Not much study materials are available for studying and preparing for aptitude questions other than the Arihant book so this book has some aptitude related questions.As this book is not for this purpose so it has much more extra stuff which you would not require but some part of it would be important so study accordingly and compare it with the previous years question papers to get a idea of what you should study of it

Download PDF(Mechanical And Spatial Aptitude)(8.45 MB)

Figure drawing is a very important part of drawing as most of our drawings contain peoples doing something.But most of the students have a problem with good figure drawing and it is one of the most difficult part of drawing.to improve this section bridgmans series of books is of great help.This is a master collection.Three books are here for download.

Download PDF (Constructive Anatomy)(5.76 MB)

Download PDF (The Human Machine)(8.11 MB)

Download PDF (Complete Guide To Drawing From life)(81.8 MB)

As the name suggest this book teaches you everything about perspective that you must know.Very important specially for nata as questions related to perspective are very common and a must in nata drawing.

Download PDF(44.01 MB)

This is a very good book which teaches from basic to advanced level.Here the writer touches every aspect of drawing and painting and gives an overview.
This is a must read for all the architecture based exams.

Download PDF(39.22 MB)

National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA)

National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) carried out for admission to Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch) program. Top institutes, universities, private and government institutes accept the NATA score. NATA conducted by National Institute of Advanced Studies in Architecture, Pune. NIASA is an educational unit of the Architecture council.

Structure of NATA Exam

NATA paper covers of two papers. There is a two-part examination. It covers a paper-related on drawing examination of two hours of duration including of two questions with one-question covers two sub questions and a computer-related online aesthetic sensitivity examination lasts one hour including of 40 Multiple Choice Questions. There is no negative marking.

Syllabus

NATA Syllabus or main contents of NATA tests are as follows:-

Section-A

• Architects and their Works
• Architectural Awareness
• Architectural terminology
• Awareness of persons, places, buildings
• Design and drawing of geometrical/abstract shapes
• Historical and contemporary buildings of Architectural importance
• Identifying commonly used materials and objects

Section- B

• Aesthetic
• Analytical reasoning mental ability
• Creating dimensional compositions
• Development of 3 Dimensional objects
• Elements of Design
• Elevations and 3D views of objects
• Generation of plan
• Principle of Design, Harmony, Balance
• Sensitivity and Drawing Skills
• Theory of colors
• Visualizing different sides of Three Dimensional objects

Section- C

• Freehand sketching of objects and Activities commonly seen in the rural or urban/suburban context
• Scale and proportion

Eligibility Criteria

The educational qualification needed for admission through NATA is a pass in 10+2 or its equivalent. Students appearing for +2 exams can also attend NATA. For B. Arch or B. Planning aspirants need to have mathematics as mandatory subject with minimum 50 % marks in aggregate at +2. Aspirants with International Baccalaureate Diploma with 50% total marks and Mathematics as a topic can also apply. The applicants must be a resident of India. They must have attained minimum 17 years as on July 1st of the ensuring year of the test. Mental and physical fitness of the aspirant needed while the admission is taking place.

How to Apply ?

Applicants who are appearing for the NATA have to fill-in a pre-registration form. The form is available in the official website. They will get a project from the examination center once they pay the examination fees. After that, the applicants get the receipt and the appointment verifier with informations of the time and date from the examination Center. The fees of NATA is Rs.800. it can be paid at the time of registration. Another option is to be paid before the collection of the appointment voucher. Applicants can pay the fees by DD or cash.

Online Application

The pre-registration form can collect from the website of NATA. Those who are applying through online can download it from the website. The site address is http://www.nata.in. Aspirants can fill the form according to the necessary information. Once it filled, they can print and post to NIASA with the necessary attachments. Forms can collect from the designated test centers.

Offline Application

Aspirants who are interested to collect the application forms by post can send a request letter to http://www.nata.in. Aspirants must show the number of registration at the top of the letter. Specimen signature must be included at the backside of DD.

Important Dates

The exam starts on March first week 2012. Appointments listed on a first-come, first-served basis. The aspirant can attend NATA any number of times. The fees must pay for all attempts. They can contact the appropriate exam center for registration.

