Generating concepts for various projects is the primary job of an architect. Using his/her aptitude and vision an architect generates an appropriate concept. After this the design team may be asked to develop this concept to get an executable design. Lack of concept leads to an architecture that falls short of the role it should play in the built environment. Sadly, concept generation is treated very vaguely at all levels of the profession, from teaching to professional practice.

Concept Generation involves active thinking on the part of architect. Architecture is associated with built environment and spaces therein. It is essential that an architect uses the "language of space" when generating a concept. It could be as simple or as complex as that.

Quite often mission statements are mistaken as concept. Mission statement is related to the goals of the project, it would not lead to the architectural solution directly. For example mission statement for a hospital project may be "to provide healthcare facility to the patients". Now, this statement does not tell what is the architectural strategy to design the hospital.

Another mistake is to treat the "inspiration" as the concept. An architect may be inspired by anything under the sun but concept generation is not directly related to the inspiration. For concept generation use of architectural language and tools is essential. This is the language of space and forces that shape built environment.

Third mistake is to see concept as a form generation exercise. Form generation could only be a part of an architectural concept. A concept deals with the project in its totality- handling all the related aspects at one go.
.......to be continued.