- Something said or done that may serve as an example or rule to authorzie or justify a subsequent act of the same or an analogous kind.
- The convention established by such a precedent or by long practice.
- A person or thing that serves as a model.
In architecture precedents are used widely and you will no doubt be asked to refer to precedents during your educational and professional career.
Precedent studies can aid your design process from concept to final design. Note that precedents are not copied but used as an inspiration to your design, an idea or guide to a method that you are wishing to employ in your scheme.
The precedent can give your design authority by equating it to something else, but also can create meaning to your design particularly to the public or the client. Precedents are useful in communicating your to its future users, visitors and so on.
So whether it is to describe a construction method, a material choice or a design concept precedent studies are vital in our design process.
Where to start?
You need to start by establishing the brief, and therefore understanding the problem. You are seeking guidance or inspiration in a certain area, so it is important you select suitable precedents for your design.
Don’t necessarily head straight to the internet for ideas – although it is a valuable resource. You can also consider magazines, journals, books – so make sure you head to the library too in order to collect your resources. This is where keeping up to date with the latest architectural news can really help you – along with site visits and sketches.
If relevant it may even be worth getting out and about and experiencing some buildings for yourself. For example, you are designing a museum? Get out to your local museums and see what inspires you.
Don’t just select a building ‘because it looks nice’. There needs to be a lot more too it than that:
– Why does it look nice?
– What sets it apart from other similar buildings?
– How is it constructed?
– Would it work with your design?
– How did the architect make the building successful?
– Or, why is it a negative precedent?
– Is the design good?
How to analyse and apply your precedent studies
The precedent is there to resolve a design problem. Be it a suitable solar shading solution, or a cladding material you need to drill down on what that particular precedent has taught you and why you feel it is an important inspiration for your design.
Take time to research and interpret the precedent building, and figure out how it is constructed and its significant features. Analyse the form, structure, using any photographs and drawings you have in order to start to fully understand all aspects of the building or segment that you are focusing on.
Some of the things that you should consider are:
– Structure
– Scale
– Light
– Materials and surfaces
– Details
– Context
– Social / cultural impact
– Form
– Access
– Aesthetic
And many many more!
It is important not to copy. Be specific in the area which you feel applies to your design, learn lessons from the precedent and find ways that you can be creative with its integration, and solving your design problems.
These need to be communicated to your client/tutor in order for them to understand your reasoning, and give them the vision of your design.
Continue to build your architectural vocab and you will slowly create a precedent study library in your mind that you can refer to again and again during your design process. Immerse yourself in architecture, and this will become easier. Critically assess designs you see, ask questions, be inquisitive.
Thanks emma its really a helpful site for students thank you… your doing great jop… hats off for your team
Thank you – appreciate your comments 🙂
thank you! 🙂 great help!
Thank you very much . it was quite informative. Because of this artical i came to know some different ways to slove design problems.
You just saved my life! Thank you thank you thank you!
You’re welcome 🙂
very helpful…
Really helpful..
EMMA!
THANKYOU. YOURE A STAR! LOTS OF LOVE.
I CANT THANK YOU ENOUGH BELIEVE ME.
Ive subscribed already. I want to know that will i be getting notified by email about the new stuff coming up ? Or i have to do anything else to be updated about the stuff that you will be posting in the future?
Thank you for youre precious time
Hi Muhammad, if you have subscribed you will receive my monthly newsletter with updates, and links to all the posts I have published in the last month. 🙂
Thank You so much Emma, a great job indeed.
It really helped me a lot.
i have been designing without a clue of what the brief wants also with the precedents how will they help to go along with design.it been a great up-lift inspiration on this site, thank you
Thank you! Glad the site has helped you out! Emma 🙂
I am 2rd year student and i m confused wid what preference i should give while designing a hostel for backpackers….i am not able to think properly …. i need hints to start with the concept
Hi – I have sent you an email.
Thanks alot, really idealogical, and informative
Easily understandable and readable. Helped a lot. Thank you
U are great Emma. Thanks so much. I like your post about architecture. Keep it up
Thank you Nazri.
Hey, I’m a first year student and I need to prepare precedent studies and I don’t really understand how it should looks like, what it should provides. I was making research and I’ve got some inspirations but how it should looks on the paper sheet. Could you help me with it ? Your article is the best, but still don’t know how to make the final sheet :c
Hi Victoria,
You need to read through the assignment brief and see what is being asked of you. What information are you expected to produce for the presentation sheet? Go through the information you have collected and organise by importance, giving it a journey or story. Sketch out how you think the information should look on the page, use pinterest for some inspiration. Hope this helps. 🙂
Thanks Emma, doing a great job, this is really helping us, me in particular!…
Thank you Peter, much appreciated 🙂
Thanks Emma. Your articles and site have been a great source of inspirations to me. Hope to procure some of the recommended books someday.