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2.1. Architectural Design (ADG)

Architectural Design is the central discipline of architectural education. It encompasses the theory, methods, and studio practice through which architects conceive, develop, and communicate spatial proposals across scales - from a single room to an urban block. This knowledge area integrates formal, functional, cultural, environmental, and technical considerations into coherent built proposals. It covers foundational design principles as well as contemporary approaches including performance-driven, computational, generative, bioclimatic, and community-centered design. Students develop the capacity to analyze problems, generate spatial proposals, evaluate alternatives, and defend design decisions with both rigor and creative ambition.

Knowledge Area (KA)	Core Tier1	Core Tier2
2.1.1 Foundations of Architectural Design	1	1
2.1.2 Visual and Plastic Arts Foundations	1	1
2.1.3 Design Process and Creative Methods	1	1
2.1.4 Performance-Driven Design	1	1
2.1.5 Human-Centered and Inclusive Design	1	1
2.1.6 Gender-Sensitive and Trauma-Informed Design	Elective
2.1.7 Computational and Generative Design	1	1
2.1.8 Tropical and Bioclimatic Design	1	1
2.1.9 Large-Scale and Complex Buildings	Elective
2.1.10 Design Research Methods	Elective

2.1.1. ADG/Foundations of Architectural Design  (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top

Covers the fundamental spatial, formal, and compositional concepts that underpin all architectural design: space, perception, materiality, form, light, program, site, and precedent study.
Topics:
Core

• Space, form, and order: positive and negative space, enclosure, threshold, spatial sequence, hierarchy, scale, and proportion as fundamental architectural design concepts
• Architectural elements and their spatial roles: wall, floor, ceiling, and roof as enclosure; column, beam, and slab as structure
• Composition and formal operations: symmetry, asymmetry, balance, rhythm, repetition, modulation, contrast, and tension as tools of architectural formal organization
• Light and shadow as design media: natural light quality by orientation and time, shadow and material surface perception, light as spatial modifier - compression, expansion, focus
• Embodied perception of space: scale as bodily experienced rather than drawn, movement and kinesthetic sequence through space, and the visual, acoustic, and tactile engagement that shapes how a space is actually inhabited and felt
• Materiality as an experiential design medium: texture, weight, surface finish, and color, and the atmosphere and character that material choice and craft give to a space, as distinct from a material's structural or technical properties
• Program and spatial organization: functional zoning and bubble diagrams, circulation systems (horizontal, vertical, service), spatial hierarchy, and programmatic sequence

Non Core

• Precedent study methods: formal analysis frameworks for canonical architectural works; reading plans, sections, and photographs as design intelligence

Learning Outcomes:
Core:

1. Identify and describe the key spatial, perceptual, material, and compositional concepts that constitute the foundations of architectural design [Familiarity]
2. Apply foundational design principles - space, perception, materiality, light, program, and composition - in the development of a spatial architectural proposal [Usage]
3. Evaluate a design or building project for the quality of its spatial organization, formal coherence, perceptual experience, material expression, and use of light and program, identifying strengths and areas for improvement [Assessment]

2.1.2. ADG/Visual and Plastic Arts Foundations  (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top

Covers the foundational visual-arts skills that underpin architectural design education: color theory, observational and artistic drawing, two-dimensional painting and composition, and three-dimensional form studies through sculpture and modeling.
Topics:
Core

• Color theory: hue, value, and saturation; color wheel relationships (complementary, analogous, triadic, split-complementary); color psychology, cultural symbolism, and color's role in architectural and material composition
• Observational and artistic drawing: still-life and figure drawing, tonal value studies (shading, cross-hatching, chiaroscuro), proportion and gesture, as a visual-literacy complement to the measured, technical drawing of architectural representation
• Painting and two-dimensional composition: basic painting media and technique (watercolor, acrylic, gouache), and compositional principles - balance, focal point, visual weight, figure-ground - transferable to architectural and graphic composition
• Three-dimensional form studies and sculpture: additive and subtractive volume studies in clay, plaster, wire, or found materials, developing spatial and tactile sensibility as a precursor to architectural massing and model-making

