Subject Code & Name: AR25105 – Foundational Design Studio
Regulation: R-2025
Semester: I (First Semester)
Branch: B. Arch. (Arch)
Credits / L-T-P: 9 Credits | L-T-P: 0-0-9
Course Objectives
- To give an understanding of design as creating form towards a purpose at various scales.
- To enable exploration of the universal visual, experiential and cognitive aspects of design through engaging elements and principles of form.
- To give an insight into the ways in which form/morphology and use/effect can come together.
- To give an appreciation of what makes something attractive.
Full Unit-wise Syllabus
Types of Explorations in the Foundational Studio
The explorations in the foundational studio would be of two types. One would be to understand and break down form to its component elements and principles in order to get insight into the most important aspects that give a totality of cognitive effect (perceptive, behavioural, cultural etc.) or use (anthropometrics, activities, scale, etc.). Design exploration would continue after this to create a form for use/effect. Another would be to explore component elements like point, line, planes, volume, shape, colour, texture, light, pattern, etc., using principles such as balance, unity, dominance, transparency, proportion, scale, solid, void, fluidity, movement, fractal, order, chaos, gestalt, etc. This exploration could be an end in itself or could lead to the creation of a higher level of or composite form/design through using elements and principles in conjunction towards human need/use (perceptive, behavioural, cultural, anthropometrics, activities, scale, etc.).
Architecture as Morphology and Fundamentals of Form
Architecture as a discipline starts with morphology – the study of buildings: their shape, size, layout, proportions, etc. and understanding how each aspect of these relates to the function they serve as the answer to questions and needs of human society. While the needs are multifarious, including shelter and comfort, social and psychological wellbeing, culture and meaning, expression of time and context, etc., the means are negotiated through the fundamentals of form in its various attributes. In the foundational studio, the exploration would be on understanding these fundamentals as universals as well as in terms of particular manifestations in specific cultural and temporal contexts. The word form here means all physical manifested aspects.
Studio Conduct and Design Exercises
The whole studio would be conducted through a series of related design exercises with multiple stages as well as standalone independent exercises. Observational/analytical study and design exploration could go hand in hand or one could precede the other, based on the specific project. The exercises would be mediated through situations and contexts, historic and contemporary references, local or global character, aesthetics, basics of human response and behaviour, etc. Different media would be explored in 2D and 3D. The final exercise(s) would be focussed towards small product/furniture/architectural design/component design in urban context, etc.
Course Outcomes (COs)
- CO1: Awareness of the totality and components of form in the creation of design.
- CO2: Ability to explore the visual/cognitive language and grammar of the universal elements and principles of design.
- CO3: Ability to understand needs as encompassing functional, behavioural, cultural, experiential, etc.
- CO4: Ability to engage awareness towards creating a morphology that fulfils stated intents and needs.
Assessment Pattern (Quick Note)
- Weightage: Continuous Assessment 60% | End Semester Examinations 40%
- Internal methodology: Three Assessments with equal weightage. Each assessment shall incorporate continuous marking of the work and performance during the particular assessment period. Each assessment weightage – 33.33%.
Source: Official Anna University – B. Arch. R-2025 Syllabus
Last Updated: September 2026
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