Activity 1.1.

2 Design Principles and

Elements
Introduction
Have you ever noticed how buildings of similar size and
shape can have completely different visual effects?
Architects, like artists, must understand the elements
and principles of design and how they affect the visual
impact of the building on a viewer. Whether it is the
intent of the architect to create a feeling of strength and
stability or to create an unusual form that will elicit a
double-take from the public, the elements and principles
of design can be used to manipulate the intellectual and
emotional reactions of the people who see and use the
building.

Equipment
Principles and Elements of Design Applied to
Architecture presentation notes

Procedure
In this activity you will identify design elements and principles as they pertain to
images of structures.

For each of the following, choose one element of design and one principle of design
that you feel is most prominent in the image and then justify your choice.

Word Bank
Balance Form Rhythm Texture
Color Line Shape Unity
Emphasis Proportion/Scale Space Value

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CEA Unit 1 Lesson 1.1 Activity 1.1.2 Design Principles and Elements Page 1
1. Principle of Design

Balance and Rhythm

Justification:
-Its vertical symmetrical creates an
symmetrical and vertical balance.
-It has a regular rhythm, with
repeated use of identical structures.

Element of Design

Texture and Form & Shape Principle of Designs:

Balance, rhythm, and unity.
Justification: Element of Design:
-It holds a consistent rough texture Texture, form & shape, line and value.
that helps to absorb light achieving a
darker appearance.
-It uses a 3D shape and form
through the popping out of outlining
posts and gates.

2. Principle of Design

Balance and Unity

Justification:
-It consists of a vertical symmetrical
and is equal in visual weight.
-It holds a consistent color que
throughout the entire building and
appears to be made of the same
material unifying the building.

Element of Design

Line and Texture

Principle of Designs:
Justification: Balance, unity, rhythm, and emphasis.
-The building uses posts and lintel Element of Design:
techniques to create support and Line, texture, and form & shape.
vertical lines that shows formality
and dignity, stability, and strength.
-The building uses a smooth texture
reflecting more light to appear lighter
and a more intense color.

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3. Principle of Design

Rhythm and Emphasis

Justification:
-The red building uses regular
rhythm of repeated window and
decoration designs.
-The contrast of color from red to
white help to put emphasis on the
white watch tower portion of the
building.
Principle of Designs:
Rhythm, emphasis, contrast, and proportion
Element of Design
& scale.
Element of Design:
Line and Color
Line, color, texture, value.
Justification:
-The building uses vertical outlines
through the floor levels of the
building to bring feelings of peace.
-The building also makes consistent
use of red, a warm color that shows
feelings of warmth and happiness.

4. Principle of Design Istockphoto.com

Rhythm and Movement

Justification:
-The dome shape makes use of
gradated rhythm through its size
decreasing from bottom to top.
-The decreasing size from bottom
towards top of the building brings a
sense of movement.

Element of Design
City Hall and London Bridge
Line and Texture Principle of Designs:
Rhythm, movement, balance, and unity.
Justification: Element of Design:
-The layer of the dome are shown Line, texture, color, and form & shape.
with vertical lines showing calm and
peace.
-The smooth texture of the building
also reflects light and shows a
smooth intense glassy feel.

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5. Principle of Design

Balance and Emphasis

Justification:
-The design holds a vertical
symmetrical line through the middle
that provides a visual weight
balance.
-The contrast of the black colored Principle of Designs:
clothing emphasis the person the Balance, emphasis, movement, and unity.
middle compared to its white color Element of Design:
clothed followers. Line, color, value, and texture.

Element of Design

Line and Color

Justification:
-The curved lines provide a sense of
freedom and nature to the context
being described in the scenery.
-The colorful elements of the
painting give it a realistic and fulfilled
image of the scenery.

6. Principle of Design

Rhythm and Unity

Justification:
-The building makes use of repeated
floor designs that creates regular
rhythm.
-The color scheme is hold consistent
throughout using a mixture of light
and dark blue.

Element of Design

Color and Line Istockphoto.com

Justification: Principle of Designs:

-Again the building uses a blue color Unity, rhythm, and balance.
scheme, introducing a sense of calm Element of Design:
and relaxation. Color, line, form & shape, texture, and value.
-The building shows immediate
horizontal outlines that show calm,
peace and relaxation.
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CEA Unit 1 Lesson 1.1 Activity 1.1.2 Design Principles and Elements Page 4
7. Principle of Design

Rhythm and Balance

Justification:
-The house structure uses a
graduated rhythm creating a pattern
of increasing height towards the
middle from two ends. Istockphoto.com

-The house seems to have equal Principle of Designs:

visual weight split vertically down the Balance, rhythm, movement, and contrast.
middle. Two garden areas on both Element of Design:
sides to emphasis this symmetry. Line, form & shape, texture, and color.

Element of Design

Line and Form & Shape

Justification:
-Its path leading up to the house is
curved giving a sense of freedom
and natural in company to its greens.
-The house pops out as a 3D form
with curves in its floor plan rather
than a plain rectangle house.

8. Principle of Design

Rhythm and Unity

Justification:
-The regular rhythm can be seemed
with its repeated and consistent
design of arcs and posts.
-The structure is madly of entirely
concrete with a singular color Microsoft Office clipart
scheme creating its uniform feel. Roman aqueduct

Element of Design Principle of Designs:

Unity, rhythm, balance, and movement.
Texture and Line Element of Design:
Texture, line, and value.
Justification:
-Its concrete material provides a
rouge surface that absorbs light and
gives it a darker look.
-It makes use of vertical lines to
provide a sense of calm and natural
similar to that of water.
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9. Principle of Design

Balance and Contrast

Justification:
-It has a symmetrical vertical
centerline that creates an equal
visual weight.
-Its center shrine has a bright golden
color that contrasts with whites of the
building.
Principle of Designs:
Balance, contrast, emphasis, and unity.
Element of Design
Element of Design:
Line, texture, space, and form & shape,
Line and Texture

Justification:
-Its supporting posts provide vertical
lines that give a sense of stability,
power and dignity.
-Smooth texture of the building
material reflects the light giving it a
shiny and a more intense color.

10. Principle of Design

Rhythm and Contrast

Justification:
-The exterior building designs are
nearly identical and shape and its
increasing height creates both
regular and graduated rhythm.
-Every house has its own individual
color scheme that creates contrast
and pops out from each other. Principle of Designs:
Contrast, rhythm, movement, and balance.
Element of Design Element of Design:
Lines, texture, color, and value.
Lines and Texture

Justification:
-The vertical outlines of the house
provide a clam and relaxing feel.
-Smooth texture of the house helps
to reflect light and intensify the color
scheme of each house.

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CEA Unit 1 Lesson 1.1 Activity 1.1.2 Design Principles and Elements Page 6
Conclusion
1. In what way do certain elements or principles identify the time period in which a
structure was created?
Buildings of ancient times tend to use rouge texture along with dull color
schemes compared to many modern buildings that tries to use smooth texture
and bright colors that gives a more defined and modernization feel.

2. What factors might account for an incorrect identification?

Factor that might cause an incorrect identification can be caused by simply a lack
of complete understanding of these elements and principles of an persons own
individual views that may not necessary be accurate.

3. Describe an example of a way that design principles and elements could impact
the function of a building.
An example of design principles and elements directly impacting the function of a
building are the uses of vertical lines. Vertical lines provides a sense of strength,
dignity, and stability and the choices in wanting to represent that may directly
impact the function of a building, in this case being most likely a government or
military building.

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