2 Essential Basics When Starting New Architectural Projects

In fact, I will be adding more tutorial tips within the evaluation of the design process. This process will be related to two major factors: the Concept and the Presentation.

2 Essential Basics To Follow When Designing Your Newly Architectural Projects

In the first place comes the Concept, which means in other words, the way of thinking to generate the project’s conception and the goal from creating it and from every related element spinning around in the same orbit. In my opinion, if you have an architect’s educational background you should easily understand the meaning of those words and if you don't, I hope you will do after reading this article.

So it’s evident from what preceded, that the presentation of the technical or shop drawings should be the clearest and easy-to-understand for the best and quick execution on the field without issues of any kind.

The Teamwork and Missing the Identity

That being said, it’s important to declare that this strategy may not convince everyone, especially professional ones. Why? Simply because not everyone has the same way of thinking and doesn’t confront matters the same way as others do, and may have other solutions for the same problem cited here. 

The Execution stage here can be or should be a part of the second phase mentioned above: the Presentation. Why? It is because, in my strategy of work, the first place shouldn’t be divided into other sub-partitions for the same reason cited previously in this article.

Let’s start by describing the Concept phase and the process that it follows to reach your goals.

The Concept

As it is revealed within its name, the Concept of architectural projects means the main idea which lies behind the project. In my thinking, it should be clear, obvious, and evident. What’s wrong with most of the projects that I come across almost every day, is their Missing Identity;

The first question that came to my mind which you shouldn’t ask when exploring any project is “Hell! What’s the idea from all this stuff?”, or “ Why is that orientation like that?”, or “What does it mean to rotate the whole building that way?”, or “Why did we choose that color on the walls? Was there an obligation to use it?”… and so on.

The variation and the non-singularity of the answer will be the worst run away from confronting the problem ever.

Yes, that’s true. The saddest thing that I could ever hear would be that ambiguous answer about the real idea behind choosing this shape and not that one and vice versa. For example, when some designers don’t have a convincing answer about why they choose to direct their project in that direction and not the other, and just saying “I liked it! and it’s like that”, is the worst answer that I can ever hear!.

On the opposite, if they can prove that in this direction there was an old axis that was leading people to a specific target, then and only at that time, we can agree with the meaningful and legality of the reason, and thereafter the whole concept will be created and justified in the right way, based on this simple but smart fact.

You might need more Concept Theories or thoughts to enlarge your knowledge, which is a great idea after all. I did the research for you and find out a cool downloadable e-book about this specific topic. Check it out now!

Using the Module as a Unit of the Concept

Another essential for a good project start is identifying the basic module of the project; In other terms, all architectural projects have a specific module or unit that will be used to determine the snap of that project or its repetitive module.

Let’s have some practical examples of what was said: If we took a commercial center that is composed of a shopping mall and other entertainment facilities like restaurants, cafeterias or cinemas, and other similar departments. After analyzing the facts and the constraints of those kinds of architectural projects, the first problem that we will face is the parking space required and the number to provide.

At this stage, another fact will submerge from the first one which is the implantation of the structural supports in a way to not disturb the car’s circulation within the building and the relation with the incoming and outcoming flow of cars.

Here, the best solution is to use the following approach of the unit module mentioned above and I will explain how.: The first thing to do is to identify the unit and its dimensions that should be used in the project. In that case, it should be the parking unit itself. Which means a rectangle of an (a×b) centimeters per unit.

We noticed that the designer did use the double module means each module is equal to double the original or almost. With this method, we can easily achieve the structural study with a regular and precise layout of the supports without getting disturbed by the implantation and the layout of the structural design.

Thus, the first objection was solved the right way because both the structural and the flow of circulation were fixed. Still, the second objection is the architectural design that might be limited somehow, but with good visualization of the Architect, it should get a magnificent result even when working with a boring grid layout.

Stay tuned for a later post from this series in which I’ll review one of my favorite projects in my career that confronts this constraint, but with a nice final result. Unfortunately, this project wasn’t completed or executed for a reason unknown.

• Finally, the project has been reviewed. If interested please check it out here under the project reference Lot #3528, Zgharta ID Project.

The Hospital is another example of a prototype module that can be used as a project unit.

Here, simply if we identify the unit of the bed as the relevant module, we will have all our issues almost solved. The analysis of this complex project will show that with this method the minimum space needed for any action will be easily defined if we take into consideration the bed unit as a referential module for any needed measurements.

The widths of the pathways, the rooms’ doors, and anything in between will be calculated accordingly.

The Presentation

We reached the second essential basic to do, the Presentation, or in other terms, the client’s and the contractor’s materials, which is the result of the first phase, e.g. the Concept. In my opinion, no problem with the teamwork strategy at this level, but on the contrary, it should be that way as I mentioned earlier. Why? Simply to get better results. In fact, the more we hire professional and experienced people to achieve our project the more we’ll have our concept reach its target.

The best way is to have well-detailed plans and qualified drawings. Not on others' behalf, but for our benefit in the first place and our good reputation, because nothing compares with that; it’s the capital of each designer, better his funds. And if you have funds enough you will reach your goal much easier.

In other words, don’t leave others' imaginations to do the work; no one is better than you to bring your conception to life. You had created the Concept, so do it to the end and finish it to the last screw in the project and show up the real idea, the real You, that takes you a lot of time and potential to come along.

So, the worst thing to happen is to let others predict your intention from an incomprehensive or incomplete drawing you made because of its disastrous consequences. Especially when it comes to non-professional workers whose imagination is always beyond the limits, with all my respect to any profession, sometimes it’s a matter of public relations.

Almost every day some new basics and theories are emerging and taking the place of the old ones, changing on their way all the well-known concepts as "the one and only" years before.

I hope that the main idealization from what it precedes did reach the biggest number of my readers out there. Whatever your profession or position is, the respect of others is a must; All designers and architects, seniors or juniors, suffer from the same thing and they are not against the rules and good work. So if someone made a mistake somewhere there is a better place to judge him the right way.

Using The Relevant PC Software

Back to the Presentation: As we said before, the drawings should be comprehensive and professional in a way that they describe themselves and the architectural projects they represent, without the need to explain the mission of every single line within.

If it is a shop drawing related to woodwork for example, as frameworks or else, the installation process must be clear and clean, with all the details needed for installation and fixing.

Good to know that nowadays the drafting process must be done via a CAD drafting program as required by almost all the official government departments and the private sector as well, to facilitate tasks that will not be as accurate if done manually, such as calculating areas, quantities and even much more.

The best of all the Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) software that is still at its leading position in the market for many years ago, is the AutoCAD program. Even the appearance of many other competitive programs, such as ArchiCAD and Revit recently, couldn’t stop him from growing up to the top-selling in the market today. The first time I used AutoCAD refers to version 12.

It is also good to mention that a margin for extra notes which will include the specifications of the materials used is always helpful and important to be present and noticeable.

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Is Visualization Worth it?!

In the end, good visualization of the coming architectural projects is crucial and important for your clients; Therefore be sure to present at least one view or perspective of what will be their future home if we are talking about a private residence. Try the most realistic rendering with the real materials that you plan to use to better visualize your idea. 

Remember a single thing; the client cannot read your mind; he just wants to see a real photo that reflects what’s inside it!

Refer to the previous post for a complete review of the book:

The Cover of the Book