Conceptualization Methods in the Design Process of Architecture

One of the most exciting periods for architectural designers in design research is the time in which design ideas turn into a major design concept. This period is called “conceptualization” and it may occur differently in different projects. Studies show that there are several levels of idealization involved in developing a design concept. Many basic ideas related to each goal of the designer for his/her project contribute to the development of the most comprehensive concept which is called a design “parti”.
This article takes a close look at the subject of conceptualization in the design process of architecture. There are two main sections which form the structure of this article. The first section, using descriptive as well as analytic methods, introduces the two most regarded design process approaches in architecture: the step by step approach also called “systematic”, and the interactive approach called “environmental”. This section also reviews four major design methods frequently used by architects. They are called: analogic, typologic, pragmatic, and theoretic methods.
The second section, using survey method, investigates the relation between the design process and design methods used by 30 grade-one architectural consultants in Tehran and 350 undergraduate students of architecture at different universities in Iran. As far as the function of the projects, the three most applied functions were chosen as: residential, office/commercial, and educational projects. In order to investigate about the preference of each group in using design process and design methods in each of the three categories, some questionnaires were developed and collected from the professional group as well as the student group. The responses of the participants were analyzed by SMART-PLS software.
The results of the research indicate that both groups of professionals and students tend to use more “systematic” approach in their design process, and “pragmatic” design method in their projects. In an analytic view, one could compare the preferred design process and design methods used in each group:In the students group:In residential projects: there is a desire to use “systematic” approach with “pragmatic” method, “collaborative” approach with “analogic” method, and “interactive” approach with “theoretic” and “analogic” methods.
In office/commercial projects: there is a meaningful relation between “systematic” approach and “pragmatic” and “typologic” methods, “collaborative” approach and “analogic” method, and “interactive” approach and “analogic and “theoretic” methods.
In educational projects: there is a meaningful relation between the “systematic” approach and “pragmatic” method, “interactive” approach with “theoretic” method, and “collaborative “approach and “typologic” method.
In the professional consultants group:In residential projects: there is a desire to use “systematic” approach with “analogic” and “pragmatic” methods, “collaborative” approach with “analogic” and “pragmatic” methods, and “”interactive” approach with “theoretic” and “analogic” methods.
In office/commercial projects: there is a meaningful relation between “systematic” approach and “analogic” and “pragmatic” methods, “collaborative” approach with “analogic” and “typologic” and “pragmatic” methods, and “interactive” approach with “analogic” method.
In educational projects: there is a meaningful relation between “collaborative” approach with “analogic” method, “interactive” approach with “analogic” and “theoretic” methods, and “systematic” approach with “pragmatic” and “typologic” methods.