DIAGRAM

ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

DESIGN THEORY AND METHODS
DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE
 THE DIAGRAM
The Architectural Design process is composed of several stages or phases (see graph 1), within this
process we find Layout, which is the phase in which we graphically begin the re lation of the spaces
(environments) that our project will have; This phase is also called mos PREFIGURATION (see
publication “The Design Process”).

CHART 1: PHASES OF THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROCESS

It is very important that it is carried out in accordance with the first phase of the process
(INFORMATION OR INVESTI GACION) since it is in this phase where the relationships between
spaces were established according to what the client requests of us.
Diagramming is very important, it is a sequential process as we will see (each diagram is the basis for
the next) and it must be carried out taking into account that it is the basis of our Ar Design. chitectonic
Final. At the height of the Circulation diagram, it can be considered that the distribution (functional level)
of our project is resolved.
THE DIAGRAM 2 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.
 MATRIX OF
WEIGHTED
A matrix is the way to organize a certain number of data in a format so that said data can be related to each other; The weighted
relationship matrix is designed in a format divided into
three parts (a column, horizontal boxes and diagonal
boxes), in which the project spaces are placed and

RELATIONSHIPS
through which we relate all the spaces that will make up
the architectural project to each other. .
Let's establish the types of relationship, based on the
following criteria:
Necessary Relationship: It is the indispensable
relationship between two or more spaces, it implies a total
(functional) dependence of one space on another (without
the first the second does not function) there is a space
that serves and another served; example: dining room and
kitchen, the space that serves is the kitchen and the space
served is the dining room; If there is no kitchen, who
serves the dining room?
Condition: Spaces with this type of relationship
should NEVER be separated.
Desirable Relationship: In this type of relationship
the dependence is not total and the proximity of the
spaces is only “desirable” or convenient, the spaces
function without the need for the presence of the other;
Ahem plos: living room and garage, dining room and
pantry. POND ERATION
Condition: These spaces can be separated NECESSARY
two for another space (which could be a hallway). RELATIONSH
IP
Non-existent Relationship: When there is no type RELATIONS
HIP
of relationship between the spaces, example: visiting room DESIRABLE

and service bedroom.

IMPORTANT: Circulation spaces (lobbies or hallways) or gardens are not placed in the relationship matrix.

THE DIAGRAM 3 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

 MATRIX OF
WEIGHTED
Starting from the above, we proceed as follows: nera:
1. The spaces or environments of the COD (already zoned by areas) are transferred and placed within the Matrix, using the first
column of the matrix to divide the types of areas (generally: so cial, semisocial, service and private) and coloring each of the
areas like this:

RELATIONSHIPS
Social Area in green
Semi-social area in orange
Service area in yellow
Private area in red
This is making an analogy with the colors of a traffic
light, since according to the type of area it circulates. tion
between these can be free or restricted, for example For
example, bedrooms that are private, where not all people
(visitors) have access, are generally red.
Condition: For reasons of visual location, these
colors will be the ones used throughout the layout.

2. We assign a numerical value to the relationships,

ge usually even and low (this with the purpose of
po der calculate mentally); to the necessary
relationships sary ones will always be assigned
twice the value of the desirable ones and the non-
existent relationship is not assigned a value and is
left blank (so as not to know). ture the matrix) like
this:

Necessary Relationship (RN): 4

Desirable Relationship (RN/2): 2

THE DIAGRAM 4 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

 MATRIX OF
WEIGHTED
3. The spaces (environments) are interrelated by crossing them in the diagonal stripes, placing in the intersection space the
assigned number according to the type of relationship they have with each other. This process must be carried out with all the
spaces (one by one), starting from top to bottom, in the spaces of interest.

RELATIONSHIPS

THE DIAGRAM 5 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

4.
MATRIX OF
Next, the values contained within the two diagonal columns (up and down) that appear must be added.

WEIGHTED
correspond to each environment (except the first and last on the list, to which only one column corresponds). diagonal, see figure
No.1), the sum must be done diagonally (up and down) and the total of this is placed in
the boxes that say sum, see matrices below.