Learning Outcomes:
Core:

1. Identify the fundamental principles of color theory, observational drawing, painting composition, and sculptural form, and describe their relevance to architectural design [Familiarity]
2. Apply color theory, observational drawing, and basic painting or sculptural techniques to produce a visual-arts study (drawing, painted composition, or volumetric form study) with technical and compositional competence [Usage]
3. Evaluate a visual-arts study for its use of color, composition, proportion, and form, and discuss how its principles could transfer to an architectural design problem [Assessment]

2.1.3. ADG/Design Process and Creative Methods  (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top

Covers the iterative design process from brief and site analysis to developed proposal, including design-criteria formulation, ideation (parti/concept development), diagramming, model-making, critique, and revision strategies.
Topics:
Core

• Brief analysis and problem framing: decomposing a design brief into spatial, functional, contextual, and performative requirements; identifying constraints and opportunities
• Architectural site analysis: solar orientation and sun path, prevailing wind and microclimate, topography and drainage, views and visual axes, vehicular and pedestrian access, surrounding urban fabric and context, and existing site constraints (easements, setbacks, utilities) as inputs to a design concept
• Design-criteria formulation: translating client and user requirements, site-analysis findings, and regulatory constraints into a prioritized, measurable set of functional, spatial, environmental, and budgetary criteria used to generate and evaluate design alternatives
• Ideation and concept development: sketching, diagramming, and collage as tools to explore spatial ideas; arriving at the parti (partido arquitectónico) – the single organizing idea that drives a design – and translating it into spatial and formal proposals
• Physical model-making as a design tool: study models for spatial exploration, massing studies, sectional models, and the role of making in discovering design solutions
• Iterative design and critique: pin-up and desk critique culture, receiving and integrating feedback, revision cycles, and developing design judgment through reflection
• Design narrative and argumentation: articulating design intent verbally and graphically, building a coherent design argument, and presenting spatial proposals persuasively

Non Core

• Collaborative and interdisciplinary design processes: co-design with engineers, landscape architects, and community stakeholders

Learning Outcomes:
Core:

1. Describe the stages of an iterative architectural design process, from brief and site analysis through design-criteria formulation, concept development (parti), revision, and final proposal [Familiarity]
2. Apply site analysis, design-criteria formulation, and systematic ideation and iterative critique methods to develop and refine a spatial architectural proposal in response to a design brief [Usage]
3. Evaluate the coherence and effectiveness of a design process, including the quality of concept articulation, iteration, and responsiveness to critique [Assessment]

2.1.4. ADG/Performance-Driven Design  (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top

Covers design methods that integrate environmental, structural, and functional performance as generative drivers from the earliest stages of the design process.
Topics:
Core

• Integration of performance criteria into early design: using daylighting, solar access, thermal comfort, and structural efficiency as spatial
• Simulation-based design feedback: using tools such as Ladybug, Honeybee, and Grasshopper to evaluate energy, daylight,
• Passive design strategies: solar shading, natural ventilation, thermal mass, and orientation as architectural design elements that reduce mechanical energy loads
• Structural form-finding as design: integrating structural logic (arches, shells, trusses, tensile systems) into spatial and formal decisions from schematic design onward
• Building performance metrics and certification frameworks: EUI (energy use intensity), daylight autonomy, thermal comfort indices (PMV, SET),

Non Core

• AI-assisted performance optimization: generative adversarial networks and reinforcement learning for multi-objective design optimization

Learning Outcomes:
Core:

1. Identify the key environmental and structural performance criteria relevant to a design project and describe how they can inform early-stage spatial and formal decisions [Familiarity]
2. Apply passive design strategies and simulation feedback to develop a performance-informed architectural proposal that meets defined energy and comfort targets [Usage]
3. Evaluate a building design for environmental and structural performance using simulation outputs and standard metrics, and propose targeted design improvements [Assessment]

