Chapter Three: Form & Space

Form and Space: The Unity of Opposites

Visually we tend to organize elements into two opposing groups, positive and negative. We perceive positive elements as figures in the foreground and negative elements as the space in the background. Even though they are opposing, one cannot exist without the other, which creates “a unity of opposites.”

Resource: Blogger.com

 

 

 

Resource: joreep.com

These modified images of a home, clearly represent the unity of opposites and the relationship between positive and negative space. In the first picture, the positive element is the house in the foreground while the negative element is the space in the background. When you swap the colors of the elements in the second picture, it then appears that the space around the home is in the foreground.

Defining Space with Horizontal Elements

Horizontal Elements are used to define types of spaces.


Elevated Base Plane

When a vertical plane is lifted above the ground to structurally support the form and mass of a building, it is considered to be an elevated base plane.

 

 

Resource: stwarchitects.com

 

In this Picture of the Tallon House designed by Ronnie Tallon, The structure is sitting on top of an elevated base plane to separate it from the ground plane. This design was inspired by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth house which was also elevated.

 

 

Defining Space with Vertical Linear Elements

Vertical elements, like columns, help to establish the visual limits of a volume's spatial field.

 

 

Single Vertical Plane

 

A freestanding, single plane that articulates a vertical amount of space.  

 

 

Resource: ancient.eu

 

This image of the Arch of Titus is a good example of a single vertical linear plane. Even though it has an arch cutting though the middle, it is still easy to see its clear definition of vertical space.

 

 

Openings in Space Defining Elements

 

Openings in planes provide a space with visual continuity. These openings are mostly in the form of windows or doors and can be located within planes, at the corners, or between planes.

Openings Between Planes

A vertical or horizontal opening that separates two planes.

 

 

Resource: homeli.co.uk

 

This image of a full wall size window clearly shows an opening between planes implemented in an interior space. The plane of window separates not only the two wall planes but also the floor and ceiling planes.

 

 

Qualities of Architectural Space

The qualities of space include its form, color, texture, pattern, sound, scale, and the light. It is the biggest factor of determining how a user experiences a space. The degree of enclosure, light, and view of a space are the largest considerations in this.

 

Degree of Enclosure

The degree of enclosure of a space is the visual boundaries a viewer sees when inside of a room.

Resource: pickupedia.com

 

 

Resource: pages.jh.edu

 

My example is an aerial view into a computer generated room. The highlighted area shows the degree of enclosure that would be visible to the occupant inside.

Chapter Two: Form

Primary Solid

A primary solid is a three-dimensional expansion of a primary shape that creates a volumetric form. A sphere is created from the rotation of a circle while a cylinder is created by expanding a circle. A cone is created by a triangle revolving around one of its sides. A pyramid is formed from multiple triangles with a square base while a cube is created solely from six squares.

Resource: Flax & Flags

 

Resource: Elle Décor
 

In this picture of an interior living space, you can see the use of primary solids in the furniture. The coffee table in front of the couch is created from a cylinder while the end table to the left of the couch is created from a cube.

 

Dimensional Transformation

A dimensional transformation occurs when a form is altered through changes to its height, width, or length. Despite these changes, the form is able to maintain its identity as being a part of the family of its original form. For example, when a cube is compressed, visually it appears different but it could still be considered a cube.

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Resource: bizjournals.com
 

The One Atlantic Center is a great example of a dimensional transformation. The shape of the building is a cube that has been expanded in height. Despite looking a little different from a typical cube now, it still remains in the cube family.

 

 

Subtractive Forms

A subtractive form occurs when a primary solid has chunks of volume removed but can still visually be perceived as its original form.  

Resource: Design Simply

 

 

Resource: Architectural Digest

 

The structure in this picture is primarily in the form of a cube. It has a cube of volume missing from it at one corner, creating a sheltered entry area. Although this portion of the form is missing, you are still able to clearly tell that the overall form is a cube.

 

 

 

Additive Forms

 

Additive forms are created when one or more additional forms are attached to a dominate form’s volume. This can be achieved by having the shapes connect at the edges, face-to-face, by interlocking, or by just their close proximity to one another. The relationship of the forms can be categorized in the following ways: centralized, linear, radial, clustered, and grid form.

Clustered Form

A collection of individual forms that are close together in either distance or share similar visual commonalities are considered clustered forms.

 Resource: www.e-architect.co.uk

 In this picture of a structure’s exterior you can see an example of the clustered method being used. The multiple forms are identical in their cubic shape but they are not organized enough to be considered linear or grid. Therefore, their proximity to one another makes them clustered.

 

Formal Collision of Geometry:

The formal collision of geometry occurs when two different forms come together and become something new together. When this happens they can create a new form or keep their existing form and just overlap in certain areas. This collision can happen between a circle and square, on a rotated grid, with the articulation of form and surface, along with the edges and corners.

Circle and Square

Though the circle and square’s forms contradict one another, in an architectural space, together they can create a balance.  A circular space works to add organization within a square space and can create a centralized hub.

 



Resource: connecticutmag.com

 

In this image of the Glass House designed by architect Philip Johnson you can see the circle and square formal collision of geometry being used. The outer perimeters of the home is that of a square while the bathroom in the middle is in the form of a circle. The circle works to break up the space and organizes the homes different areas.

Chapter One: Primary Elements

Point

A point identifies a centralized position in space. A point can also indicate the intersection of two lines or the two ends of a line. Vertical linear forms, like columns, can also be characterized as a point seeing as it marks a point on either the ground plane or in space.

Image Resource: www.metrohomesite.com

As you can see in this image of an interior living space, the vertical columns create visible points on the ground plane where they intersect with the floor. The point then pushes the eye upward along the column.

Line:

A line is a visual element that has length and is used to join visual elements along with define and give shape to planes.

Plane:

A plane is determined by the shape of the volume of space in which its lines define. Architectural designers recognize three types of planes. An overhead plane is that of the ceiling of any interior space. Wall planes are that of the vertical walls that enclose a space. The base plane is the horizontal surface that any space is built upon.

Image Resource: www.rol.vn

These images clearly show the three planes found in a interior space. The overhead plane is the ceiling. The wall plane is the wall. The base plane is the floor.

Volume

Volume is a three dimensional cluster of planes. It is created with points, lines, and planes. The interior of a volume can either be solid, like a brick, or hollow, like a room.

 

 

Image Resource: www.theglasshouse.org

This image shows how the planes of the house add together to create the volume of a rectangle.