Introduction Architecture 1.The art or practice of designing and constructing buildings. 2.The style in which a building is designed and constructed. 8 Describing architecture as 'fundamental'might suggest requires an understanding of the context of buildings that there is a simplicity that underlies its expression. (which can be a landscape or the city,or somewhere in Architecture is a language that we understand because we between),and an understanding of the building itself,in inhabit buildings,they surround us and create our world. terms of its underlying concept or idea,its functions or To achieve a piece of architecture requires engaging with uses and its materiality and structure.This overview, a process of thinking,drawing and designing,a process however,exists at many levels and the next stage of that ultimately produces a building. understanding of building is as a series of rooms, connected spaces that lead from the outside in.Further This process begins with an idea or'concept'that relates consideration is the control of light and sound in those to a particular site or context.It further develops(through rooms and the furniture that inhabits the spaces.The a 'brief')into a 'form',which will have functions or architect is a designer whose remit ranges from the large activities associated with it.This form is then further scale of designing a city to the smaller scale of developed structurally (as a frame or system),and designing a chair. materially (with a 'skin'or 'wrapping).It is finally realised, framing experiences of light,sound,space. Architecture,as many other design disciplines,starts with concepts or ideas that initiate the creative process of The etymology of the word'architecture'can be defined thinking.These concepts can come from other(past or as arkbi meaning chief and tektou meaning builder or present)forms of architecture or architects,or from carpenter.This definition demonstrates the fundamental metaphors or analogies.These analogies can be to form: basis of architecture.As chief builder an architect the structure of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference uawepun needs to have an overview of building,both as an object Centre in Glasgow for example,has a shape and skin produced and as an activity of construction.This overview which resembles that of an armadillo.QC Preflight Point 2nd 11 11 p8 Job no : 76451 Title : The Fundamentals of Architecture Client : AVA Scn : #175 Size : 200(w)230(h)mm Co : M11 C0 (All To Spot)(Coagl)__LC Dept : DTP D/O : 07.05.07 (Job no:76451C1 D/O : 25.05.07 Co: CM11) 76451_CTP_001-051.qxd 5/23/07 9:05 AM Page 8 2nd p8 (Job no:76451C1 D/O : 25.05.07 Co: CM11) 8Introduction The Fundamentals of Architecture Describing architecture as ‘fundamental’ might suggest that there is a simplicity that underlies its expression. Architecture is a language that we understand because we inhabit buildings, they surround us and create our world. To achieve a piece of architecture requires engaging with a process of thinking, drawing and designing, a process that ultimately produces a building. This process begins with an idea or ‘concept’ that relates to a particular site or context. It further develops (through a ‘brief ’) into a ‘form’, which will have functions or activities associated with it. This form is then further developed structurally (as a frame or system), and materially (with a ‘skin’ or ‘wrapping’). It is finally realised, framing experiences of light, sound, space. The etymology of the word ‘architecture’ can be defined as arkhi meaning chief and tekton meaning builder or carpenter. This definition demonstrates the fundamental basis of architecture. As chief builder an architect needs to have an overview of building, both as an object produced and as an activity of construction. This overview requires an understanding of the context of buildings (which can be a landscape or the city, or somewhere in between), and an understanding of the building itself, in terms of its underlying concept or idea, its functions or uses and its materiality and structure. This overview, however, exists at many levels and the next stage of understanding of building is as a series of rooms, connected spaces that lead from the outside in. Further consideration is the control of light and sound in those rooms and the furniture that inhabits the spaces. The architect is a designer whose remit ranges from the large scale of designing a city to the smaller scale of designing a chair. Architecture, as many other design disciplines, starts with concepts or ideas that initiate the creative process of thinking. These concepts can come from other (past or present) forms of architecture or architects, or from metaphors or analogies. These analogies can be to form: the structure of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow for example, has a shape and skin which resembles that of an armadillo. Architecture 1. The art or practice of designing and constructing buildings. 2. The style in which a building is designed and constructed. Introduction 76451_CTP_001-051.qxd 5/23/07 9:05 AM Page 8