Architecture
What's the Big Idea? In Architecture, It's the Parti Pris
Learn about the concept of this guiding principle in design to make sure you and your architect share the same vision
The term "parti pris," usually shortened to "parti," literally translates as "departure point," but in architect lingo it most often refers to the project design's big idea. It signifies an architect's overall guiding idea for a design. As such, a parti typically has less to do with technical, financial and utilitarian issues and more to do with view, massing, scale, transparency, opaqueness and other architectural issues. While not every design starts with a parti pris, it's typically better when it does. The overall guiding idea, or departure point, can strengthen the final outcome, as the design won't become confused.
An architect will typically tell you up front what the parti is for the design. If not, make sure to ask. It's one way of making sure that you and your architect are on the same page as you work together to create the home of your dreams.
By the way, the term, which is French, likely originated in the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, the 19th-century French architecture school.
An architect will typically tell you up front what the parti is for the design. If not, make sure to ask. It's one way of making sure that you and your architect are on the same page as you work together to create the home of your dreams.
By the way, the term, which is French, likely originated in the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, the 19th-century French architecture school.
The parti pris, or big idea, could be about the house becoming transparent and framing views. A horizontally composed linear band draws the eye inward in this one, while a vertical totem arrests that movement. The architectural idea is to control sight lines and highlight the spectacular view.
Perhaps the big idea is to have the house "disappear" from the entry side (this photo), seemingly hiding in a park-like setting so that it can be a celebration of light and transparency from the water's-edge side (previous photo).
Perhaps the big idea is to resurrect an old firehouse, breathing new life and a different use into the structure. A desire to retain remnants of the original use would certainly qualify as a departure point for the overall design.
Perhaps the big idea is to create a set of small houses, each with its own function yet grouped together to form a family village. Such a parti yields a very different home than one in which all of the functions are gathered under one roof.
Perhaps the big idea is to be small and anything but conventional.
Perhaps the big idea is to respect a part of the context while striving to achieve something altogether modern. While the form here is of a traditional gabled roof house as a child would draw it, the overall effect is one of modernity.
Perhaps the big idea is in how the floor plan is composed. So an L-shaped plan that creates distinct public and private legs that open to the same patio provides the departure point for the design.
Tell us: What big idea would you love to work with for your own house?
More: 8 Things Successful Architects and Designers Do
Tell us: What big idea would you love to work with for your own house?
More: 8 Things Successful Architects and Designers Do
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