Kids Neighborhood Workshop
City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Division

Part 5: Architecture

A city, in its most real sense, is its buildings. Whatever the life, spirit, activity or achivements of the city may be, they are expressed in the mass of asphalt, brick, stone, marble, steel and glass that has accumulated during the city's existence...the way in which those buildings are disposed upon the streets and squares are the source of its personality, its style, and its distinguishing stamp."
Ada Louise Huxtable		 ARCHITECTS AND DESIGN
Most people would agree that buildings and spaces should be designed to enhance their surroundings and to satisfy owner and occupant needs. The architect must balance function with aesthetics. There are many views about the appropriate ways to accomplish these aims, yet two general principles of good design may be stated as:

Buildings should respect the character of the surrounding neighborhood and community values. Architects must consider the "context" of the site or relationship to neighborhood elements, such as development patterns, setbacks (distance from street or property line), materials, landscaping, and historic elements.

Buildings should satisfy functional requirements. They should be interesting to view, yet compatible and uncluttered.

Design is subjective: what is good design to one person, may not be to another person. That is why the architect should consider neighborhood values. For example, a modern steel and glass house may not be appropriate in a neighborhood of older Victorian style houses.

EXAMINING NEIGHBORHOOD STYLE
You can learn a lot about a neighborhood by studying its buildings. What is their form, materials, details? How do they relate to people? To determine the architectural style of a building, the architect assembles all the clues one at a time. As you explore the neighborhood study area answer these questions:
  1. Use the Architectural Survey form to gather clues about the neighborhood study area. How do the buildings look different? Describe their form, height, materials, textures, colors, setbacks.
  2. Take pictures of any older or unique looking buildings.
  3. Do the houses have porches facing the street? Why?
  4. Identify the architectural styles using a book about architecture or architectural style.
  5. Draw sketches in your journal of unique building details, particularly those that are characteristic of its style.
  6. What buildings are interesting? Why?
  7. Where do the people gather? Indoors (civic buildings, schools, churches) versus outdoors (parks, plazas, playgrounds).
ACTIVITY: DESIGN A BUILDING
Using the results of Part 6, design a building for the large vacant lot south of the China House. Select an architectural style that you feel would fit into the neighborhood. Draw several sketches of what the building might look like from the street. Include design elements and details you identified when examining the neighborhood style.
WORD SEARCH - Look up these words in a dictionary or encyclopedia: Architect, Architecture, Design, Form, Style.

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