Architectural Design Elements

Introduction to Architectural Design Elements

Elements are the key components that are inevitably required while creating a design or artwork. Every design or creation has some fundamental principles or elements which defines the whole process of designing. The proper knowledge of these elements can help the users in creating attractive as well as well-balanced expertise. The architectural design elements are used by the interior as well as exterior architects, designers, compositors and creative artists. Appropriate use of these elements will help the artists in visualizing and portraying ideas into reality.

Architectural Design Elements in Detail

The basic elements of any graphic design are similar and related to each other. Moreover, the users should keep the principles of design in their knowledge as well. The elements are the basic components of the design while the principles of design help us to monitor the elements and their proper usage. Just like there are basic elements of the environment which are mandatory for the human survival, similarly, there are some inescapable elements required to create a proper and creative architectural design.

Following are the elements required to create a balanced design with proper management of every detail.

1. Color

The most important aspect of any design is the selection and usage of the colour schemes in a particular design. The selection of the proper colour schemes can create some stunning architectural designs and interiors. This element of designing can be used to show the difference between day & night, light & dark, intensity and strength of the structure. Hue and saturation, colour wheels and colour schemes all come under this element of design.

2. Light

Besides colour elements, light is also one of the most basic and major elements in creating interior as well as exterior architectures. Lights can be created artificially or environmentally created for designs. The choice of lights and illumination applied to the certain compositions can switch a lot of aspects of the overall design. Placing windows or doors can create daylight effects. Applying natural lights to the compositions will only give stunning outputs to the viewers.

3. Tone

While designing exterior architectures tone plays an important role in differentiating between the highs and lows of the structures and their point of creation. Playing and making the best use of colour theory and colour schemes determines the tone of the design.

4. Shape/Form

Shape is an equally important element in creating an architectural design with creativity and vision. Shapes can be geometrical, abstract or organic in nature. The form in which these shapes are used or created determines the properties of the element. Shapes can be created in 2D and 3D forms. The users can use shapes informing and giving depth to the design by using different shapes for varied structures or using the same shapes for similar objects.

5. Direction

Architectural designs are built-in either vertical direction or horizontal direction. This element of designing is related to creating external infrastructures such as buildings, railways or bridges. Creating structural components like walls, stairs or rooftops, requires the use of proper Directional elements.

6. Proportion

The proportional balance between the furniture and the entire space is necessarily required while designing an interior architecture. A conventional placement of table, chair, and bed with the whole setup is what comes under proportion. If the user misses this element, the design can become too confusing or too plain for the viewers. A defined space between objects can make a significant change in the modelling of the artwork.

7. Value

Again, value is the amount in which the designer creates differences between different structures placed in an interior design.

For example, the value of colour saturation is lighter for one wall while the other has a higher saturation value. The element of value is used to create an illusion in the eyes of the viewer to distinguish between components and objects.

8. Texture/Pattern

This element of architectural design is used to represent the appearance of the composition. Textures and patterns are responsible to create a sense of perception in the eyes of the viewers. Combining different textures and patterns can give a detailed overview to the interior designs and furniture. Texture also refers to the proper arrangement of every object in a sequence. Every material in an exterior or interior design uses pattern or texture to distinguish between designs and objects.

9. Line

Line is the most practical element in designing architecture. We can create horizontal as well as vertical lines to give depth and meaning to a particular object or surface. Lines help in connecting objects without making them too obvious for the viewers. Lines are created in such a way that they seem to blend with the overall composition. We can use horizontal lines on the walls to make the wall wider and deeper or use vertical lines on cupboards or doors to make them look higher. Some lines can be used as patterns such as the diagonal or spiral.

Conclusion

Summarizing the above article, we saw the most important and fundamental elements of architectural design. Users who take these elements in consideration can continue to produce impressive and incredible compositions and artworks. Incorporating these elements into compositions came truly create a remarkable difference in the eyes of the clients.

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This is a guide to Architectural Design Elements. Here we discuss the introduction and architectural design elements in detail. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –

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