Which term describes the simplification of design elements in architecture?

The term that best describes the simplification of design elements in architecture is Abstraction. This approach involves stripping down the design to its essential features, focusing on geometric shapes, colors, and the overall form, rather than on the detailed representation of real-world objects. This is often seen in modern architectural practices, where the intent is to express a concept or idea through simplified forms that evoke emotion or thought.

In architecture, abstraction allows designers to create space and structures that are not bound by traditional forms, enabling a more hopeful and innovative expression of ideas. By doing so, it encourages a focus on the essential aspects of a building's function, materials, and connection to the environment.

Other terms like Realism describe a movement that emphasizes depicting subjects as they appear in everyday life, often with great detail. Surrealism explores dream-like, fantastical scenarios and imagery that may distort reality, which does not align with the notion of simplification. Minimalism, while closely related and sometimes overlapping with abstraction, specifically focuses on reducing design to the bare essentials for aesthetic and functional clarity, and therefore is also a relevant concept. However, abstraction encompasses a broader category that includes various styles and interpretations beyond minimalism that invoke simplification.