SPACES
(ENVIRONMENTS)
H
RELATIONSHIPS H
A
SPACES
(ENVIRONMENTS)

H.H
L
AL
H.H
L VISITORS
L
VISITORS DININ
S DINING G
e ROOM KI
ROO
KITC TC
M
S
y HEN GA
HE
GAR RA
N
e AGE LAUND
GE
s LAUNDRY RY
Y
E
YA A
.
RD RBEDROOM
R BEDROOMS S1
D
. 1 BEDROOM
V BEDROOMS 2 S2
SERV. GENERAL
WEIGHING
v SERV. GENERAL SANITARY RELATION
. SANITARY WEIGHING SHIP
.K0 RELATION
SHIP H
FIGURE No. 1: SUMMATION OF A
H.H
L
RELATIONSHIPS VISITORS
L
FIRST ENVIRONMENT OF THE MATRIX. DININ
G
KIT
ROO
CH
M
GA
EN
RA
LAUNDR
GE
Y
Y
A
BEDROOM
R
S
D1
BEDROOM
S2 WEIGHING
SERV. GENERAL
SANITARY RELATION
SHIP

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 MATRIX OF
5. Finally, ranks are established according to the sums obtained, these are established in descending order according to the sum,

WEIGHTED
this means that rank 1 will be that of the largest amount obtained in the sum and the last rank will be the sum. as a minor At the end,
a summary of the location of the environments must be made according to the range, this on a par with the matrix.

SPACES
RELATIONSHIPS RANGE
GARAGE
ATMOSPHERE

(ENVIRONMENTS)
HALL A1: DINING ROOM
A2: KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY
H.H VISITORS A3: PATIO, BEDROOM 1 AND
A4: BEDROOM. 2
SeS DINING
A5: LIVING ROOM AND
ROOM
KITCHE GARAGE
N SERV. SANITARY VISITORS
SERV. GENERAL SANITARY
LAUNDRY AND SERVICES. GRAL
WEIGHING
YARD
BEDROOMS 1
BEDROOMS 2
WA RELATIONSHIP
t NECESSARY

<2> RELATIONSHIP
DESIRABLE

THE DIAGRAM 7 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

 WEIGHTING
Once the ranges and am assets that are
contained in each of these, we proceed to

DIAGRAM
locate the environments in the weighting
diagram (also called preponderance). Here
it is They present the environments in the
form of circles, which must maintain the
same color as their area and the condition is
that all the circles must be the same. mo LAYOUT OF THE
size. WEIGHTING DIAGRAM

We proceed as follows:

1. We draw the diagram, with as many

concentric circles as the ranges
obtained (in the example we obtained
5 ranges, so the diagram with will
have 5 concentric circles) these
circles will be numbered from the
center outwards.
2. We divide the diagram into the same
number of project areas, so that the
environments we den located within
your area. Is This division does not
necessarily have to be equal parts,
but rather It will depend on the
number of rooms in each area. DIVISION OF THE
WEIGHTING DIAGRAM
BY AREA

THE DIAGRAM 8 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

3. WEIGHTING
We place the environments on the line of
the range that corresponds to them, taking care It

DIAGRAM
is important to place them according to their
relationship (but within the space designated for
the area), so the rooms with the necessary
relationship must always be very close, even if
they are in different areas (for example, the
kitchen and the dining room). dor, one from the
service area and another from the area misocial).
This is done because the next day grama, which
is the relationships, is executed on this as a basis.

With this diagram we obtain the position of the

environments within the design according to their
relationships and it will also help us to take
decisions in relation to its spatial hierarchy (size,
height, shape, etc.), we see that the dining room
was the space with the most relationships and
therefore its central position; unlike the services
health workers who were the last, their position
tion is on the periphery of the diagram.

THE DIAGRAM 9 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

 RELATIONSHIP
This diagram helps us to graphically establish the relationships located in the matrix, so we must change the nomen numerical
clature by symbology, as follows:
DIAGRAM
The Necessary relationship, which was 4 in the matrix, will be represented here with a solid line and the desirable relationship,
which was 2, will be represented with a dashed or dotted line.

