Given that the role of the architect is quite diverse, he needs to have and exercise various skills. Broadbent mentions some of these, decision-making, skills of locational analysis, concern over structure and environmental control, over interior spaces and making judgements about costs. All these skills can be grouped into a set of abilities, that allow the architect to visualise and generate three-dimensional forms or spaces.
There are four ways to do so, by pragmatic, iconic, analogic and canonic design. These design processes are listed in a chronological order of application, as well as to imply a sense of sophistication in architectural thinking.
Pragmatic design was the easiest, primitive way of generating architectural forms. The primitive men would find ways, by trial and error, to use whatever materials nature offered, in order to build shelters. This way of designing is evident in the mammoth hunter tents, the black tents of Arabs, Indian tepees and igloos of Eskimos. The only purpose of building at this time was to modify climate, so that human activities could take place comfortably.
Iconic design followed. After people established certain forms that worked, those were repeated over great distances and time. Some believe there are structural, psychological and cultural reasons for this. Whatever the case, people maintained their way of building. They developed fixed images, icons for their building forms.
Analogic design is considered the most potent source of ideas in architecture. Finding analogies is considered fundamental to the human mind. This is true in all areas of life, even architecture. Some of the most special design in architecture history derive from different analogues. An illustration would be King Djoser's funerary complex.
Canonic design is considered the most complex and intelligent. It is a means of designing using grids and proportional systems that allow the architect to follow a sense of order and regularity in the design.
To conclude, Broadbent discusses some of the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright, with his Unity Temple, Imperial Hotel and Larkin building, Le Corbusier with his Domino scheme present in Villa Garches, The Artist's House, the House of Vaucresson and Mies van der Rohe with the Seagram Building, the Crown Hall and more, the founding fathers of modern architecture. Their approaches are a combination of all four types of designs, an illustration of brilliant architectural thinking.
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