Due to the increasing systems complexity, architecture design became an important issue. It gained
interest and its importance was framed in three domains: as a way to understand complex systems, to
design them, to manage their manufacturing process and to provide long-term rationality. The purpose of
this paper is, firstly, to survey the existing definition approaches on architecture. Secondly, we propose a
model for architecture design which articulates the potential linkage between two principle concepts:
synthesis and abstraction. Our proposal model focuses on abstraction concept and permits an effective
top-down design approach. It helps also designers to more respond to issues that characterize architecture
design.