a critical collation: ‘architectural concept’ vis-à-vis ‘preliminary formal configuration’

In facing with an architectural work, to wit viewing particular formal configuration, observer usually tries to understand underlying logical structure transcending the material condition which can be counted as ‘architectural concept’. this notion corresponds to an evolutionary process through which ‘formative idea’ (subjective realm) developed to ‘preliminary formal configuration’ (objective realm). this evolutionary process is called ‘process of conceptualization’. any assessment that dismisses this engagement of the architectural concepts with a kind of evolutionary process, will goes wrong in presenting a proper description of the notion. one of the major confusions in this regard are some improper assessments that bound the architectural concepts to objective realm and parallel them with preliminary formal configuration. consequently, there is a flaw in existing literature in terms of distinguishing between the notion of ‘architectural concepts’ and the notion of ‘preliminary formal configuration’. thus, this qualitative documentary research based on literature survey will concern itself to review some of the most significant and didactic reflections which help to clarify the differentiation between the notion of ‘architectural concepts’ and the notion of ‘preliminary formal configuration’. the theoretical focus of this documentary descriptive analytic study is to demystify the subtle distinction between these two notions and therefore other aspects of the notion of architectural concepts will not be addressed in this paper. considering the importance of the notion of architectural concept in theoretical discourse of architecture in terms of both design and analysis, conducting this kind of study will contribute to advancement of theoretical knowledge of design and criticism in architecture.