One of my professors in college often told us not to adopt strange architectural design concepts only to end up designing plain, boxy buildings. She said if you’re going to produce such a bizarre result, it’s better to avoid unnecessary conceptual fuss and not bluff.

But we did it anyway for the extra points.

An Architecture/design student’s biggest dilemma is the “concept.” The concept is the first step that determines the entire basis of your project. Coming up with one can be overwhelming and frustrating. Although university professors focus heavily on concepts, in professional practice, 90% of firms don’t go through the conceptual process.

This raises the question: Is a concept really necessary? Does a design concept matter in the professional world? Does the concept matter to a client?

The Architectural Design Concepts Dilemma

Before discussing whether architectural concepts are truly necessary, we must understand what exactly a concept is. In design school, we’re taught that a concept is something that inspired your design. In professional life, a concept can be a selling point. It’s usually an abstract idea taken from nature and the site, implemented as a tool to develop the built form. Either way, a concept is the basis of your design and simply cannot be ignored.

The problem arises when the conceptual design in architecture is taken too literally. The Kansas City Library in Missouri can be a good example of this. It’s important to create good, conscious designs. As Renzo Piano said during his 1998 Pritzker acceptance speech, “You can put down a bad book; you can avoid listening to bad music, but you cannot miss the ugly tower block opposite your house.”

Why Are Architectural Design Concepts Important?

A concept gives meaning to the design. Many established architects base their designs on a personal design philosophy in architecture, which not only provides direction but makes the designs much more interesting. Additionally, each project’s concept focuses on solving the design problem. A good concept will blend the design into its surroundings, making it a better place functionally, aesthetically, and economically.

A compelling concept provides clear direction at every stage of the design process. All design choices should be based on the concept, and all project decisions should flow from it. This prevents the designer from straying into endless design paths and digressions that could weaken the original aim. It gives the design more depth. A well-designed concept can represent an identity that communicates with its surroundings.

Architectural design concepts can respond to the site, typology, users, and program brief. It’s expressed through materials, technology, design elements, architectural principles, and collaborative innovation.

But What If the Concept Restricts the Design?

After understanding that a concept shapes the design in different forms, one might question: What if the concept starts restricting the design process? What if the design leans towards architectural theory rather than practicality?

As we go through the design process, there might come a point where one finds themselves drifting from the initial idea. What if the direction is restricted by the initial concept, which doesn’t align with present ideas?

In such cases, architects usually abandon the concept, as Frank Gehry did with the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The architect had initially envisioned the project in stone, stating, “It’s very subtle and it glows. The stainless steel, if it’s not done right, can look like a cheap refrigerator.” He had to abandon many more ideas due to financial and practical issues.

Yet, the Walt Disney Concert Hall went on to be one of the greatest buildings despite taking a slightly different direction. What good would a concept be if it restricts a project’s potential?

How Architectural Concepts Influence Building Design

A good concept provides a framework for the entire design process, creating consistency in approach. A concept derived from the project’s surrounding aspects, offering a unique perspective on design challenges, will influence not just the form and space but also the architecture fundamentals, including the texture, colour, and visual character of the building.

A concept also influences how the building interacts with its surroundings and shapes strategies for sustainability and climate control. It ultimately defines how people will interact with and move through the space. A concept that resonates with them will provide positive results.

Ultimately, a concept may create a sense of place and identity and respond to cultural, historical, and social contexts. If done right, architectural concepts act as a unifying thread, ensuring that all aspects of the design work together coherently to achieve the building’s intended vision and purpose.

Finding The Balance

Alain de Botton writes in his book “The Architecture of Happiness,” “Bad architecture is in the end as much a failure of psychology as of design.” Non-architects might not realize architecture’s impact on their daily lives, but as architects, we are aware of its psychological, social, and cultural effects.

The role of conceptual thinking in architecture is thereby essential to establish the design’s meaning in a way that fits the surroundings and positively impacts people. A concept, whatever it may be, should focus equally on both the functionality and aesthetics of the project. Although the concept might sometimes alter and take a different direction during the design process, there’s always a way to balance a project’s creativity and functionality.

Sources

• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-develop-architectural-concepts-guide-design-professionals-dxizc/
• https://amazingarchitecture.com/articles/how-do-architectural-concepts-influence-modern-life
• https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/architectural-community/a2633-why-is-concept-and-context-important-in-architecture/
• https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-frank-gehry-disney-hall-centennial-20180906-story.html