Combining Architectural Style

Discussed in my previous blog about Finding Architectural Design ideas, many of you who are actively involved in Architectural Design will be challenged  by your client about creating new designs that will require combining two different styles, the old and the new architecture. This term is simplified as Bisociation.

I thought of exploring this thought and find more practical examples to show so that we can see how to achieve this. What are the criteria we can formulate to guide you through the process.

Two different styles into one.  This is a creative means to come up with a unique architectural design ideas. In terms finding design solution as to the form and style, we need to identify the major and minor.

Here are some of the tips, hope this will help you create more innovative ideas in your design project.

1. Create a major and a minor style of architecture - Blending the two or three architectural styles is a bold move which create an old and new architecture design relationship. Just like composing a song, this would be very difficult to achieve if you don't know how to blend things together. Establish an architectural style to create and determine which one is the major and the minor. 

What will be your blending ratio so that the style will compliment rather than compete. Establish 80 - 20 percent ratio or 70 - 30 up to 60 - 40 percent. Obviously, 80-20 sets the standard to make a clear and dominant style to the least dominant style. While others will give us a subtle blending that will be discussed in tip number 3.

2. Linking the old and the new - The best way to create and decide which architectural style you should pick is in the old style. Linking the past to the present will give you a nostalgic design. People will appreciate the style in terms of catering a structure for different ages. 

In most cases, this is what we call the Transition Period, where you bring new ideas with the old. As in the music, the choice of old song to new melody brings a good composition.
Architectural designs are inspired by the past designs. Setting the trend in architectural design will give you a competitive edge in the public eye. More so, creating your identity and reputation to be the leader in setting the design trend in architecture.

3. Don't over design, keep it simple - in as much as you want to set the trend, remember to keep it simple. Some design may be trendy but won't last longer. Avoid over designing, Make your architecture simple and functional. Consider the construction methodology and cost. Some combination of style can be in the form and shape, color and harmony, contrasting of patterns, size and proportion. List all the things that you need to combine and blend it all together into a single yet simple composition.

4. Find a theme from a previous architectural design trends - as mentioned earlier, finding design from the past is a good idea but you need to consider the design trends in the contemporary. this may go further by observing the design trends in the community and stick to the theme and introduce a new style. 

This will somehow condition the public to the new design trend you are introducing.

In achieving a good architectural design composition, Simplicity and balance will top it all.

Hope you enjoyed reading my post and if you have some comments or suggestion, you can comment below. I would love to explore new tips to achieve this.

Some helpful Book resources I recommend:

This is an affiliate program in Amazon, buying from this site will give me a little commission. I would appreciate it if you do. Other than that, this is a highly recommended book to help you get a better understanding of how you can formulate design ideas and with that, you can combine architectural styles in your Design practice.

The author of this Book Francis D.K. Ching is Professor Emeritus of Architecture at the University of Washington and a registered architect. He is the author or coauthor of numerous architecture and design books, including Architectural Graphics; Building Construction Illustrated; Architecture: Form, Space, and Order; A Visual Dictionary of Architecture; A Global History of Architecture; Interior Design Illustrated; and Design Drawing. James F. Eckler is the Architecture Program Director of the Marywood University School of Architecture. In addition to teaching, Professor Eckler is actively engaged in research concerning the culture of place in the urban environment and architecture's role in the development of community. He is also the author of Language of Space and Form.

If you are and architecture student and is looking for some resources, Here's another book of Francis D.K. Ching and James F. Eckler

The Introduction to Architecture. All in one place so you will not be hovering over the internet. Learn and get resources from our recommended section.

Find Architectural Design Ideas

Architectural Design Ideas, where can you find them? 

For Architects and Architectural Students may find this a very challenging task. Every time you are starting with a new project, Design ideas does not come immediately. There are times you are facing a blank paper you cannot do anything but just stare at the paper. All white, no ideas and don't know where to start.

In this blogpost, i would like to share some thoughts on where to find your Design Ideas and how to start the Design process. 

I find this video by Eric Reinholdt very helpful in exploring our minds and come up with a design solution to a new project or any project that you might be starting.

How to find Architectural Design Ideas

In his design approach, he listed 7 different ways you can get your ideas from, these are;

• Bisociation

• Trusting the Design Process

• Embracing Constraints

• Inventing deadlines

• Doing the Opposite

• Subtracting to solve

• Stealing

These words seem very different but as you watch the video, you will get the better understanding of how you can generate your own ideas. I have discussed some of these in the design process in one of my previous blog on How to generate design concepts . 
Today, let us get more knowledge and understanding so that you can have practically more ways to get your design done. Let us learn from this video.
What does it mean to get your design ideas through Bisociation?

