THEORY OF DESIGN

Overview of the article

In this article Hillier has mentioned about the various theories of architecture which exists,
their application and importance in architecture using the problem of space as a specific
instance and looks at the issue of space first as a philosophical problem and then as a
aspect of building , and finally as an architectural phenomenon. Further hillier has also
tried to differentiate architecture from building to show how theory is central to
architectural practice and has drawn some inferences on how this view of theory affects our
view of architecture as science and as art.

Summary
Theories are basically a medium of informing the people about a particular thing written by
a person about which he/she has derived from his own experiences and results into
notional ideas, which are made so as to transform the views of the reader about various
things in the world.
Architects use these theories in their design knowingly or unknowingly, not just because
their design must show how good they understand the application of their subject across
the globe but also because architecture is all about discovering new forms which are not
defined but evolved through the course of various experiences in life and does not means
designing in the ritual pattern.
After stating the above Hillier has then raised a question in this article as to what are these
architectural theories like are these hypothetical theories which are not exactly related to
architecture and are misleading us or do these theories actually make some sense and are
specific to architecture which show us some direction in which we need to proceed or
whether these theories are just random theories which are forced fully applied in
architecture.
To the above stated question Hillier says that architectural theories do exist but these are
not found in the views of various intellects but it is something which we conclude from our
own experiences and practical applications which then lead us to the answers of our
questions while we are designing something. He then adds that the only way to understand
what is architecture theory is by understanding all the aspects of architecture properly and
then processing it and not just by getting influenced by something very fascinating.
According to him architects and builders use their preconceived notions in creating built
space and so he wants to tell them that they can create much better built spaces which
relate to its use and helps in shaping forms and can also prove the preconceived
notions/ideas wrong. He adds that such theories may challenge the architect but these are
not to act as barriers but to give everyone the equal set of ideas to look at and broaden their
horizon of views .
Hiller then says that first we should understand the meaning attached to architecture. He
refers to architecture both as an activity (process and various stages of designing a
building) and a thing (application in various forms ), architecture is not just about buildings
it is a vast field and one can relate anything to architecture as it is a process of designing a
thing which is a mixture of science and arts. He further adds that we need to find out

whether architecture is a part/property of an object or it is something we conclude about an

object.
Hillier tells us that according to one of his colleague we see architecture in the evolution of
a building done in a purposeful/meaningful way by which she means deliberate addition of
various notional element and components at the time of construction or after that she also
mentions that we cannot distinguish architecture from vernacular because architecture of
one generation appears vernacular to the next generation as architecture shifts with time
which makes us think that architecture is not a inherent property of a thing but it is how we
look at a thing in the light of all our past knowledge and memory.
Further Hillier tells about what is architectural competence and how it relates forms to use
using architectural elements which constitute a account of not how a house is made but
how it is thought .The idea of architectural competence according to Glassie is to provide a
set of normative rules about how a building should be done , so that a vernacular building
reproduces a known and socially accepted pattern, further like artefacts buildings are a
source of transmission of culture and through different ways of building aspects of social
knowledge/background of a community are reproduced.
Architecture surely is not building by reference to culturally bound skills but skills based on
general comparative knowledge of architectural forms and functions through
understanding of principles and aims at innovations. A building is architecture only when
the evidence of not only systematic intent but also theoretical intent are evident atleast in
the undeveloped form which is beyond the cultural norms , it is then that a building has
surpassed others and excelled , made a mark and enlighten what is architecture.
Architecture is basically a blend of history, culture , experiences or say theory applied to
buildings. Reproduction of existing forms , vernacular or other is not architecture as we
have not taken the pains of deriving the gainful from these and innovating but just
duplicated them like that .Whereas exploitation of vernacular architecture to create new
form can be architecture , because it involves thought.
After this Hillier talks about space as a important property of a building with reference to
the physical forms that define it. There is lack in defining the value / meaning of a space and
it is always dependent on human agencies for its use , to which hillier says that space is not
just a background of our material existence it is an important aspect of hiw are social and
cultural world are constructed.

AMITY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING

THEORY OF DESIGN
ASSIGNMENT I
TOPIC STUDY OF SPECIFICALLY ARCHITECTURAL THEORY
BY BILL HILLIER

PROGRAM B.ARCH
BATCH 2013 - 2018

MADE BY :ANKITA GOEL

A1904013152
SECTION- C