Building design elements, details and massing should create a well-proportioned and unified building form and exhibit an overall architectural concept.

Buildings should exhibit form and features identifying the functions within the building.

In general, the roofline or top of the structure should be clearly distinguished from its facade walls.

Explanation and Examples
This guideline focuses on the important design consideration of organizing the many architectural elements of a building into a unified whole, so that details and features can be seen to relate to the structure and not appear as add-ons.

The other objective of this guideline is to promote buildings whose form derives from its function. Buildings which present few or no clues through their design as to what purpose they serve are often awkward architectural neighbors. For example, use of expansive blank walls, extensive use of metal or glass siding, or extremely large or small windows in a residential project may create architectural confusion or disharmony with its neighbors. Conversely, commercial buildings which overly mimic residential styles might be considered in appropriate in some commercial neighborhoods.

Architectural features may include any of the following:

• building modulation or articulation
• bay windows
• corner accent, such as a turret
• garden or courtyard elements (such as a fountain or gazebo)
• rooflines
• building entries
• building base

Architectural details may include some of the following:

• treatment of masonry (such as ceramic tile inlay, paving stones, or alternating brick patterns)
• treatment of siding (such as wood siding combined with shingles to differeniate floors)
• articulation of columns
• sculpture or art work
• architectural lighting
• detailed grilles and railings
• special trim details and moldings
• a trellis or arbor