Assignment 2: ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN ELEMENTS & PRINCIPLES IN

CASE STUDY BUILDING IN KUALA LUMPUR

Subject: BSR453 (Building Design)
Semester: Feb.-June 2019
Issue date: 8/3/2019 (week 3)
Submission date: 18/3/2019 (week 4)

Assignment objective:
1. To increase awareness among students on the design elements & principles applied on the
architectural design of buildings
2. To comprehend & apply the language of architectural design into future design exercise

Introduction
Architectural design elements & principles are design language used by architects to create
aesthetically beautiful and functional buildings. These tools have been used by builders from
thousands of years from the Roman Empire and up until today the language is still relevant.
Inspiration for built environmental design is highly influenced by the natural environment and learned
through observation, reflection & contemplation. The vocabulary of architectural design is compiled by
Prof Emeritus D.K Ching in a book title “Architecture, Form, Space & Order”. Therefore students are
required to make reference to this book during this assignment.

Task
In a group of 4, you are required to observe and identified design elements & principles found on the
façade (external) and interior (internal) of the case study building (refer to Table 1 & Figure 1). You
may skip the interior part of the building if you are not granted permission by the building
owner/tenant. Work in a pair during data collection and preparation of the poster design. Take photos
of the design elements & principles, then link them to the design vocabularies learned from Ching
(2014). Include your opinion & thoughts to support your findings. You are encouraged to explore &
apply various graphic techniques & symbols in the production of an informative & creative poster
design.

Expected outcome
The outcome of the case study must be presented in an A1(594 mm x 841 mm) size poster format of
either landscape or portrait orientation.
The content should include:
Introduction Overview of why, how and benefits of conducting this study
Background of  Building name
case study  Year built & completed
building  Architect, engineer & contractor
 Owner or tenant
 Refurbishment/Renovation/Conservation history
 Architectural style
Methodology  Data collection: Observation
 Data analysis: Photographic analysis
Result/Finding External of building:
 Names & nos of design elements & photographic support
 Names & nos of design principles & photographic support

Internal of building:
 Names & nos of design elements & photographic support
 Names & nos of design principles & photographic support
Conclusion  Is the external of the building rich or lack with design elements & principles?
Explain why.
 Is the internal of the building rich or lack with design elements & principles?
Explain why.
References FDK Ching (2014), Architecture, Form, space & Order
Acknowledgement Building owner/tenant, website, etc
The best posters (3-4 nos) will be selected to take part in poster design competition under BEURC
2019 or 2020.
Table 1: List of suggested case study buildings according to class group
Group Example of case study building
2A St Mary Cathedral
Royal Selangor Club
Perpustakaan Kanak-kanak KL
Perpustakaan Peringatan KL
National History Museum
KL City Gallery
Pejabat Pengarah Tanah & Galian
2B Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad
Mahkamah Perusahaan
Strait Trading Building
National Textile Museum
Agro Bank
Dayabumi Complex
Pos Malaysia Headquarters
Jalan Tun Sambathan Parking Complex
Agro Bank Building
2C Countdown Clock
Panggung Bandaraya(City Theatre)
Jabatan Warisan Negara
Jamek Mosque of KL
Pucuk Rebung Gallery Museum
Cosmo Hotel KL
Reggae Manshion KL
LRT Masjid Jamek
2D Shophouses at Dataran Medan Pasar
Bar Council
Pacific Express Hotel
Art House Gallery& Museum of Ethnic Art
Central Market
Shophouses at Jalan Pudu
Shophouses at Jalan Hang Kasturi
 Group 2C

Group 2A

Group 2B
Group 2D

Figure 1: Location of case study buildings according to groups