Necessary Relationship Desirable Relationship

The next step is to join the environments with the type of line according to their relationship, but respecting the following
conditions:
1. There should be no intersections of continuous lines (necessary relationship) and preferably no continuous lines with
dissimilarities. continuous, nor discontinuous with discontinuous, although this is accepted since it will be solved in the following
diagram as we will see later.
2. The circumferences (environments) cannot be enclosed within the union of the lines, since this can represent consider an
“environment enclosure” problem in the final design.
3. The lines can only be straight, curves, broken or mixed lines are not allowed.
4. The lines must be perpendicular to the circles, not tangent.

THE DIAGRAM 10 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

 RELATIONSHIP
To draw the diagram, the preponderance diagram is taken as a basis (you can even use a tracing on this diagram to respect tar the

DIAGRAM
positions of the environments) and the
relationship matrix, to see the relationships
between the environments.
In the first attempt at drawing up the diagram, it is
VIS
inevitable to respect the conditions described. tas
previously so its elaboration exists They throw
many of these errors; to this first in This diagram
is called the unordered diagram.
Next, and with the result obtained in the first
attempt, the circles can be moved. cies to avoid
the errors made and achieve a good distribution
(remember that if an environment is moved with a
necessary relationship with another, both will
need to move), this will be the final diagram and OM
the one that must be presented, not present the
“disordered” one since this only serves to design COC
dor to arrive at the final answer. They must try as
many times as necessary until you reach an GAR
acceptable solution, where if you respect have the
conditions.
P.A.
SYMBOLOGY T.

NECESSARY RELATIONSHIP
G.R.
A.
DESIRABLE RELATIONSHIP

DISORDERED RELATIONSHIP DIAGRAM

THE DIAGRAM 11 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

 RELATIONSHIP
DIAGRAM

THE DIAGRAM 12 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

 CIRCULATION
In this diagram, as its name says, the circulations appear; these spaces of cir Culation can be of

DIAGRAM
two types: Linear (its configuration is linear, for example a hallway or corridor) and Point (its
configuration is from a point outward, for example a hallway); This diagram also indicates the
direction of circulation and the information is located. income. The income can be: pedestrian
(main and secondary, service) and vehicular. A very clear nomenclature must be made for each of
these elements.

LINEAR CIRCULATION
The criteria for placing circulation spaces are the following:

1. Circulation spaces will be placed (equally represented by circles like the rest of the
environments but with a different color and indicating whether it is punctual (CP) or linear
(CL), where several environments appear united through desirable relationships, absorption
these (the circulation spaces) include the crossings of lines that may exist in the diagram.
2. Specific circulation spaces (CP) will be placed at entrances and where there are up to 4
interrelated environments.
3. For more than 4 related spaces, a linear circulation space (CL) must be located.
4. The circulation spaces (whether punctual or linear) may be related to each other, in order to
seek the interconnection of all areas of the project. POINT CIRCULATION

Procedure:

1. Take the relationship diagram as a basis and identify in it the center of the social area to
locate a main lobby. pal and the intersections that still persist in the rest of the areas (which
will be the places to place circulations, the relations Desirable elements of these
environments will be linked to the circulation spaces in a necessary way) Important: The es
Spaces with necessary relationships should not be separated by means of a circulation
space (lobby or hallway).
2. Unite the environments to the circulation spaces, which will be the links between them, with
lines with arrows that will indicate the direction of circulation.
3. Indicate (with the established nomenclature, which are generally arrows of different
thickness or color) the income, which must touch the circumference of the environment
through which the project will be entered; the income should not be circumferentially you are

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 CIRCULATION
STEP No. 1
DIAGRAM VIS HALL
POSSIBLE PLACES FOR PLACING THE CIRCULATIONS (BASED ON THE ORDERED RELATIONSHIP DIAGRAM)

