Three elements of design
Writing near the end of the first century BC, Roman architect Vitruvius Pollio identified three elements necessary for a well-designed building which remain the essential components of all successful architectural design: firmitas, utilitas, and venustas.
- Firmness or physical strength secured the building’s structural integrity.
- Utility provided an efficient arrangement of spaces and mechanical systems to meet the functional needs of its occupants.
- Venustas, the aesthetic quality associated with the goddess Venus, imparted style, proportion, delight and visual beauty.
These are achieved through various elements of design.