Chabot College
Fall 2003
Replaced Fall 2010
Course Outline for Architecture 8A
FUNDAMENTALS OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN I
Catalog Description:
8A - Fundamentals of Architectural Design I
4 units
Introduction to the theories, principles, and methods of architectural design using traditional and
digital media. Studio projects emphasize composing two- and three-dimensional organizations to
convey intended concepts and meanings. Aesthetic, environmental, social, and technological
factors which inform architectural design are investigated. Course work is supplemented with
lectures, discussions, and readings. Prerequisite: Architecture 2B, 31A, 32A, 33 (all completed with
a grade of “C” or higher). 3 hours lecture, 3 hours studio.
[Typical contact hours: lecture 52.5, studio 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
Before entering the course, the student should be able to:
.
1. cast shadows in orthographic, axonometric, oblique and linear perspective;
2. create reflections in orthographic, axonometric, oblique and linear perspective;
3. understand and apply principles and theories underlying color classification(i.e., value, hue,
chroma, color wheel, compliments, warm, cool, etc.);
4. utilize a variety of media to create color drawings using theories of color composition;
5. utilize a variety of techniques for drawing a range of materials (i.e., wood, brick, glass, stone,
concrete, shingles, etc.) within orthographic, axonometric, oblique drawings, and linear
perspective;
6. apply techniques for creating and integrating entourage (people, trees, vegetation,
furnishings, cars. etc.) into linear perspective, orthographic, axonometric and oblique
drawings;
7. apply principles and theories underlying the organization of elements including pattern,
hierarchy, and contrast;
8. use basic Apple Macintosh operating system features, including navigation of the desktop;
saving and moving files to various storage media, and adjusting system preferences;
9. launch Adobe PhotoShop (PS), navigate its interface, locate and turn on PS’s toolbox and
palettes, and apply short-cut key commands and dialog boxes;
10. create, save and close a new document in a variety of file formats, appropriate to its intended
use;
11. undo moves with the History palette;
12. describe the basic difference between raster (Bitmap) and vector (Object-oriented) images;
13. navigate and customize the PS interface;
14. browse and import selected images into a document;
15. move and modify the shape of a path;
16. select and edit colors, discuss the use of various color modes, and manage color channels;
17. apply various digital brushes, use the paint bucket and fill tools;
18. apply and customize gradients;
19. restore and retouch images with the clone stamp, healing and and patch tools;
20. create patterns and textures;
21. generate and apply masks to form composite/collage images;
22. use basic layer controls;
23. use basic Apple Macintosh operating system features, including navigation of the desktop,
saving and moving files to various storage media, and adjusting system preferences;
24. launch the Adobe Illustrator (AI) software, navigate its interface, locate and turn on AI’s
toolbox and palettes, and apply short-cut key commands and dialog boxes;
25. create, save and close a new document;
26. distinguish the difference between raster (Bitmap) and vector (Object-oriented) images;
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Course Outline for Architecture 8A, Page 3
Fall 2003
27. summarize the basic components of a paths and path selections, and create paths with a
variety of tools including: rectangle tool, ellipse tool, polygon tool, star too, line segment tool,
arc tool, spiral tool, grid tool;
28. move and modify the shape of a path;
29. draw and manipulate Bézier path curves with the pen and pencil tool, and control the quantity
and handles of anchor points;
30. control of stroke widths;
31. arrange multiple elements by applying tools to control stacking order, object grouping,
locking/unlocking objects, hiding/showing artwork;
32. place text in a document by use of the Type Tools, formatting of character- and paragraphbased attributes;
33. apply rulers, grids, & guides, change the artboard specifications, create crop marks, and
create a custom startup file;
34. discuss color theory fundamentals, including color modes, color selection, swatch libraries
and palettes;
35. use gradients and pattern tools and palettes;
36. apply layer fundamentals, including creating, naming, ordering, showing/hiding,
locking/unlocking;
37. demonstrate basic knowledge of the program’s interface;
38. demonstrate the range of ways that FormZ can be used in architectural design and
presentations;
39. use layers in organizing, creating and editing objects;
40. use planes in creating, editing and displaying objects;
41. construct the basic primitives;
42. transform a primitive or other object by manipulating the size and/or location of its points,
segments, holes and/or faces;
43. insert point segments, shapes and holes in primitives and other objects;
44. move an object or its copy through space;
45. create derivative objects;
46. create or modify objects using Boolean operations;
47. create or modify objects using the sweep and revolve tools;
48. import underlays and using them as guides to construct objects;
49. define and save planes, layers and views;
50. create and apply surface styles;
51. ocate light sources to produce values and shadows that enhance the illusion of threedimensional form, depth and space;
52. specify views that communicate the form and spatial qualities of a design;
53. display and export views in a variety of ways and formats;
54. create site contour models;
55. create and edit organic shapes (shapes consisting of complex curves and/or polylines) using
the Skin, C-Mesh, and Nurbz Tools;
56. define and apply surface styles that appropriately represent materials;
57. define and locate natural and artificial light sources that appropriately represent the lighting of
space and form.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
1. apply fundamental principles and means of design in the creation of two- and threedimensional compositions;
2. consciously plan and systematically approach the solution of a design problem and reflect on
its success and effect on the product;
3. identify and evaluate alternate solutions to given architectural problems;
4. deliberately compose design elements which exhibit a specified set of relationships (i.e.
pattern, hierarchy, and contrast) and organizational attributes (i.e. proximity, repetition,
sequence, structure, symmetry, etc.);
5. express proposed design concepts graphically, with study models, and verbally;
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Course Outline for Architecture 8A, Page 3
Fall 2003
6. access research materials on the built environment;
7. describe how social and cultural values affect architectural design;
8. manipulate and apply digital images, illustrations and 3-dimensional models to the process of
architectural design.
Course Content:
1. Design process theory, principles and techniques
2. Form attributes (size, shape, surface, light, material, and relationship)
3. Architectural elements (i.e. floors, walls, and roofs)
4. Theory and principles of spatial definition
5. Basic theory and concepts of daylighting
6. Anthropometrics and proxemics as determinants of architectural form
7. Concepts of boundary, gateway, circulation, and definition of space
8. Theories of scale and proportion
9. Constructing study models
10. Application of digital images, illustrations and 3-dimensional models to the process of
architectural design
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Lecture
Whiteboard demonstrations; overheads/slides/video as appropriate
Field trips as appropriate
Individual critique and tutoring
Group critiques
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Typical Assignments
a) Point-Line-Plane model and drawings
b) Defining space model and drawings
c) Complexity Continuum design model and drawings
d) Design an outdoor sun time-piece
e) Design a façade in response to context, scale, proportion
f) Design a sacred space
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a) Studio projects
b) Quizzes and written architectural analysis
c) Class participation
d) Final Exam Presentation
Textbook(s) (typical):
Form, Space, and Order, Francis D.K. Ching, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1996.
Creation in Space: A Course in the Fundamentals of Architecture: Architectonics, Jonathan Block
Friedman, Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 2000.
Special Student Materials:
1. Small personal drafting tools, such as pencils, triangles, erasers, erasing shield, scale,
templates, pencil pointer, drafting tape, tracing paper, and model-making supplies.
2. 100 Mb ‘Zip’ disks.
G:\Curriculum2002\ARCH 8A F03.DOC
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Course Outline for Architecture 8A, Page 3
Fall 2003
TS:ts 11/4/02