Have you ever stepped into a building that feels just right? Maybe a workspace with a lavish combination of colors to keep the team alive. Or, a living room with the perfect layout to stir up meaningful moments. That’s the effect of good architectural design — creating functional, yet meaningful spaces. For the architect, design is centered around transforming simple blueprints into real spaces that users can enjoy interacting with. And, it all begins with a strong concept.
Developing a compelling architectural concept is a lot deeper than getting in front of your screen. As common with creativity, some days tend to be easier than others. That’s why it’s not surprising that you may find yourself surfing through the internet for some inspiration. But, one vital aspect of designing a concept is knowing what to look out for in the first place.
So, in this article, we’ll point out 5 crucial details to keep in mind when crafting your architectural concept. Let’s get to it!
01. PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONALITY
The building’s purpose serves as the guide throughout your creative process. It’ll help direct the design choices that you make. To determine a building’s purpose you only need to answer a simple: “What will this building be used for?”
Keep in mind that the building can be:
- Residential: Providing shelter and living spaces for individuals or families (houses or apartments).
- Commercial: Accommodating businesses, offices, retail establishments, or other commercial activities (office buildings, shopping malls, hotels).
- Institutional: Serving public or community needs like education, healthcare, government, or cultural activities (schools, hospitals, museums, libraries).
- Industrial: Facilitating manufacturing, production, storage, or distribution of goods (factories, warehouses, logistics centers).
All of which require a unique flow, layout, and structure. With a clear understanding of the building’s purpose, you can stir your creative ideas in the right direction.
Additionally, your designs must prioritize functionality. It’s all about enabling people to live, work, or accomplish their goals effectively within the space. So, we can say that function lies at the very heart of your design process.
Functionality focuses on the specific tasks and activities that will occur within various spaces. It borders on the question: “What will happen in this particular space or area?” Functions are closely tied to purpose but provide a more detailed understanding of individual spaces and their intended uses. When considering the function of a building, here are key aspects to examine:
- Primary functions: The main activities or operations the building is designed to support. This directly relates to the building’s purpose. For instance, living spaces in a residential building, workspaces in an office building, and classroom spaces in a school.
- Secondary functions: Additional activities that support or complement the primary functions. (e.g., circulation spaces like corridors and stairwells; service areas like kitchens and storage rooms; amenity spaces like lobbies and common areas).
- Spatial relationships: The organization and connection of different functional spaces to facilitate efficient flow and interactions. So you must consider distinguishing public and private zones—or, noisy and quiet areas. You’ll also need to link spaces based on the proximity of related functions.
- Circulation: The movement patterns and pathways within the building, including horizontal and vertical movement (e.g., hallways, staircases, elevators, ramps).
- Environmental control: The functions related to regulating indoor environmental conditions, such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting.
For instance, when we designed this family country home, knowing it was a residential building was just the first step. We also needed to go deeper into the specific functions that would make this a nice haven for the family when retreating from the urban areas.
Designing a remarkable home meant creating an intimate living room that fostered connection and relaxation. Cozy bedrooms that provided individual retreats, and relaxed outdoor spaces that offered opportunities for enjoyable family gatherings.
02. AESTHETICS AND STYLE
Now when we hear aesthetics, what comes to mind is visual appeal and beauty. In architectural design, aesthetics refers to the appearance and overall artistic expression of a building’s design. It helps in shaping the structure’s character. Consider the following when visualizing the aesthetics of your architectural concept:
- Visual appeal: involves the careful consideration of form, proportion, scale, texture, color, and material choices to create appealing and harmonious compositions or structures.
- Emotional response: if you can execute a well-structured design, it should evoke emotional responses from viewers and users. So, you would expect feelings of admiration or pure fascination for the distinct nature of your work.
- Artistic expression: As an architect, you are allowed to express your artistic vision, creativity, and personal style through the design of a building. But, always keep client/user preferences in mind.
- Context and environment: The aesthetics of a building should complement and respond to its surrounding environment. Aim for a design that either blends seamlessly or creates a compelling contrast with the existing architecture and landscape.
Next to aesthetics, you need to consider the style. While aesthetics define the overall impression you want to create with a building, style gives more definition to “how” the structure is designed. It refers to the combination of elements or features in a building’s outlook. Think of architectural style as the building’s underlying signature which is often influenced by culture and time.