NATA 2012 BROCHURE

Contact Address for the NATA

• Council of Architecture, India habital Centre, Core 6-A, 1st Floor, Lodhi Road, New Delhi- 110003
• Tel: 011-24648415, 24654172,
• Fax: 011-24647746
• E-mail: coa@ndf.vsni.net.in
• Website: www.nata.in

Reference Books for NATA

• Architecture Entrance Book by P.K. Mishra
• Arihant Book’s A Complete Self Study Guide for B. Arch Entrance Examinations
• B Arch Exam Guide by PK Mishra
• Engineering Drawing by N.D.Bhatt and Pancha
• NATA/AIEE B.Arch. Question Bank-2011
• Verbal & Non Verbal Reasoning Book by R.S. Agarwal

Study Plan

Those who are selecting the architecture program must have a interest towards it. They should be imaginative with the ability to draw. Sometimes questions are from architectural awareness and identification of national and global buildings. If the candidates want to answer these questions, they must have a better idea about architectural subjects.

More details about the architecture subject is available in internet. The written test will be easy once they go through the reference books. Another study plan is to work out the previous question papers. Therefore, students can get an idea about the exam pattern. This will help to improve their confidence.

How and Where To Get the Results?

The scorecard of NATA is available in the official website. The website address is http://www.nata.in/PublicSC/. The applicants can enter their ID in the text box. Enter the 2 words accurately as spelled in the second text box. The two words must divide by a space. Once the score came, it will display the similar once clicking the given button. The applicants should verify the ID and appointment number in the scorecard to found genuineness of the score.

NATA Cutoff

The cut off marks varies based on different institutes. However, the aspirants must obtain minimum 80 to pass the test. Once they calculate the B.Arch cutoff, the aspirants +2 mark is also considered.

Score Validity

NATA score validation is up to two years for the admission process of the B.Arch program. The potential aspirants must verify the approval status of the colleges before taking admission. It can make from the COA website.

Basic Color Theory

Color theory encompasses a multitude of definitions, concepts and design applications - enough to fill several encyclopedias. However, there are three basic categories of color theory that are logical and useful : The color wheel, color harmony, and the context of how colors are used.

Color theories create a logical structure for color. For example, if we have an assortment of fruits and vegetables, we can organize them by color and place them on a circle that shows the colors in relation to each other.

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The Color Wheel

A color circle, based on red, yellow and blue, is traditional in the field of art. Sir Isaac Newton developed the first circular diagram of colors in 1666. Since then, scientists and artists have studied and designed numerous variations of this concept. Differences of opinion about the validity of one format over another continue to provoke debate. In reality, any color circle or color wheel which presents a logically arranged sequence of pure hues has merit.

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There are also definitions (or categories) of colors based on the color wheel. We begin with a 3-part color wheel.

Primary Colors: Red, yellow and blue
In traditional color theory (used in paint and pigments), primary colors are the 3 pigment colors that can not be mixed or formed by any combination of other colors. All other colors are derived from these 3 hues.

Secondary Colors: Green, orange and purple
These are the colors formed by mixing the primary colors.

Tertiary Colors: Yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green & yellow-green
These are the colors formed by mixing a primary and a secondary color. That's why the hue is a two word name, such as blue-green, red-violet, and yellow-orange.

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Color Harmony

Harmony can be defined as a pleasing arrangement of parts, whether it be music, poetry, color, or even an ice cream sundae.

In visual experiences, harmony is something that is pleasing to the eye. It engages the viewer and it creates an inner sense of order, a balance in the visual experience. When something is not harmonious, it's either boring or chaotic. At one extreme is a visual experience that is so bland that the viewer is not engaged. The human brain will reject under-stimulating information. At the other extreme is a visual experience that is so overdone, so chaotic that the viewer can't stand to look at it. The human brain rejects what it can not organize, what it can not understand. The visual task requires that we present a logical structure. Color harmony delivers visual interest and a sense of order.

In summary, extreme unity leads to under-stimulation, extreme complexity leads to over-stimulation. Harmony is a dynamic equilibrium.

Some Formulas for Color Harmony

There are many theories for harmony. The following illustrations and descriptions present some basic formulas.

1. A color scheme based on analogous colors

Analogous colors are any three colors which are side by side on a 12 part color wheel, such as yellow-green, yellow, and yellow-orange. Usually one of the three colors predominates.

2. A color scheme based on complementary colors

Complementary colors are any two colors which are directly opposite each other, such as red and green and red-purple and yellow-green. In the illustration above, there are several variations of yellow-green in the leaves and several variations of red-purple in the orchid. These opposing colors create maximum contrast and maximum stability.

3. A color scheme based on nature

Nature provides a perfect departure point for color harmony. In the illustration above, red yellow and green create a harmonious design, regardless of whether this combination fits into a technical formula for color harmony.

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When you've finished exploring "Basic Color Theory,"
see "The Meanings of Colors" at Color Matters!

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Color Context

How color behaves in relation to other colors and shapes is a complex area of color theory. Compare the contrast effects of different color backgrounds for the same red square.