2.1.5. ADG/Human-Centered and Inclusive Design  (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top

Covers design approaches that place human experience, equity, and accessibility at the center of architectural decision-making, from universal design to participatory methods.
Topics:
Core

• Universal design principles: equitable use, flexibility in use, simple and intuitive operation, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, and size
• Accessibility standards and codes: ADA, ISO 21542, and regional building codes for accessible routes, ramps, elevators, restrooms, signage, and emergency egress
• Spatial user experience: wayfinding, legibility, sensory richness, acoustic comfort, and the design of spaces that support diverse activities, ages, and abilities
• Participatory design processes: engaging future users and communities in defining spatial needs; co-design workshops, interviews, and community mapping as design tools

Learning Outcomes:
Core:

1. Describe the principles of universal design and inclusive architecture and explain how they translate into spatial and technical design decisions [Familiarity]
2. Apply universal design principles and accessibility standards to develop an architectural design that accommodates the full spectrum of human ability, age, and cultural background [Usage]
3. Evaluate a building or public space design for inclusivity and accessibility, identifying barriers and proposing design modifications to improve equity and user experience [Assessment]

2.1.6. ADG/Gender-Sensitive and Trauma-Informed Design ↑ Back to top

Covers design approaches for gender, cultural, and trauma-related dimensions of human experience that extend beyond universal accessibility: gender-sensitive and culturally responsive design, and trauma-informed and neurodiverse design.
Topics:
Non Core

• Gender-sensitive and culturally responsive design: designing for diverse gender identities, cultural practices, and social norms; safety, privacy, and dignified space for all users
• Trauma-informed and neurodiverse design: spatial environments for mental health recovery, autism-spectrum users, and survivors of violence

Learning Outcomes:
NonCore:

1. Describe gender-sensitive, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed design approaches and explain the populations and experiences each is intended to serve [Familiarity]
2. Apply gender-sensitive or trauma-informed design principles to a specific population - such as survivors of violence or neurodiverse users - within an architectural design proposal [Usage]
3. Evaluate a building or public space design for its responsiveness to gender, cultural, or trauma-related user needs, identifying gaps and proposing design modifications [Assessment]

2.1.7. ADG/Computational and Generative Design  (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top

Covers algorithmic, parametric, and AI-assisted design methods that expand the architect's capacity to generate, evaluate, and optimize complex spatial proposals.
Topics:
Core

• Parametric modeling fundamentals: defining geometry through relationships and constraints in tools such as Grasshopper/Rhino; rule-based variation and design families
• Algorithmic design methods: L-systems, cellular automata, space syntax analysis, and agent-based simulation as tools for generating spatial configurations
• Generative AI for design exploration: text-to-image diffusion models (Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, DALL-E) and multimodal AI (GPT-4V) for generating
• Multi-objective design optimization: Pareto-front analysis, evolutionary algorithms (Galapagos, Octopus),
• Data-driven design: using occupancy data, sensor data, and urban analytics to generate evidence-based spatial programs

Non Core

• Reinforcement learning for spatial layout: training RL agents to generate floor plans satisfying area, adjacency, and circulation constraints

Learning Outcomes:
Core:

1. Identify the main computational design methods - parametric, algorithmic, and AI-assisted - and describe their respective roles in the architectural design process [Familiarity]
2. Apply parametric modeling and generative design tools to produce and evaluate a set of design alternatives for an architectural project [Usage]

NonCore:

1. Evaluate the spatial and performance quality of computationally generated design proposals, selecting and refining the most promising candidate using design judgment [Assessment]

2.1.8. ADG/Tropical and Bioclimatic Design  (Core Tier1: 1 hr, Core Tier2: 1 hr) ↑ Back to top

Covers architectural design strategies for tropical, equatorial, and hot-humid climates, integrating climate-responsive form, material, and landscape solutions for thermal and visual comfort.
Topics:
Core

