Architecture Ordering Principles

Burj Khalifa

The principles of design of the building are based on the specific purpose and the varied needs of the building. The following ordering principles are visual methods that allow the form and space of the building to co-exist in order to make a design complete.

AXIS. a line drawn between two points in space and about which forms and spaces can be arranged in irregular or regular manner.

SYMMETRY. the balanced distribution of equivalent forms and spaces about a common line or point.

HIERARCHY. the importance or significance of the space based on its size, shape or position relative to other spaces of the organization.

RHYTHM. the use of recurring patterns to organize a series of like forms or spaces.

DATUM. a line, plane or volume that by its continuity and regularity helps to organize a pattern of forms and spaces.

TRANSFORMATION. a principle through which an architectural concept or organization can be retained, strengthened, and built upon through a number of manipulations.