CMA Architectural Design and Patterns 3

Question 1

The concept of 'fenestration hierarchy' in facade design means:

Accepted Answer

Windows are sized and positioned to express the relative importance of interior spaces

Answer

Fenestration hierarchy uses window size, proportion, and placement to signal the relative importance of interior spaces, reinforcing the building's organizational logic on the exterior.

Question 2

A 'panopticon' spatial arrangement, as described by Jeremy Bentham and theorized by Foucault, is MOST applicable to which contemporary building type?

Accepted Answer

A correctional facility or institutional building requiring centralized surveillance

Answer

The panopticon places a central observation point from which all cells or zones can be monitored simultaneously, a model most directly applied to correctional and institutional facilities.

Question 3

In climate-responsive design, a 'thermal flywheel' effect is achieved through:

Accepted Answer

High thermal mass materials that absorb heat during the day and release it at night

Answer

High thermal mass (concrete, masonry, rammed earth) acts as a thermal flywheel by absorbing daytime heat and releasing it slowly at night, moderating interior temperature swings.

Question 4

The 'tartan grid' organizational system in architecture is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

Alternating wide and narrow bays that distinguish primary structure from secondary service zones

Answer

The tartan grid uses alternating wide (served) and narrow (servant) bays, allowing structural bays to be distinguished from service zones such as corridors, walls, and mechanical chases.

Question 5

When a master architect evaluates a design using 'Gestalt principles,' which principle explains why columns in a colonnade are perceived as a unified whole rather than individual elements?

Accepted Answer

Proximity and continuity

Answer

Gestalt proximity and continuity cause elements that are closely spaced and aligned to be perceived as a unified group rather than isolated objects.

(CMA) Certified Master Architect Practice Test

(CMA) Certified Master Architect Practice Test

CMA Architectural Design and Patterns 3