©Color Voodoo Publications

Red appears more brilliant against a black background and somewhat duller against the white background. In contrast with orange, the red appears lifeless; in contrast with blue-green, it exhibits brilliance. Notice that the red square appears larger on black than on other background colors.

Different readings of the same color

©Color Voodoo Publications

If your computer has sufficient color stability and gamma correction (link to Is Your Computer Color Blind?) you will see that the small purple rectangle on the left appears to have a red-purple tinge when compared to the small purple rectangle on the right. They are both the same color as seen in the illustration below. This demonstrates how three colors can be perceived as four colors.

Observing the effects colors have on each other is the starting point for understanding the relativity of color. The relationship of values, saturations and the warmth or coolness of respective hues can cause noticeable differences in our perception of color.

ARCHITECTURAL TERMS

AESTHETICS –The branch of philosophy thatstudies the principles of beauty
ANIMATION – The process of making films, videos and computergames in which drawings or models of people and animals seem to move.
ARCH– A curved structure that support the weight ofsomething above it.
ART– The use of imagination to express ideas or feelings,particularly in painting, drawing or sculpture.
ARTDECO –Anarchitectural style which was fashionable during the 1920s and 30s. Themovement sometimes used modern materials such as cast concrete and the stylesuggested modernity, technology and motion. Stained and leaded glass wassometimes used and is often of a creative, geometric design.
ASHLAR– Dressed stonework of any type, where the blocks havesquared sides, carefully squared corners, and are laid in regular courses,usually with fine joints. The faces of the stones, called ashlars, aregenerally smooth and polished, but can be tooled or have a decorativetreatment.
ATTIC– A room or space within the roof of a house.
BALANCE– A condition of being steady or opposites beingequal, Equilibrium.
Balustrade: a parapet or stair rail composed of uprights(balusters) carrying a coping or railing.
BASEMENT– A room or area in a building partly or completelybelow the level of the ground.
BEAM–horizontal structural member, usually made of wood,bearing a load.
BEAUTY– An assemblage of perfections through which an objectis rendered pleasing to the eye.
Bracket: Any projection from the face of a wall whose purposeis to support a structure or object.
BRICK– Baked clay used for building walls usually.
BUTTRESS: A mass of masonry built against or projecting from awall either to stabilise, from the lateral thrust of an arch roof or vault, orto enable the wall to be thinner.
CALLIGRAPHY– Beautiful handwriting that u do with a pen or brush.
CANTILEVER-a beam supported or fixed at one end carrying a loadat the other.
CAPITAL: The head or crowing feature of a column.
CASCADE– A small waterfall.
CEILING– The top inside surface of a room.
CERAMIC– An object made of clay that has been madepermanently hard by heat.
CHART- A page or sheet of information in the form ofdiagrams, list of figures etc.
CLASSICALARCHITECTURE-Architecturemodeled after the buildings of ancient Greece and Rome.

COLOUR– The appearance that things have that result from theway in which they reflect light.
COLUMN– A vertical post which supports and decorates abuilding or stands alone as a monument.
CONCRETE– Building material that is made by mixing togethercement, sand, small stones and water.
CONSTRUCTION– The method or process of making or building something.
CONTRAST– An extremely opposite difference between two or morethings or spaces that is clearly visible when they are compared.
COST– The amount of money that you need in order to buy,make or do something.
COURT– An area open to the sky and mostly or entirelysurrounded by walls of buildings.
DESIGN– The general arrangement of different parts ofsomething that is made such as a building, book, machine etc.
DOME– Round roof of a building with circular base.
Dormer: Any window which projects from the pitch of a roof.
DWELLING– A house built for habitation
ENCLOSURE– A covering for a particular thing or area.
ENVIRONMENT– The condition that affect the behavior anddevelopment of something.
ESTIMATE– A judgement that you make without having the exactdetails or figure about the size, amount, cost etc.
FAÇADE-The front or principal face of a building; sometimesone of its sides.

