The Pedagogy of Architectural Conceptual Design: Where do building ideas come from?

Architectural concepts function as projections of the future aspirations of users and owners, influencing the design process and guiding the creation of distinctive and impactful architectural works. Conceptual design represents the phase in architectural design where the architect investigates abstract ideas to identify the primary drivers guiding their projects. ‘The result of the design process may be a functional product or simply the representation of an idea – a visual statement in the form of prototype or an artistic installation.’ [6]. Each of these outcomes raises a unique set of ethical and professional inquiries. Nonetheless, they all illuminate the origins of design ideas and potential pathways for enhancing their relevance and impact on design. This study endeavors to equip students and faculty of architecture with a variety of methods and processes for understanding the architectural conceptual design process.