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Principles of Architectural and Environmental Design EARC 2417

Islamic University-Gaza

Faculty of Engineering

Architecture Department

Instructor: Dr. Suheir Ammar

2015

Lecture 2 Forms ELEMENTS

FORMS ELEMENTS

1- Visual Properties of Form

2- Shape

3- Primary Shapes

4- Solids

5- Regular & Irregular Forms

6- Transformation of Form

• Dimensional Transformation

• Subtractive Forms

• Additive Forms

7- Formal Collision of

Geometry

8- Articulation of Form

Visual Properties of

Form 1- Shape: Primary means to recognize &

identify the form. (Shape refers to the

characteristic outline of a plane figure or the

surface configuration of a volumetric form)

2- Size: Its scale is determined by its size

relative to other forms in its context. It is real

dimension (length-width-depth)

3- Color: is the attribute that most clearly

distinguishes a form from its environment.

affects visual weight

4- Texture (surface): affects tactile &

light-reflective

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Visual Properties of Form

5- Position: location relative to visual field;

between, above

6- Orientation: position relative to ground

plane, compass points, person viewing it ;

north

7- Visual Inertia: degree of stability

(depends on geometry & orientation to

ground)

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Visual Properties are affected by: A- angle of view

B- distance from the form

C- lighting conditions

D- visual field surrounding the form influence our

a tree in front of a ability to read and identify it;

building

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Primary Shapes

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Primary Shapes Circle:

Normally, Stable & self-centering (in its environment)

Centralized or introverted (figure)

Placing a circle in the center of a field reinforces its centrality

placing an element along its circumference

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An extremely stable

Balanced in a hazardous state of

equilibrium

Unstable and tend to fall

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stable

As a plan -Balanced state of equilibrium

As a plan- dynamic, as elevation - unstable

The Square:

-Represents pure & rational

- static & neutral

-Have no direction

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Platonic Solids (solids here refer to a three-dimensional geometric

body) Primary shape extended Platonic Solids or rotated

Circle sphere & cylinder Triangle cones & pyramids Square cubes

Distinct Regular Easy recognized

1- Sphere: Centralized

Highly concentrated

Self-centering

Stable

Inclined toward rotating motion when placing on a sloping plane

2- Cylinder: Centralized about its axis

Stable unstable

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Platonic “ Primary” Solids

Highly

stable

Precarious state

& balance

Stable

(any face)

PYRAMID: hard & angular

unstable stable

CUBE:

static – no movement direction

Highly recognizable

unstable

Cone: is a highly stable when

resting on its circular base,

-unstable when its vertical

axis is tipped

- It can also rest on its apex in

a precarious state of balance.

Precarious state

& balance

While the cone is a soft form, the pyramid is relatively hard and

angular.

unstable

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Primary Solids

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Primary Solids

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Primary Solids

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Primary Solids

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Primary Solids

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Primary Solids

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Primary Solids

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Primary Solids

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Primary Solids

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Primary Solids

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Regular & Irregular Forms

Regular Forms: consistentTheir parts are related in a -

& orderly manner

- Stable

- Symmetrical about one or more axes

Irregular Forms: - Their parts are dissimilar- related in

manner inconsistentan

- Asymmetrical

- More dynamic

Irregular element subtracted from regular form

Irregular composition of regular forms

Regular forms in irregular form Irregular form in regular form

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The Transformation of Form

Dimensional Transformation:

- Altering one or more dimension

- Retain family identity

Subtractive Transformation:

- Subtracting portion of its volume

OR Retain initial identity -

into another family transformed

(depend on the extent of subtraction)

Additive Transformation:

- Adding elements to its volume

Identity of initial forms is retained -

(depending on altered OR

nature of addition process)

All forms are transformed from primary solids

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Dimensional Transformation

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Subtractive Forms - We intend to complete the hidden parts

(from our point of view) as if it were

whole. The mind fills in what the eyes do

not see.

- Regular forms retain their identities if

subtracted without deteriorating edges,

corners, or overall profile

- If subtraction erodes its edges & alters

its profile, ambiguity of its original

identity results

Which

shapes are

still square?

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Subtractive Forms

Addition and subtraction

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Additive Forms

Basic possibilities to group

two forms:

1- Spatial Tension: Require forms to:

- close to each other

- Share a common visual feature (shape-

material- color)

2- Edge to Edge Contact:

Two forms share a common edge

3- Face To Face Contact:

Requires the two forms to have flat, planar,

parallel surface

4- Interlocking Relationship:

Needs not share any visual traits

Strong relation

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Additive Forms

•To get a unified

composition, forms

must be related to

each other in a

coherent manner.

• Using the relations in

the previous slide is

possible.