Here’s what to do when attributing a style to your design:
- Learn from history: draw inspiration from historical periods, cultural influences, or specific design movements (e.g., Classical, Gothic, Renaissance, Modernism, etc.)
- Add distinctive elements: each style should be characterized by a recognizable set of design elements, such as specific decor, structural systems, materials, proportions, or spatial arrangements.
- Consider regional variations: exhibit styles that represent regional variations, adapting to local climate, available materials, and cultural traditions.
Also, it’s important to ensure that there’s a good amount of consistency in your design. So, within a particular style, there should be a consistent application of design principles, details, and elements that create a cohesive and recognizable appearance.
03. Site considerations
Every building exists in a specific location, and the architectural design should respond to the unique characteristics of that site. A thorough site analysis will help you develop a feasible concept, especially when you’re aiming for a sustainable design. Key details to pay attention to here include:
- Topography: Assess the slope and elevation of the site as this will help you determine the ideal layout for your structure.
- Existing structures: Are the existing buildings or natural features on the site that need to be preserved? How can you integrate them into your design without losing order?
- Climate conditions: Study the prevailing weather patterns in the area, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, and sunshine. This will influence the building’s heating and cooling needs. It’ll also help you determine how best to maximize natural components like lighting and air.
For instance, when we worked on this airport office building in Nairobi, we factored in two major elements of the local climate: rain, sunlight, and indoor temperatures. 
To manage the strong sunlight and overarching indoor temperatures, we incorporated sun-shading extensions that project outwards from the building’s façade. This helped reduce the amount of incident sunlight on the glazing, thereby reducing the energy required for cooling the building interiors.
We also took advantage of Nairobi’s rainy season by creating a system to channel rainwater. We did this through a building shaft which led the water down to the basement. This collected water would then be used for irrigating the surrounding landscape as well as promoting water conservation for other purposes.
In a nutshell, the aim is to maximize favorable site conditions and minimize the impact of potentially troublesome site factors.
04. Safety and accessibility
Safety and accessibility are paramount considerations in your design concept. They ensure everyone can use and enjoy the built environment comfortably and without risk. Important safety considerations include:
- Structural integrity: The building should be designed to withstand all anticipated loads and forces (gravity, wind, earthquakes) to prevent collapse or failure.
- Fire safety: Fire safety measures like fire alarms, sprinklers, and proper exits are crucial for occupant safety. Consider using fire-resistant materials and compartmentalization to slow the spread of fire.
- Building systems: Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems should be designed and installed to meet safety codes and minimize the risk of accidents.
- Life safety features: Provide clear and well-lit egress paths, emergency exits, and signage for safe evacuation during emergencies.
- Environmental safety: Consider potential hazards like toxic materials, mold growth, and proper ventilation to create a healthy indoor environment.
Pay attention to accessibility too. How will people and vehicles access the site? This includes vehicular traffic flow, pedestrian access, parking needs, and emergency access. Your design should integrate seamlessly with these areas.
Accessibility in architectural design also focuses on creating a barrier-free environment. It involves infusing thoughtful design elements that accommodate individuals with disabilities or mobility challenges. Strive for a design that is usable by everyone, regardless of age, ability, or disability. This includes features like ramps, elevators, wider doorways, accessible restrooms, and braille signage.
Additionally, prioritize designing spaces that are easy to understand and navigate for people with cognitive disabilities. This includes clear layouts, consistent signage, and predictable wayfinding.
Conclusion: remember budget and construction feasibility
Design is an art form, but it also needs to be practical. So, aim to create concepts that are executable — of course, keeping the budget and resource availability in mind. Overall, your design should be buildable and maintainable in the long term. It’s advisable to address both budget and feasibility considerations earlier on as it is crucial for developing an achievable architectural solution.
Finally, as an architect, you can create a well-designed building that serves its purpose while looking appealing – one that makes a mark in time. Developing a proper concept entails assessing the 4 (actually, 5) important details we discussed in this post— purpose and functionality, aesthetics and style, site factors, safety and accessibility, budget and feasibility.
Armed with these, you can go ahead to craft a well-rounded building concept. Good luck!
