Hello Reader,

Spatial hierarchy in architecture is all about using hierarchy to draw attention to specific visual elements.

It’s one of the key tools building designers use to shape how people experience their creations.

Along with other principles like rhythm and repetition, hierarchy creates impact by separating a building from its overall theme or design.

The human eye is naturally drawn to elements such as size, color, shape, and placement, instinctively seeking patterns or detecting anomalies within them.

Shape

Use variations in form.

This often involves creating a consistent pattern or motif and then breaking it to draw attention to specific elements.

For example, an arched or circular window in a row of rectangular windows would stand out and become a focal point.

Size

This involves using scale differences to create visual emphasis.

Larger elements typically draw more attention and are placed higher in the visual hierarchy, particularly if that size is used without hierarchical elements like shape or color to make that element stand out.

Color

Color can be used similarly to achieve different effects on the view through repetition and brightness.

This can involve introducing a bright color or a different texture in a subdued environment or using colors with specific cultural meanings.

Location

You can shape perception by strategically manipulating elements based on established principles of visual interpretation.

Designers can emphasize or diminish features to achieve their desired impact.

Thoughtful design choices, such as adding a porch or other architectural features, can amplify or soften this inherent weight.

Alternatively, deliberately omitting an expected element can create a sense of absence, adding intrigue and directing focus.

To learn more about hierarchy in architecture (and earn half of a CE unit), visit our new Creating Where People Live classroom at Study.com.

You can sign in using a Google account or email to set up your Study.com account (it's free to be a student in our classroom).

You might be asked for a "Lesson Code." Use: purple-fly-1389.

You don't have to be a member to experience the lesson, and if you've already visited our Creating Where People Live classroom, it has been automatically assigned to you.

Once you enter, you'll be taken to the full lesson. The five-question quiz should take less than ten minutes.

Attention CPBDs!

When you complete the lesson and quiz by the due date (January 10, 2025), the A-Team will upload the "Grade Book" to the MyCEApp, awarding you 0.5 P3 credit.

Feedback, please!

Reply to this email and let us know about your experience.

The A-Team is experimenting with Study.com as an educational delivery system, and your feedback will help determine if we should invest time into the project.

Happy New Year!
The A-Team