In this theory the form is outcome of various physical, social, psychological and symbolic functions For example if we want to design concert hall, the form will be the abstract of functional data which is defined by the distance of the seats the place of foyer the relation between all functions and also a symbolic appearance of the building. In this type of design the context of the building is not considered and we can put the designed project in different sites and places with no attention to the contextual matters. In this theory architects must act like a scientist. It means that they have to find some form in a body of pre existing facts. So it can be named as kind of true and false game. The designer will do its job according to client`s needs climatological conditions and community values. The difference is here that architects cannot define general lows for the design solution as like as the scientists do.

1. Instructor: Prof. Dr. Nazife Özay
Presentation: Ata Chokhachian

2. What is design?
What is the source of architect`s design idea?
At first step architect tries to collect information randomly
requirements, intentions and assumptions
Functional requirements
Geometrical system which one comes first?
Inner intuition
Practice theory
Many theories about the source of form are developed to improve
the process of practice and on the other hand much practice was
the outcome of these theories

3. Architecture theorists did not invent their theories spontaneously,
but rather inherited from their cultures a number of attitudes,
methods and events specific philosophies that shaped their ideas
about the source of form.
Most of the theories have prevailing set of beliefs and most have
basic views in a culture about the nature of the world the nature of
humans and their abilities and the relation between the two. The
fundament is human and nature and its interaction.
In order to judge the theories most of the time we have to examine
them by each other it means compare or criticize head to head
Theory of design education and theory of design is most of the time
presented together and they need each other to be practical for
both students and practitioners.

4. Theories of Form
5 factors that is the base of conceptual foundation for most of the
historical theories (the factors that shaped architectural form)
-Function
-Creative imagination
-Spirit of the age
-Social and economic conditions
- Form out of particular designers, cultures, climates

5. PieterCornelis"Piet"Mondriaan

6. 1. Architectural form shaped by its intended function:
The form is outcome of various physical, social, psychological and
symbolic functions
Ex. Concert hall (seats/foyers/symbolic appearance), hospital
Architect must act like a scientist(finding some form in a body of pre
existing facts/a kind of true and false game) and pay attention to
client`s needs climatological conditions and community values.
The difference is here that architects cannot define general lows for
the design solution as like as the scientists do.

7. avoid
preconception
find design
problems
gather facts
analyse
implications
synthesize
(draw out)
Functional Design Process

8. The function alone cannot be the main concern in designing a
building form because:
All of the buildings in the same function and the same climate and
place have to be in the same form
There will be no evidence of particular architect`s personality in the
problem solution, form generation and detailing

9. 2. architectural form is generated within the creative imagination:
(personalized)
The form creation process happens in architects mind and the exact
source is not clear
The mixture of special feelings and innovative ideas and the source is
dependent on architect`s personalities
In creative design theory when functional issues come inside the
creative source can be crushed by too many constraints (budget, site,
structure, climate)
In architecture design just creativity cannot be the power of form
finding because in the urban scale we need some similarities and rules
not only the personal ideas.
The similarities can be some patterns in functional or formal outputs.
(basilica plan, courtyard, atrium)

10. 3. architecture form is shaped by the prevailing sprit of the age:
(non-Physical forces)
The main design is guided or based on several certain sprits or set of
shared attitudes. Unconsciously the design is passed through some
limitations
The source if this design idea can be found in the air or in the
environment of the era (age)
The design will have some characteristics which manifest that it has
dependency on specific style (renaissance, gothic, post modern)
But again in this kind of design we have some people that have the
ability to step outside of these sprits and framework whom later
create a new style with their power of imagination and curiosity

12. 4.architectural form is determined by the prevailing social and
economic conditions: (Physical forces)
Some limits which are created by the society or politic conditions and
urban scale and the building becomes the mirror of the architect`s
social reality. (urban issues)
The difference between design of buildings like palace in early 17th
like monarchy and open plans like democratic societies in early 19th
In this style also we can find quite different architectural forms
created side by side in the same socio-economic system so sometimes
this theory cannot be helpful
Like functionalists and the sprit theories, this one also has difficulty
explaining the stamp of the designer`s personality on a building
form.

13. 5. architectural form derives from timeless principles of form that
transcend particular designers, cultures and climates
In this approach of design the designer should look for climatic and
cultural issues which are timeless beauty and meaning (basilicas,
courtyards, atriums)
In this style there will be some universal principals of Art like
rhythm, proportion, scale, contrast, color, ... which enables the
designer to create endless variety of virtual forms and each one
obeys the essential characteristics of good design.
According to these 5 principles of visual form creation, again it is
impossible to explain why many different buildings which are
purported to have these universal characteristics, again look in
variety shapes?

15. None of these theories seems to give complete and convincing
account of the source of design idea but, now many designers tend to
use several ideas simultaneously to explain the source of design idea.
Simply mixing these does not make a coherent theory
Here we have two believes about theory:
-theories which seem that the source of the form lies outside the
designer , independent of personal ideologies (functional
determinism, socio-economic)
- theories that the source of the form somehow lies inside the
designer`s mind (individual personal views, experiences, inner
emotions, insights and tastes)

16. outside
external information
external expressing
avoid personal
preconceptions
get in tune with outside
conditions
the form product of
outside determinantas
the skills of design are
easily thought
Emphasize on functional
requirements
inside
transpersonal conditions
internal expressing
personal conception
turn back on outside
straint
the form product of
inner intuitions
the intuitions are
inherent in the mind
talk about design as
creative activity

17. Subject-object problem
Its originated from the ancient Greeks where they try to explain the
origin and nature of universe
This theory tend to explain the relationship between man and world,
we have two interpretations:
1. the individual can be thought as a physical object n nature whose
behaviors are completely determined by the law of universe (the
person is physical object part of his surroundings)
2. the individual can be thought as a freely thinking and acting.
Creative subject whose actions are determined by him/herself (the
person is a subjective being stand outside his surroundings)

18. design theory
1. is scientific process of taking existing information outside (World)
2. is artistic process of inventing new information (Mind)
Theorists through out history have articulated variations on 6
archetypal interpretations of the individuals relation ship to the
outside world:
- creation
- knowledge

19. -Theories of creation
1. classical tradition: the source of form is to be found outside of
the mind and as the source of the form is universally true it remains
unchanged according to culture or environmental issues. So the
designer must acquire the knowledge of universal language
2. romanticism: has the completely different point of view and
insists that the form is to be found in the inner intuitions of
individual designer. (the importance of individual ability, inspiration
and genius)
The education will be cultivation of personal recourses
3. positivism: this idea emphasizes the importance of external
phenomena. So the material in the outside world jumps unaided
into the mind. (paint whatever you see)

20. The theories of knowledge
1. empiricism: knowledge of universal and abstract concepts
originated in the external world. In this theory the mind offers little
to the knowledge so it is a blank tablet which the external world
writes its knowledge on it.
Analyze the date found in the external world synthesize out of it
2. continental rationalism: they believe that as the objective
knowledge originates from the external world on the other hand the
same knowledge is also somehow in the structure of the mind.
3. German idealism: they claim that the knowledge must also
originate in the mind. The mind creates the world from inner
resources and then surveying its own work

21. positivism
(empircism)
classicism
(rationalism)
romanticism
(idealism)
WorldMind
Knowing
(science)
Creating (art)