Philadelphia University
Faculty of Engineering
Department of Architecture
First Semester (2013/2014)
Course Syllabus
Course Title:
Architectural Design (1)
Course Level:
1st year
Lecture Time:
12:10-16:00 Sunday , Tuesday & Thursday
Course code:
0660150
Course prerequisite (s):
Credit hours:
4
Academic Staff Specifics
Name
Rank
Dr. Afnan Saleh
Eng. Haneen
Assistant
professor
Lab
supervisor
Office /Lab
Number and
Location
Office Hours
E-mail Address
61-317
MW 10:00-12:30
a.saleh@ philadelphia.edu.eg
61-116
Course description:
This course is designed to introduce the student to Design basics and fundamentals. It focuses on
orienting the student to the concept of visual arts as introduction to architectural design. Topics to be
addressed during this course are: design elements, contrast, figure organization, balance, proportion,
color, visual illusion, three dimensional organization, light, and movement.
Course objectives:
This course aims essentially to introduce the student with the fundamental of visual arts as
standpoint to the basics of architectural design. This main goal can be achieved through achieving the
following objectives:





Develop an aesthetic perception
Remember and use the terminology of design and art (in Arabic and English)
Know the design disciplines other than architecture.
Understand and recognize the elements of design
Understand and recognize the meaning of design as creative process of fulfilling the functional
and expressive aspects of design.
Architectural Design (1)
1st Semester (2013/2014)
 Understand and practice the design fundamentals by using the elements of design
 Develop a basis for making aesthetic judgment
 Acquire artistic knowledge, perception and technical skills to express and communicate ideas
graphically
 Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional compositions of targeted aesthetical purposes.
Course components
Books;
Support material;
Various illustrations on Data Show
Homework and laboratory guide:
A series of exercise sheets designed to achieve the course objectives. Each sheet includes
exercise description, exercise objective, required instruments and materials, and guiding
instructions and the time of work to produce the required submittals.
Teaching methods:
This course follows the process of enhancing and improving of the student’s talents and practical
experience. In order to achieve this, the followings should be taken into consideration;
 Each exercise objectives are explained in details to ensure the student’s ability to be involved in
the experiment.
 The student needs a strong desire, patience, perseverance, and most of all practice; as to gain
confidence in his/her ideas and abilities.
 Exercises are designed in a way that provides the student with analytical skills enabling him/
her with ability to understand the concept of design and aesthetic value.
 The process of design which involves defining the problem and searching for the most suitable
solution requires and enhances the student’s decision making, self assessment, problem solving
and presentation skills.
Learning outcomes:
Knowledge and understanding:
The student is to be aware that architectural design is a creative process which involves continuous
ordering of the defined form and space.
Cognitive skills - (thinking and analysis):
This course improve the student’s imagination by manipulating a three dimensional organization of
form and space.
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1st Semester (2013/2014)
Architectural Design (1)
Communication skills - (personal and academic):
The student will be trained to use the architectural vocabulary which enables him/her to work with
other architects. The practice of creative architectural design strengthens the student’s confidence and
leadership skills. The Masterpiece of architecture can never be created without the designer’s strong
desire, persistence, practice, knowledge, time management, decision making, problem solving and
innovative skills.
Practical and subject specific skills - (Transferable Skills):
The student’s recognizing and practicing of the organization of space and form in third dimension
is considered as basic knowledge in architectural design that helps the student to succeed in future
practice of architectural design.
Assessment instruments
The student is to submit a series of assignments and exercises which are to be evaluated according
to the following criterion:
Allocation of Marks
Assessment Instruments
Mark
First Exam
20%
Second Exam
20%
Reports
20%
Final Exam
40%
Total
100%
Engineering student should have the ability of time management. Consequently, assignments and
exercises should be submitted on time. A bonus of 5% of the students’ grade will be awarded to those
who submit their projects on time. A penalty of 5% of the students’ grade will be inflicted foe each day
of delay (weekends included).
Documentation and academic honesty
The students are trusted to act honorably. Those who are in violation of the academic honesty can
be subjected to standard penalty for a first offence includes issuing "No Pass" or "No Credit" for the
exercise in which the violation occurred. The standard penalty for a multiple violation includes "No
Pass" or "No Credit" for the course. Examples of conduct which to be regarded as being in violation
include:
 Unpermitted collaboration.
 Representing the work of another as one's own work.
 Giving or receiving aid on an academic assignment under circumstances in which a
reasonable person should have known that such aid was not permitted.
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1st Semester (2013/2014)
Architectural Design (1)
Course academic calendar
Week
No.
1.
Dates
Exercise
06/10/2013
08/10/2013
Drop/ add period
Course outlines and requirements
What is design? What is architecture? The study of architecture
2.
13/10/2013
15/10/2013
20/10/2013
22/10/2013
3.
Eid al-Adha
Exercise 1: Figure and ground (form and contrast)
4.
27/10/2013
29/10/2013
Exercise 2: Figure organization
5.
03/11/2013
05/11/2013
10/11/2013
19/11/2013
Exercise 3: Balance and movement
17/11/2013
19/11/2013
24/11/2013
26/11/2013
Exercise 4: Proportion and rhythm
9.
01/12/2013
03/12/2013
Exercise 6: Color relativity
10
08/12/2013
10/12/2013
Exercise 7: Color tonality
11.
15/12/2013
17/12/2013
Exercise 8: Depth and visual illusion
12.e
22/12/2013
24/12/2013
Exercise 9: Three dimensional organization
13.
29/12/2013
31/12/2013
Exercise 10: Three dimensional organization
14.
05/01/2014
07/01/2014
Exercise 10: Three dimensional organization
12/01/2014
14/01/2014
Exercise 11: Light and movement
6.
7.
8.
15.
Drop/ add period
Islamic New
Year
Exercise 3: Balance and movement
Exercise 4: Proportion and rhythm
Exercise 5: Limited colors page
|
Exercise 11: Light and movement
Prophet
Mohammad’s
birth anniversary
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1st Semester (2013/2014)
Architectural Design (1)
Week
No.
15.
Dates
Exercise
19/01/2014
28/01/2014
Finals
Expected workload:
Architectural Design courses are the most important courses for the architectural engineering
student. This course involves creative tasks that require patience and continuous practicing which
implies spending extra time (not less than 10 hours/week) in working on projects and exercises.
Attendance policy:
Absence from lectures and/or tutorials shall not exceed 15%. Students who exceed the 15% limit
without a medical or emergency excuse acceptable to and approved by the Dean of the relevant
college/Faculty shall not be allowed to take the final examination and shall receive a mark of zero for
the course. If the excuse is approved by the Dean, the student shall be considered to have withdrawn
from the course.
References
Books
Ching, Francis D.K. 1979. Architecture: Form. Space & Order. New York : Van Nostrand Reinhold
Company, 1979.
Scott, Robert Gillam. 1951. Design Fundamentals. New York : McGraw Hill Book Company, Inc., 1951.
‫ دار نهضة‬: ‫نيويورك‬- ‫القاهرة‬. ‫محمد محمود يوسف‬and ‫عبد الباقي محمد ابراهيم‬. [trans.] ‫اسس التصميم‬. 1968. ‫روبرت جيالم‬, ‫سكوت‬
, 1968.‫مصر للطبع والنشر باالشتراك مع مؤسسة فرانكلين للطباعة والنشر‬
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