FIREPLACE – A recess or structure in or on which a fire isbuilt, especially that part of chimney that opens into a room for warming up.
FINIAL: a formal ornamentation fixed to the top of a peak,arch, gable, etc.
FLOOR– The level base surface of a room or hall upon whichone stands or walk. Also a continuous supporting surface extending horizontallythroughout a building, having a number of rooms and constituting one level instructure.
FloorPlan- The drawing showing arrangement of rooms/spaces in abuilding.
FOUNDATION– The sub-structure of a building partially or totallybelow the soil which supports and transfers the load to the earth.
FRAME– A structure that gives shape or support forencasing, holding or bordering.
GARGOYLE-Grotesquely carved faces projecting from a building.Gargoyles originally were used as spouts to carry water away from the wall ofgothic
cathedrals.
GAZEBO– A structure commanding a wide view such as a summerhouse or a projecting window or balcony.
GEOMETRY– The mathematical branch that deals with themeasurements and relationship of angles, lines, surfaces and solids.
GIRDER– A long strong beam used for building, bridge etc.
GLASS– A hard usually transparent substance used for makingwindows, facades etc.
GRAPHICS– Designs, drawings etc. that are used especially inproduction of books, magazines etc.
HARMONY– A pleasing combination of related things.
HOUSE– A building intended for human habitation especiallyone used as residence of a family or a single tenant.
JOINERY– The art of work of joining, finishes and wood works.
KEYSTONE: The large stone at the centre of the arch, oftenlarger and decorated.
KIOSK– An open ornamental summer house or small space whichsupports environment.
LANDSCAPE– A stretch of country as seen from a single angle orpoint or a well-designed outside space with plants and elements of design.
LAWN– An area of ground covered in short grasses.
LEANTO ROOF: A roof which is built up against a vertical wall andhas one slope only.
LINTEL: The horizontal beam bridging an opening in a wall.
MAP– Drawing or plan of a particular region or earth’ssurface.
MASONARY– The art of work of laying materials usually brick orstone for walls.
METAL– A type of solid mineral substance which heat andelectricity can travel through and being used as a construction material.
MODEL– A object usually in miniature representingaccurately something to be made or already existing.
MODELLING– The art or activity of making models, objects orshapes.
MOULDING: The shaped profile given to any feature whichprojects from the face of a wall.
MULLION- dividers placed inside a window; typically made ofwood or metal.
NEIGHBOURHOOD– The people collectively who dwell in a vicinity.
NEST– Any cozy place or abode, a retreat.
NICHE: A recess in a wall, usually for holding a statue orurn.
ORDER–A classical style of architecture. The three primaryorders, used in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, are, chronologically: theDoric order, the Ionic order, and the Corinthian order.
ORNAMENT– An object that is used as decoration in room, gardenetc.
PAINTING– The art of using paint to produce picture or todecorate a surface.
PATIO– A flat, hard area outside and usually behind a housewhere people can sit.
PAVING– A flat surface on the ground made by stones or othermaterials.
PAVILION– A movable or open structure for temporary shelter; alarge tent.
PARAPET: a wall which rises above another structure such as aroof or terrace.
PERSPECTIVE– The art of creating an effect of depth and distancein a space.
PLAN– A drawing showing the proportion and relation ofparts of a building.
PLASTER– A substance that is put on the walls and ceiling togive them a smooth or hard finish.
PROPORTION– A relationship of one thing to another insize,amount etc.
RAFTERS-The inclined, sloping framing members of a roof, andto which the roof covering is affixed.
ROOFRIDGE- The horizontal intersection of two roof slopes atthe top of a roof.
RENDERING– A method of adding color, texture, surface detailingon a drawing to get an exact idea about volume perception and proportion ofdistances.
RHYTHM– Movement characterized by a patterned repetition oralternation of formatting elements in the same or modified form.
RURAL– something connected with country-side where most ofthe inhabitants depend on agriculture.
SECTION-An architectural drawing showing a building or objectas if were cut open along a plane passing vertically through it.
SCALE– The relation between the actual size of somethingand its size on the map.
SCIOGRAPHY– The study of shadows of objects or structuralelements of a building in different time of a day or a year.
SCULPTURE– A work of art, that is a solid figure or object madeby carving or shaping wood, stones etc.
SIGN– A mark by which anything is made known.
SITE– A place where a building, town was or is or will besituated.
SKYSCRAPER – A very tall building which we feel like touching thesky.
SPACEFRAME – Thin like light weight rigid structure constructedfrom interlocking struts in a geometrical pattern.
SYMBOL– A sign, number etc. that has a fixed meaning.
TERRACOTA–Glazed or unglazed fired clay tiles, often elaborate,used to face buildings.
TRUSS- A rigid framework, as of wooden beams or metal bars,which supports a structure, such as a roof.

UNITY– The state or quality of being combined into one asthe ordering of the elements in an artistic way that constitutes a whole orpromotes a singleness of effect.
VAULT– An arched structure stones, bricks or reinforcedconcrete etc. forming a ceiling or roof over a hall, room or other wholly orpartially enclosed space.
VERANDA: An open shelter or gallery in front of a buildingwith a lean-to roof supported by verticals of timber or iron.
VERNACULAR: An indigenous building constructed of locallyavailable materials, to local detail, usually without the benefit of anarchitect. They were built for purpose by stonemasons.