1. Bisociation means the linking of two completely separate, unrelated ideas. How does that work?

2. Trust the Design Process - There are 4 Stages of the design process:

• Preparation - fill the mind with information. This is the research process where you need to get all the information required that will influence your design solutions. It is where you determine the problems to solve. 

• Incubation - is the generation of design ideas from the subconscious mind. Discovering and forging connections leads to solving multiple problems. This is the most maddening experience where you have to unconsciously investigate several briefs at one time. 

• Illumination- This is the idea generation based on the problems you determine from those two process of preparation and incubation. somehow come up with the solution. Test and refine it as you develop your ideas.

• Verification - finally coming up with the design solution led to the conceptualization of the project you are doing.

These are the process that allows us to produce creative work.
3. Embracing Constraints - Constraints are opportunities for us to innovate and boundaries push against.There are far more deeper reasons that needs to be well taken care of. its not just solving a particular need but more so considering technical issues that may influence your design.
Eg.
Roofing syles, height of buildings, size of rooms, setbacks and building codes.
4. Inventing Deadlines- Set aside a time to accomplish something. It is rather a discipline to work within a time frame and accomplish something. Become an Observer -Profound Architecture interprets the world for us! By observation, you can find a lot of ideas. How can observing what's already existing will help us make better buildings?
5. Doing the Opposite- What's the one thing that if removed will lead everything pointless? What would it be like to have a theater without a screen?
6. Subtracting to Solve- Often the best solutions are the simplest
7. Stealing (like an artist) - There is nothing really new in this world. understanding this would free you from looking at the solutions others have developed before you. 

Useful references related to our topic,
These are the recommended books that will help you explore more design ideas by Francis D.K Ching
Architecture: Form, Space, & Order




It is my hope that you will benefit from this blog and hope you can share your thoughts on this by giving your comments below.

Architectural Design Services

The Architectural Design Services of an architect covers a wide scope of building design.

Comprehensive Design Services

The scope of Comprehensive services of the architect is governed by the Architectural Council or the Board of Architecture in each country.

However, as a general knowledge, the entire scope of the architectural services in the most comprehensive services are categorized into these stages:

1. Pre-Design Services
2. Regular Design Services
3. Specialized Architectural services
4. Construction Services
5. Post-Constructions Services

It covers the entire process of.

• Analyzing the users need, 
• the space requirements, 
• the activities within and without, 
• the Accessibility to and from the actual site, 
• the building code requirements, 
• the Environmental impact, 
• the Green Architecture for sustainability
• the Orientation of the sun
• the budget requirements
• the building technology
• the utilities system
• the decision makers

As the building design becomes more complex, the design requirements and the design process become complicated. The Services can be broken down in stages so that the building design will be achieved up to the construction of the building. 

The process will not stop when the client gets the perspective view of the proposed design. That is just the initial stage of the many complex processes that will be encountered.

The stages are categorized as the 

Pre-Design Services

1. Consultation
2. The project feasibility study
3. Architectural Research
4. Architectural Programming
5. Promotional Services

Regular Design Services

1. Schematic Design stage, 
2. The Design Development Stage,
3.  The Contract Document stage, and 
4. The Construction stage.

Specialized Architectural services

1. Architectural Interiors
2. Acoustic Design
3. Architectural Lighting
4. Site Development Planning
5. Comprehensive Planning
6. Building Systems
7. Architectural Conservation

Construction Services

1. Full time supervision
2. Project Management

Post Construction Services

1. Building and Facilities Management
2. Post Construction Evaluation

The comprehensive architectural services are the product of the responses to the demands of the emerging complex building project.

In this complex system, the architect is the prime professional who function as the creator, author and coordinator of the building design which becomes the basis for the construction of the building project.

Need Architectural Design Service?

Arkiventure offers a wide range of architectural services with our proven track record of buildings that are already built.

With the Principal Architect

For the Regular Design Services of the Architect

The Design scope can be handled by an architect as the Single proprietor to perform the architectural design of simple to moderate complexity depending on the experience of the architect.

The scope of his regular service can sustain his financial status and can organize a team to provide the basic services required by the client/

He can get paid on the regular design services with the fee corresponding to the actual cost of the project. His fee can be agreed on a Lump sum basis, on a percentage fee, on a percentage fee plus other reimbursable expense.

Refer to the article:

How to architects get paid?

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Combining Architectural Style

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Most people ask question on "How do I use sketchup layout?" Sketchup layout is a feature in Sketchup that will help you organize the drawing requirements of the project you are working. 


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