Innovation in architecture the defining 7 criteria

Architects in the world were very few in ancient history in the recent architectural education measures. Many architects in the world very long ago come from another background and did not receive formal education. But, these architects created for themselves names that are still rotated in the architectural literature and professional practice discussions. The educational arena absence affected the way architectural projects are judged and measured in terms of creativity. Nowadays, thousands of architects in the world graduate every year and added to the professional practice work force. For that, it is essential to create measure to define skilled architects from less skilled. Another important factor is many projects in the world governmental or private sector are announced through competition. We need to judge ourselves and our work before we judge others. Following are the 7 criteria to define innovation in architecture based on a research study and technical analysis of several projects in Europe.  

The 7 criteria of innovation in architecture

The concept: Any projects start with a concept, whether it is through a competition or direct assignment from a client. One of the major criteria to judge the innovation in any architectural design is its fit to the project site context. The design should be in harmony with the site topography and to take advantage of it because it has great impact on construction cost, construction competitions time, and client budget. The site silhouette gives great opportunities for the architect to change in form and levels affecting the building aesthetic form. Heritage should be considered when the area is a historical content area, as many countries require a response to heritage and historical content. The project architectural design must comply with the environment requirements and strategies to reduce utilities consumption, reduce travel, increase public transit use, protect land and wildlife habitat, take advantage of external energy like natural light and wind speed and flow, increase indoor and outdoor human comfort. Aesthetics is more relevant to architectural obligations as any project must comprise a concept that fits the project function regardless whether the project design is complex or simple. The project concept is more correlated to the site. for example designing a museum near a water surface might affect the design and it could take a shape of a ship.

New method: architectural design is a complex process comprises the involvement of many disciplines like structure engineering, mechanical engineering, environment engineers, visualizers, model makers, architectural designers and draughting people. Architectural firms in the world still nowadays use the conventional methods to produce a concept design by using freehand sketches and turning them to computer drawings later. Big firms with more specialized people use advance technology & tools in producing concept design like starting from doing a 3d model then scanning the model to computer software to turn it to architectural drawings. Other firms use software that allows freehand sketching and allows the transfer to other software’s generating accurate architectural drawings. This process of preparing a concept design is a major criterion for judging the innovation of the architectural project. Many architects in the world have introduced new methods to prepare concept designs, and it was considered an extra credit for their innovation. You can read my book review to stand on methods used in architecture and urban design , click here.

New material: technology development and manufacturing and discovery of new materials are introduced in construction building material market. As new materials are introduced, architects have greater opportunities for innovation that is in using these materials to give the building form its real and desired look. New materials are subject to studies and research on its feasibility, stability, and use in construction. Many architects introduced new materials which have not been used before in building envelop such as titanium and worked on its assembly detailing to make it feasible. Other architects developed an old material used even in ancient history like mud used in brick manufacturing to introduce a new material like terracotta, giving the building an attractive and amazing look. In developed countries in the world, aluminum has been used as structural material in small scale buildings, that is a new and innovative material used in architecture.

Structure: structural engineers contribute positively to the architectural design process, as many concepts are fantasia. The structural engineer’s innovation comes to design these fantasia forms and complex forms to make it constructible and less costly. Complex architectural concepts comprise complicated structural system. Here, the innovation comes to simplify the structural system by making it systemized and organized. Adding to that, in this process, the structural system must reach a high level of stability to get approval for construction and to make it safe for construction and use, regardless of the complexity of the architectural form. Many architects in the world submitted very complex architectural design like Bilbao museum, TWA airport, Guggenheim Museum that were simplified by the structural team to a systemized system and organized structure. Structural system response to the complexity of the architectural form of the project to make it stable, feasible is a criterion of innovate design.  

Project requirements: architectural firms succeed in their work when the architectural design complies with the project’s targeted program, construction budget, and design for human indoor and outdoor comfort. Client approval and acceptance of any architectural design is a priority for any firm in the world. The project requirements not only to fulfill the former but the country rules and regulations and approval process. Architectural design to respond to architectural design principals and to reduce unnecessary components making the internal design without area waste and to increase design efficiency.

Realization: is a criterion that makes the project real and sensible. The process of realization of the architectural design, its simplicity, construction method, response to client construction budget, and project construction time required to complete it. Many firms have established internal systems similar to BIM to facilitate the architectural design process from inception to completions. Using simple construction methods or simplified new construction methods adds credit to the architectural design innovation. Giving the architectural design in reality the same effect and physical appearance in the concept design phase is a gauge and measure to success for a firm and a sign and criterion of innovation.

Style relevance: firms in the world participate in the world architectural movement like the one happened in the mid-nineties like the modern movement in architecture. This to bring reputation and attracts attention. Architects in the world invented their own style of work besides the above criterion availability. This criterion adds value to the architectural design as this is not an easy and simple task to reflect in several projects and different types of functions. Reflecting style, for example in a museum project and a hospital design, will be very hard to achieve due to the characteristics of these two different projects. The more the style is in general concept the more it is applicable to more types of functions like the organic movement in architecture. The style complexity and its link to complicated forms will reduce its chances of succeeding in several types of functions, like the style of Bilbao museum.