in the roof which allow natural light to pass through, instead of standard fluorescent light (Something like Changi Airport's Terminal 3)


I think that the criteria that needs to be met to design a building is the following:

- Must be user friendly-Which means it must adapt to the needs of the people who will use the building. Designing an office building will not suit the needs for people who want to go to a hotel.
- Firm and Durable-Should last long, and and be able to function well without a lot of constant maintenance
- Aesthetically Appealing

What makes a good Architectural Design?


The building must be appealing to the eye:


"a building should meet obligations of commodity (utilitas), firmness (firmitas), and delight (venustas)."

-Roman Architect Vitruvius

Thus, since the focus is aesthetics, a good example would be the Somerset Area in Orchard Road, Singapore's Shopping District. This place needs to be attractive and happening


The Fullerton Hotel in Singapore is another such example

The last example is the Museum of Natural History in the USA


What is Architectural Design?


1. The profession of designing buildings, open areas, communities, and other artificial constructions and environments, usually with some regard to aesthetic effect. Architecture often includes design or selection of furnishings and decorations, supervision of construction work, and the examination, restoration, or remodeling of existing buildings.



2. The art or science of building; specifically : the art or practice of designing and building structures and especially habitable ones 



3. The complex or carefully designed structure of something