CTMT FRAMEWORK: A TRANSFERABLE DESIGN COGNITION PERSPECTIVE TOWARDS ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

Abstract

Architectural design is a complex cognitive process in which designers continuously integrate conceptual intentions, technical reasoning, material considerations, and technical refinement throughout the design development process. Although existing architectural design methodologies have advanced understanding of design processes and decision-making, they primarily describe procedural stages and iterative workflows, offering limited explanation of the cognitive interactions that shape design reasoning. Addressing this theoretical gap, this study proposes the Concept–Technical–Material–Technical (CTMT) Framework as a transferable design-cognition perspective for architectural design. The framework conceptualises design development as an iterative interaction among conceptual exploration, technical reasoning, material evaluation, and technical refinement, offering a structured perspective on how architectural decisions evolve throughout the design process. Through a conceptual synthesis of design cognition and architectural design theories, this study examines the theoretical relevance of the CTMT Framework for architectural design development. It demonstrates its potential to complement existing design methodologies by integrating conceptual, technical, and material reasoning within a unified cognitive model. The study establishes the CTMT Framework as a transferable perspective on design cognition in architecture, providing a theoretical foundation that advances contemporary discourse on design cognition and supports the integration of conceptual, technical, and material reasoning in architectural design development