COM

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 CIRCULATION
STEP No. 2 DIAGRAM
THE CIRCULATION SPACES ARE JOINED TOWARDS
THE ENVIRONMENTS WITH A DESIRABLE
RELATIONSHIP, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
THE ENVIRONMENTS WITH A NECESSARY
RELATIONSHIP ALWAYS CONTINUE UNITED BY
THIS ( THEY ARE NEVER SEPARATED ) SINCE THE
NECESSARY RELATIONSHIP MEANS THAT THEY
HAVE A TOTAL FUNCTIONAL DEPENDENCY (ONE
DEPENDS ON THE ANOTHER TO WORK)..
IT IS IMPORTANT TO PLACE SYMBOLS AS YOU WILL
SEE ON THE NEXT PAGE, WHERE THE FINISHED
DIAGRAM APPEARS.

NOTE: AS YOU CAN OBSERVE, HERE YOU CAN DEN

MOVE PA ENVIRONMENTS FROM THEIR POSITION
RA TO ACCOMMODATE CIRCLE SPACES CION.

THE DIAGRAM 15 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

 FINISHED CIRCULATION
DIAGRAM

SYMBOLOGY

MAIN LOBBY

LINEAR CIRCULATION

POINT CIRCULATION

VEHICULAR ENTRY

MAIN INCOME

ADDRESS OF THE CIRCU

LATION

THE DIAGRAM 16 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

 FLOW DIAGRAM OF
FLOW OF
CIRCULATIONS (FLOWS)
IN THIS DIAGRAM, AS ITS NAME SAYS, COLO WE KEEP THE
THE CIRCULATIONS, EXPRESSED
PERCENTAGES. THIS CAN BE DONE DIRECTLY MIND ON
THE ARROWS OF THE CIRCLE DIAGRAM LATIONS OR
IN

CARRYING OUT THE DIAGRA SEPARATELY MA

THICKENING THE SAME ARROWS SO THAT IT IS MORE
GRAPHIC AND HAS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING VI SUAL.
HAVING CALCULATED THE PORTS IN ADVANCE
CENTAGES, WE PROCEED AS FOLLOWS:

1. CALCULATE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF USERS OF THE

PROJECT, THIS INCLUDES: OUTSIDE PEOPLE
(VISITORS AND SERVICES) AND OWNERS, THIS IS
RA 100%.
2. ESTIMATE CIRCULATION FLOWS IN PERCENTAGE
JES, PLACE THE PERCENTAGE ON THE FLE CHA OF
CIRCULATION.

THE MAIN APPLICATION OF THIS DIAGRAM IS THIS SEA

THE WIDTH OF THE CIRCULATION SPACES, AS WELL AS
WIDTHS OF VANOS AND DOORS.

HOUSING EXAMPLE:

USER CALCULATION:

OWNERS 4 PEOPLE
SERVICE STAFF 1 PERSON
VISITS 4 PEOPLE
TOTAL 9 PEOPLE=100%

THEN THE NOMENCLATURE IS PREPARED LIKE THIS:

CIRCULATION 9 PEOPLE = 100%
CIRCULATION 6 PEOPLE = 75%
CIRCULATION 4 PEOPLE = 50%
CIRCULATION 2 PEOPLE = 25%
CIRCULATION 1 PERSON= 10%

THE DIAGRAM 17 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

 FLOW DIAGRAM OF
CIRCULATIONS (FLOWS)
AS MENTIONED, IT CAN ALSO BE DONE ON THE DAY GRAM
SEPARATELY AND MAKE A SYMBOLOGY BY CHANGING THE
THICKNESS OR TYPE OF THE PROPOSED ARROWS TIONALLY
TO THE FLOW OF THE CIRCULATION, THIS ALSO IT COULD
WELL BE DONE BY CHANGING THE COLOR OF THE MORE,
DEPENDING ON THE CREATIVITY OF THE DESIGNER AND THE
BEST WAY TO BE INTERPRETED BY THEM.
A SYMBOLOGY COULD BE PROPOSED IN RELATION TO ARROW
THICKNESSES LIKE THIS:

