Every building starts with a concept and a design. Architects are involved at every stage of the process, even after a design has been finalized.
Architectural concepts
Architectural concepts are the designers way of responding to the design situation presented to them. They are a means of translating the non-physical design problem into the physical building product. Every project will have critical issues, central themes or problem essences, and the general issues of designing a building can come under the following categories:
* functional zoning
* architectural space
* circulation and building form
* response to concept
* building envelope
Design Philosophy
In order to develop your concepts first consider your design philosophy. Your philosophy is a set of values that you use to inform your design. Often this is considered to be the life values of the designer.
For example:
* artistic vs. scientific
* rational vs. irrational
* personal vs. universal
* visual vs. non visual
* needs vs. wants
* individual vs. society
