Research

Architecture is the art and technology of realizing, from design through construction, physical spaces that meet the basic necessities of human existence on the individual and collective levels (Bussagli 7). The interior and exterior construction of a building is affected by geographic location, climate, available materials, anatomical structure of humans, and the specific function of the building. Architectural language is created by design, building technology, and building style (Bussagli 7). Building style is often influenced by historical context and/or by artistic and cultural trends of the time.

The relationship between people and space is conditioned by the anatomical structure of the human body (Bussagli 9). Humans perceive space in four parts: right, left, front, and behind, and sometimes above and below. This is the “concept of four-way space” (Bussagli 9). Ergonomics is the field of technology that considers physical capabilities, work processes, and environments in the design of machines and everyday implements (Bussagli 31). Walter Gropius asserted that design concept “embraces in general the entire orbit of what surrounds us and derives from the hand of man, from simple domestic furnishings to the complex organization of an entire city”.
Architectural plans are the horizontal sections of structures showing the system by which spaces are organized and the relationship between the exterior and interior. Each drawing indicates thickness of walls, dimensions of rooms, and the location and size of doors and windows. The basis of a plan is to make it possible to identify architectural style, forms, and elements. Plans are considered the “genetic code” of a building. (Bussagli 104)

Architecture can be interpreted through linguistic code, based on grammatical and syntactical rules all its own, that is called style (Bussagli 107). Facades may be regarded as the “calling card” of the building, or image by which it is commonly identified and remembered. Typical features of a façade are architectural orders, windows, and doors. (Bussagli 98) Doors are crucially important in the architectural composition of a building, involving arrangement on the main façade, secondary façades, and any minor structures adjoining the main building (Bussagli 100). Porticoes are an architectural element occupying a position midway between the exterior and interior of a building, open on at least one side, lined with columns/pillars (Bussagli 101). Windows satisfy the need for light and ventilation. The variety of style varies according to interior/exterior use.

Several different drawing techniques are used in architecture. A sketch is a drawn idea, quickly done, which suggests a final building, sculpture, or painting and sometimes becomes an end and art form in itself. Its crudeness or refinement is not the issue, but rather the intention for its final use (White 280). Drafting implies free-hand drawing (White 90) leading to the creation of working drawings and/or blue prints. A rendering is a pictorial illustration of a proposed building or structure, traditionally a perspective proto-photograph that appears to be as real as the finished product (White 254). Computer Aided Design is used in the drafting and design of all types of buildings, from small residential types (houses) to the largest commercial and industrial structures (hospitals and factories). There are also several different types of modeling techniques used in architecture. A finished model is a scale representation of what the building or structure will look like when complete and is often built to communicate design ideas to clients, owners, committees, customers, and the general public. A site model shows the building or structure in relation to the surrounding area.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Since 1857, the AIA has represented the professional interests of America's architects. As AIA members, over 80,000 licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners express their commitment to excellence in design and livability in our nation's buildings and communities. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct that assures the client, the public, and colleagues of an AIA-member architect's dedication to the highest standards in professional practice. (AIA 1) The AIA estimates the number of architects licensed in the U.S. at 108,000. Licensure is the highest form of professional regulation, and all 50 states require an individual to be licensed in order to call him or herself an architect. Each state establishes its own professional standards for architect licenses, and architecture registration boards in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories, require that candidates satisfy those standards for education, training, and examination. (Facts 1) The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) is the sole agency authorized to accredit US professional degree programs in architecture. There are currently 117 schools offering NAAB accredited professional programs in architecture, leading to the Doctor of Architecture, Master of Architecture or Bachelor of Architecture degree. Schools offering architecture as a major include University of Miami, The Cooper Union, Pratt Institute, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Texas at Austin, Virginia Tech, and Montana State University.