SYMBOLOGY

CIRLATION 9 PEOPLE= 100%

CIRCULATION 6 PEOPLE= 75%

CIRCULATION 4 PEOPLE= 50%

CIRCULATION 2 PEOPLE= 25% -----•

CIRCULATION 1 PERSON= 10% -----•

THE DIAGRAM 18 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

 BUBBLE DIAGRAM
DETERMINATION OF PROPORTION (BLOCKS): IN THIS STEP THE ENVIRONMENTS ARE PROVIDED TO THEIR REAL SIZE, IDE
ALWAYS DOING IT ON A SCALE, WE OBTAIN THIS INFORMATION DIRECTLY FROM THE DATA ORGANIZATION TABLE (COD); WE CAN PLACE THE
BLOCKS DIRECTLY ON THE CIRCULATION DIAGRAM. THE PROPORTION OF ENVIRONMENTS CO IT WILL RESPOND TO THE FORM OF THE SPATIAL
ARRANGEMENT OF THE SAME (COD GRAPHIC COLUMN) FOR EXAMPLE: THE PROPORTION OF A ROOM COULD BE A SQUARE, THE PROPORTION
OF A BATHROOM WOULD BE A RECTANGLE. EXAMPLE:

LOCATION OF PROPOSED
BLOCKS TIONED ON THE SAME
PLACE OF THE ENVIRONMENTS IN THE RELATIONSHIP DIAGRAM.

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 BUBBLE DIAGRAM
SCALE NEXT AND BASED ON THE BLOCKS OBTAINED, DRAW WE KEEP
THE REASON FOR MAKING THE BLOCK BUBBLES (ORGANIC, AMORPHOUS OR OB FORMS) HELD IN THE
BLOCKS IS TO OBTAIN THE REAL GENERATRIZ IDEA PROCESS MAINTAINING THE DISTRIBUTION OF
PROPORTION OF EACH THE CIRCULATION DIAGRAM.
ENVIRONMENT AND RESPECT THE BUBBLES OF THE ENVIRONMENTS WITH A NECESSARY
THIS AT THE MOMENT OF RELATIONSHIP RIA, THEY SHOULD BE IN AN

SLEEP.
DRAW THE INTERRELATIONSHIP TOUCH, THIS INDICATES US THAT THERE IS
BUBBLES, SO RE ENSURE THAT A SPATIAL CONTINUITY BETWEEN THESE ENVIRONMENTS.
THE BUBBLE COMPLETELY
ENCLOSES THE BLO THAT, WHAT 1
WILL GUARANTEE US BEING
WITHIN THE PROPORTION REAL
TION BUBBLE

IN THIS DIAGRAM WE LOCATE THE NORTH, THE ENTRIES, OPENINGS, DOORS

BETWEEN ROOMS, WINDOWS; FOR WHICH WE CARRY OUT THE FOLLOWING SIM-
BOLOGY:

BUBBLE DIAGRAM SYMBOLY

WINDOWS: These will open towards the

visual improvements that exist on the
ground.
VANOS: Generally between rooms of the
social area (living room, dining room).
DOORS: In private and service area environments; or where enclosure is required.
VEHICULAR ENTRY
MAIN INCOME

THE DIAGRAM 20 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

 FINAL BUBBLE
DIAGRAM

SYMBOLOGY

DOORS

VEHICULAR ENTRY
MAIN INCOME

THE DIAGRAM 21 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

 ARCHITECTURAL PLAN
ACCORDING TO DIAGRAM

THE DIAGRAM 22 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.

THE DIAGRAM 23 ARCH. LOUISE. SOTO S.
 REFERENCE SOURCES
• RED WARRIOR, ERWIN ARTURO. “ARCHITECTURAL LEXICOLOGY”. FIRST GUATEMA EDITION
LA 2004.

• VALLADARES CEREZO, CARLOS ENRIQUE. “THE DIAGRAM AND THE ARCHITECTURE DESIGN PROCESS
“TONICO” GUATEMALA 2000.

• DESIGN PROCESS IMPLEMENTATION, FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, USAC. GUATEMALA 2003.

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