A Theory on Architectural Design and some Notes on Domestic Architecture Projects

The first courses in the subject of Architectural Design address, among other topics, the proper definition and articulation of compositional elements in residential architecture projects. A Theory on Architectural Design and some Notes on Domestic Architecture Projects is a handbook intended for students new to this subject, designed to complement the lecturer's explanations in the classroom. The handbook is divided into two parts. In the first part, the author presents a series of theoretical foundations that position her among the various theories of architectural design and underlie her Design curriculum. The discussion primarily revolves around the concept of type and the contemporary reformulation of typology. The five sections comprising the second part focus on the definition and arrangement of compositional elements in domestic architecture. To this end, various case studies are analysed, organised by functional and structural typologies. Taking typology as a starting point, students not only recognise the most common types of individual and collective housing, but are also able to identify the nature and degree of innovation in some contemporary designs. Through compositional schemes and diagrams of use distribution, the aim is to make the design strategies employed in a series of housing projects recognizable as a basis for their application, either in the composition or in the review of the students’ proposals. Thus, the aim is to show students that analytical tools can also be used in the design process as a means of ensuring coherence between compositional elements or the correct layout and proportions of spaces.