Chapter 2
Fundamentals of Design
Architecture and Design
Louis Sullivan
“Our architecture reflects us truly as a mirror”
Form Follows Function
– Mainly identified with the style of Frank Lloyd Wright
– Any architectural form (shape, object) should have an
intended practical purpose and should perform a function
Aesthetic value
Appreciation of form, beauty, and uniqueness
Functionalism
Quality of being useful
Lead to the development of the organic concept
– All materials, functions, forms, and surroundings are
coordinated in harmony with nature
Interior design
Furnishings should be closely related to exterior
architecture for consistent design
Creativity
Architects and interior designers apply the elements
and principles of design
Elements of Design
Line
– Produces a sense of movement or produce a greater sense
of length or height
Color
-Has influence on the final appearance of design
Form
-Lines joined together and create the shape of an area
-Circles and ovals convey a feeling of completeness
-Squares and rectangles produce a feeling of mathematical
precision
-Whether the form of an object is open, closed, solid, hollow,
the form should be determined by it’s function
Light (value)
– Reflects the surfaces of a form
Space
– Surrounds forn and is contained within it
– Architectural Design includes the art of defining space and
space relationships
Texture
– Refers to the surface finish of an object
– Roughness, coarseness, or fineness
Materials
– Raw substances with which designers create
All Elements of Design
Can strengthen or diminish interest
Designer must understand the nature and relationship of
COLORS
Divided into three categories
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Primary
Cannot be made up from a combination of
colors
Red
Yellow
Blue
Secondary
Made up of equal mixtures of two primary
colors
Blue
+
Yellow
=
Green
Blue
+
Red
=
Violet
Red
+
Yellow
=
Orange

Tertiary
Primary color and neighboring secondary
color mixture
Red
+
Orange
=
Red-Orange
Red
+
Violet
=
Red-Violet
Yellow
+
Green
= Yellow-Green
Yellow
+
Orange
= Yellow-Orange
Blue
+
Green
=
Blue-Green
Blue
+
Violet
=
Blue-Violet
Neutral
White
Gray
Black
Color Quality
Distinguishing accuracy
Hue
Basic consistent identity
– Ex: Blue, blue-green, yellow-green,yellow
Lighter or darker does not matter, the hue stays the
same
Value
Lightness or darkness of hue
– Can dramatically change the mood of a room
Value
Lightness or darkness of hue
– Can dramatically change the mood of a room
Tint
Lighter(or higher) in value than the normal value
Produced by adding white to a color
Lighter tint of hue will make a room look larger in
area
Shade
Darker (or lower) in value than the normal value
Produced by adding black to a color
Dark shade will make a room look smaller in area
Tone
Produced by adding gray to the normal color
Intensity
Degree of purity (or brightness) of a color
Free from neutralizing factors
– Chroma
Principles of Design
Guidelines for how to combine the elements
of design
Balance
Equilibrium (feeling of stability)
Informally balanced (asymmetrical)
Formally balanced (symmetrical)
Rhythm and repetition
Same pattern used over and over; creates a sense
of motion
Emphasis
Draws a viewer’s attention to an area or subject
Subordination
Occurs when emphasis is achieved through
design. Other features become less noticeable
Proportion
Assures appropriate sizing of components
Variety
Also called contrast
Do not create too much unity, rhythm, or
repetition or you will lose variety
Opposition
Use of contrasting elements for variety
Transition
To change from one color to another or from a
curved line to a straight line
Must maintain the same unity
Unity
Creates a sense of wholeness
House on the Rock
Designed and built by Alex Jordan from
Madison WI
Winchester Mystery House
Home Page
Haunted Winchester
Louis Sullivan’s Bradley House
Madison, Wisconsin
Brief History of Louis Sullivan
Brief History of Frank Lloyd
Wright
Wingspread- Wind Point, Wisconsin
Unitarian Meeting House
Madison Wisconsin
Fallingwater
Ohiopyle (Bear Run), Pennsylvania