• Tropical climate analysis: psychrometric charts, sun path diagrams, wind rose analysis, and bioclimatic chart interpretation for hot-humid, hot-dry, and composite tropical climates
• Bioclimatic building form: raised floors, deep overhangs, narrow floor plates, cross-ventilation layouts, lightweight roofs,
• Solar shading design: brise-soleil, louvers, screens, pergolas, and self-shading massing; calculating shading effectiveness by orientation, latitude, and season
• Vernacular tropical architecture: precedents from Southeast Asia, West Africa, Caribbean, and Latin America
• Landscape and vegetation as climate buffer: tree canopies for solar protection, evapotranspiration cooling, windbreaks, and green roofs in tropical contexts

Non Core

• Net-zero and near-zero energy design in tropical climates: photovoltaic integration, passive cooling combined with minimal mechanical cooling, and tropical Passivhaus adaptations

Learning Outcomes:
Core:

1. Describe the primary climatic challenges of tropical environments and identify the bioclimatic design strategies used to achieve thermal [Familiarity]
2. Apply bioclimatic design principles - shading, ventilation, form, and landscape - to develop an architectural proposal appropriate for a specific tropical or subtropical climate [Usage]
3. Evaluate a building design in a tropical context for climate responsiveness, identifying passive design deficiencies [Assessment]

2.1.9. ADG/Large-Scale and Complex Buildings ↑ Back to top

Covers design challenges specific to large, complex, and hybrid building typologies: mixed-use towers, healthcare facilities, airports, cultural institutions, and campus master plans.
Topics:
Non Core

• Programming and spatial organization at large scale: stacking diagrams, core-to-perimeter ratios, vertical circulation strategies,
• Life safety and means of egress in large buildings: occupancy-based egress design, pressurized stairwells, refuge floors, fire compartmentalization, and NFPA/IBC requirements
• Vertical transportation systems: elevator group design, sky lobbies, express/local zone strategies, escalators, and integration of vertical transport into building form
• Hybrid and mixed-use building design: separating and linking residential, commercial, hotel, and civic programs; transfer floors, podium strategies, and shared amenity programming
• Phased construction and building complexity: designing for construction staging, operational continuity, future expansion, and changeable use within long-lifespan complex buildings
• Campus and master plan design at large scale: site organization, wayfinding, public realm, phasing, infrastructure coordination, and identity across a multi-building ensemble

Learning Outcomes:
NonCore:

1. Identify the key design challenges - program complexity, life safety, vertical transport, and phasing - that distinguish large-scale buildings from smaller architectural projects [Familiarity]
2. Apply large-scale building design strategies to develop a spatial and programmatic organization for a complex multi-story or mixed-use building typology [Usage]
3. Evaluate a large-scale building design for programmatic coherence, life safety compliance, and operational efficiency [Assessment]

2.1.10. ADG/Design Research Methods ↑ Back to top

Covers the methods and frameworks for conducting research through, for, and about architectural design, including practice-based research, case study analysis, and evidence-based design.
Topics:
Non Core

• Research through design: using the design project itself as a research instrument; documenting, reflecting on, and theorizing the design process as a form of knowledge production
• Architectural case study methodology: selecting, documenting, and analyzing built projects as evidence; comparative case studies across typology, culture, or climate
• Evidence-based design: drawing on post-occupancy evaluation data, environmental psychology research, and user behavior studies to inform spatial and material design decisions
• Literature review and theoretical framing in architectural research: identifying relevant scholarship, positioning a design project within architectural discourse,
• Architectural criticism and evaluation frameworks: applying formal, phenomenological, typological, and sociocultural lenses to critically assess architectural works and proposals
• Dissemination of design research: writing architectural essays, preparing conference papers and journal submissions, and presenting design-research projects to academic

Learning Outcomes:
NonCore:

1. Describe the main modes of architectural design research - research through design, case study, and evidence-based design - and explain how each produces architectural knowledge [Familiarity]
2. Apply a design research methodology to frame, conduct, and document an investigation into an architectural design problem, producing a structured argument supported by evidence [Usage]
3. Critically evaluate an architectural design research project for the rigor of its methodology, the quality of its evidence, [Assessment]