The indivisibility of architecture is what constitutes its nature and its quality. But to make it understandable and suitable as a subject of discussion it has to be divided up into themes such as, for instance, the Vitruvian trinity “firmitas”, “utilitas” and “venustas”. With the terms “topology”, “typology” and “tectonics”, architecture theorist Kenneth Frampton offers further useful and informative categories. This triad corresponds with our way of looking at things and our approach to the design process. It also forms the background to the teaching work we have carried out.