Light is one of architecture’s least tangible components, yet it is one of its most fundamental. It gives form to space, reveals subtle textures, and establishes an atmosphere. Equally as importantly, the absence of light – darkness and shade – provide contrast, depth, and dynamism. The interplay between light and shade is yet again, not only a visual concern, but a spatial and experiential one, shaping how architecture is perceived, occupied, and felt. Daylight has always be

The relationship between opening and enclosure is one of fundamental importance in architecture. It determines how a building negotiates between inside and out, between exposure and shelter. Much more than a technical matter of window sizes and wall openings, this relationship influences how spaces are perceived, inhabited and understood every day. Through careful balance between openness and containment, architecture begins to frame both physical views and psychological expe

Proportion usually operates at a level that is felt before it is consciously understood. Unlike form or scale, it rarely announces itself on first impression, but instead it is subtle, governing the internal logic of a building, shaping how components interact and relate to one another. Form establishes identity, and scale may set spatial boundaries, but proportion is the key that makes architecture composed and credible, tying it all together. Historically, proportion in arc

An awareness of scale is one of the most frequently misunderstood aspects of architecture. While the form of a building is often the most striking feature, it is scale that determines how a building is inhabited, experienced, and accepted within its context. The appropriateness of scale in architecture is not only a question of size but a question of proportion, relationship, and sensitivity to both people and the place in which a building stands. At a local level, scale brid

In contemporary architecture, the dilemma of appropriate form is ever present. Too big, and you dwarf surrounding buildings and cut off views. Too small, and you limit function and quality of life. Too much glazing, and you have a greenhouse in summer and an icebox in winter. Too little glazing, and you have a dark, unpleasant building. Too abstract and the form takes away from the community fabric, too safe and it becomes entirely swallowed by its surroundings. So the questi

The fifth journal entry in our series on the essentials of architectural design; this week focusing on the quality of a space in architecture.

The fourth entry in our series about the essentials of architectural design; this week about horizontal and vertical organisation of space.

The third entry in our series about the essentials of architectural design; this week discussing the entrance to homes and other buildings.

The second post in our series about the essentials of architectural design; this week about the relationships between buildings, sites, and surroundings.

Our first post in a series of journal entries documenting the essentials of architectural design; focusing on the architectural concept and parti.