Theories & Approaches
Our beliefs shape the way we build. The resources on this page explore a variety of philosophical approaches to building design. From ancient Eastern philosophies like Feng Shui to modernism and Bauhaus, these ideas offer much insight into the world's great architecture.
- Accessibility (3)
- Adaptive Reuse (3)
- Architecture and Sex (3)
- Feng Shui (15)
- Modern Theories
- Social Concerns (5)
What Is Architecture?
Definition of the word Architecture
What Does "Architectural" Mean?
Definition of the word Architectural, with links, quotes, and resources.
What is Bauhaus? What is the International Style?
Flat roofs, smooth façades and cubic shapes characterize the Bauhaus style. Here's an easy introduction to the Bauhaus movement and the International Style, with links and photos.
What is Deconstructivism in Architecture?
Deconstructivist buildings may seem to have no visual logic. Use this quick reference to learn more about deconstructivism in architecture.
What is Formalism in Architecture?
Formalism in building design emphasizes highly structured visual relationships. Here's a photo and easy definition.
What is Modernism in Architecture?
Modernist architects attempt to apply scientific, analytical methods to design. Use these resources to learn more about modernism in architecture.
What is Postmodernism in Architecture?
Postmodernist architects use familiar shapes and details in unexpected, and sometimes amusing, ways. This page is your introduction to the postmodern movement, with photos, links, and resources.
What is Structuralism in Architecture?
Structuralist architects view design as a process of searching for basic, underlying structures. Here's an easy introduction with photo and links.
Who Is Rem Koolhaas?
The architecture of Rem Koolhaas is so unconventional that scholars have difficulty classifying him.
Sacred Geometry And Architecture
From the pyramids in Egypt to the new World Trade Center tower in New York, architecture uses the same essential building blocks as your body. Believers say that when we recognize and build upon these archetypal patterns, we create dwellings that comfort and inspire.
Top Ten Trends in Home Design
Tomorrow's homes are on the drawing board and they are nothing like the places you may recall from your childhood. Watch for these important trends in home design.
Dream Houses
Do the houses we imagine reflect who we are? Psychologists have theories about the relationship between the self and architecture.
Opposites in Architecture
Even the greatest architects have been known to create uneasy partnerships
Books on School Design
Recommended texts and guidelines for planning and designing school buildings.
What Is "Neo-Miesian"?
Some critics call Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura "Neo-Miesian." What does Neo-Miesian mean? Here's the answer.
Colorful Buildings
Bucking modernist trends, a few rebel architects have introduced bright colors into their work. See bright buildings by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Jean Nouvel, and other rule-breakers. Also find scholarly research about color in architectural design.
Words on Monuments
Mistakes sometimes happen when architects and artists carve words into memorial monuments and statues. Let's look at how inscriptions are used in important memorials such as the National Martin Luther King Jr Memorial and the National 9-11 Memorial.