Ex. Linear form from

interlocking relation

Centralized Form A number of

secondary forms clustered about-a

dominant central parent-form

Linear Form A series of forms arranged

sequentially in a row

Radial Form A composition of linear forms

extending outward from a central

form in a radial manner

Clustered Form A collection of forms grouped

together by proximity or the sharing

of a common visual characteristic

Grid Form A set of modular forms related and

regulated by a three-dimensional grid

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1. Centralized Form

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1. Centralized Form

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2. Linear Forms - Change in dimension

- Arrangement of a series of forms

- Curvilinear (to respond to site

topography, view, vegetation)

- Fronting or defining exterior

space

- Manipulated to enclose space

-Oriented vertically like towers

- Acts as an organizing elements to

which variety of forms can be

attached

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2. Linear Forms

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2. Linear Forms

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3. Radial Forms

•A radial form consists of

linear forms that extend

outward from a centrally

located core element in a

radiating manner

(centrality + Linearity)

•The radiating arms

exposes their long surfaces

to have Sun, Wind, View

•Radial forms can grow

into network (several

centers are linked by linear

forms)

Core

(symbolic or

functional)

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UNESCO Headquarter, Marcel Brever, Paris

3. Radial Forms

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3. Radial Forms

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3. Radial Forms

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3. Radial Forms

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Clustered organization is flexible

enough to incorporate forms of various

shapes, sizes, orientation

Clustered forms may be organized

in the following ways:

1. Attached as attachments to larger

parent form or space

2. Related by proximity alone

3. Interlock & merge into a single

form

Clustered organization can consist of

forms that similar in visual properties

(size, shape) & function

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2 3

4. Clustered

formsمتجمع او عنقودي

similar forms

4. Clustered forms

4. Clustered forms

4. Clustered forms

Grid: two or more intersecting sets of

regularly spaced parallel lines.

Square Grid most commonly:

Neutral – non hierarchical – non

directional

It is used to break a surface into units

5. Grid Form

5. Grid Form

5. Grid Form

Formal Collisions of Geometry When two forms differing in geometry or

orientation, each will compete for visual

supremacy & dominance.

The forms can evolve:

1.The two forms can be weaken and

merge to create a new composite form

2.One of the 2 forms can receive the

other totally within its volume

3.The two forms can retain their

individual identities and share the

interlocking portions of their volumes

4.The two forms can separate & be

linked by a third element that recalls

the geometry of one of the original

forms.

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1

2

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Formal Collisions in Architecture

different requirements of interior space and exterior form

To acknowledge an already existing path of movement through a building site

To express the functional or symbolic importance of a form or space within its context.

To generate a composite form that combines the contrasting geometries into its centralized organization

To modify a space toward a specific feature of a building site.

To express and articulate the various constructional or mechanical systems that exist within abuilding form

To reinforce a local condition of symmetry in abuilding form

To respond to contrasting geometries of the topography, vegetation, boundaries, or existing structures of a site

To cut a well-defined volume of space from a building form

Examples of Formal Collisions

Examples of Formal Collisions

Examples of Formal Collisions

Examples of Formal Collisions

Examples of Formal Collisions

Articulation refers to the

manner in which the surfaces

of a form come together to

define its shape and volume

1. developing corners as

distinct linear elements

independent of the adjacent

planes

2. Differentiating adjoining

planes with a change in

material, color, texture, or

pattern

Articulation of Formsالتعبير

A form can be articulated by:

3. removing corners to

physically separate

neighboring planes

4. lighting the form to

create sharp contrasts

in tonal value along

edges and corners

Emphasizes the volume of a form

Articulates the corner

Defines the edges of the planes

Diminish the corner condition

Weakens the definition of the volume

Emphasize planar quality of the surfaces

Deteriorates the volume of the form

Allows the interior space to leak outward

Clearly reveals the surfaces as planes in space

Emphasizes the continuity of the surfaces of a form

Emphasizes the compactness of its volume

Emphasizes softness of its contour

Corners

The unadorned corners of the forms emphasize the

volume of their mass

Corners

Rounded corners express: continuity of surface, Compactness of volume, and softness of form.

Corners

Openings at corners emphasize the definition of planes over volume

Corners

Corners

Corners

A distinct contrast between the surface color of a plane and that of the surrounding field can clarify its shape

Modifying its tonal value can either increase or decrease its visual weight

A frontal view reveals the true shape of a plane; oblique views distort it Elements of known

size within the visual context of a plane can aid our perception of its size and scale

Texture & color together affect: 1- Visual weight 2- scale of a plane 3- degree to which it absorbs or reflects light & sound Directional or

oversized optical patterns can distort the shape or exaggerate the proportions of a plane

The color, texture, & pattern of surfaces articulate the

existence of planes & influence the visual weight of a

form

Surface Articulation

The linear sun-shading devices accentuate the horizontality of the building form

Linear columnar elements emphasize the verticality of

this high-rise structure

A grid pattern unifies the surfaces of a three-dimensional composition

Surface Articulation

The three-dimensional form of the openings creates a texture of light, shade, &

shadows

The pattern of openings and cavities interrupts the continuity of the exterior wall

planes.

Surface Articulation

Surface Articulation

Reference:

Ching, F. D. K. (2007). Architecture: Form, Space,

and Order (3rd Edition ed.): John Wiley & Sons,

Inc.

Thank you