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Principles of Architectural and Environmental Design

EARC 2417

Islamic University-Gaza

Faculty of Engineering

Architecture Department

Instructor: Dr. Suheir Ammar

2019

Lecture 2& 3: Forms

1- Visual Properties of Form

2- Shape

3- Primary Shapes

4- Solids

5- Regular & Irregular Forms

6- Transformation of Form

7- Formal Collision of Geometry

8- Articulation of Form

Form: is the manner of arranging

and coordinating the elements and

parts of a composition so as to

produce a coherent image.

It includes a sense of three-

dimensional mass or volume.

1- Shape: refers to the

characteristic outline or surfaces

configuration of a particular form..

2- Size: the physical dimensions of

length. width. and depth of a form.

Its’ scale is determined by its size

relative to other forms in its context. 3

Visual Properties of Form

Visual Properties of Form

3- Color: is the attribute that

most clearly distinguishes a form

from its environment. It affects

visual weight

4- Texture (surface): affects

perception & light-reflection.

5- Position: location

relative to visual surrounding

field; between, above…

It can be seen partly or

completely

Visual Properties of Form

6- Orientation: position relative to

ground plane, compass points, person

viewing it ; north , north west

7- Visual Inertia: degree of

stability (depends on geometry &

orientation to ground)- gravity

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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 ability to

read and identify it; a tree in front of a building

Visual Properties of Form:

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Gestalt psychology affirms that the mind will simplify the visual

environment in order to understand it. Given any composition of

forms, we tend to reduce the subject matter in our visual field to

the simplest and most regular shapes. The simpler and more

regular shape is, the easier it is to perceive and understand.

The most significant are the primary shapes: the circle,

the triangle, and the square.

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Primary Shapes

Circle:

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

centralized and introverted, quiet figure

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

placing a circle inside a circular form. equilibrium

placing a circle inside a square.

unstableequilibrium

equilibrium unstable

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An extremely stable

Balanced in a hazardous state of

equilibrium

Unstable and tend to fallplan

sections

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stable

As an elevation -Balanced in a hazardous state of equilibrium

As a plan- dynamic, as elevation – unstable

The Square:

- Represents pure &

balanced

static & neutral

- Have no direction

compositions from squares

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Platonic Solids (solids here refer to a three-dimensional

geometric body)Primary shape extended Platonic Solidsor rotated

Circle sphere & cylinderTriangle cones & pyramidsSquare cubes

DistinctRegularEasy 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

unstablestable

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 hazardous 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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Regular & Irregular Forms

Regular Forms:

- Their parts are related in a

consistent & orderly manner

- Stable in their nature-static

forms

- Symmetrical about one or

more axes

Irregular Forms:

- Their parts are dissimilar-

related in an inconsistent

manner

- Asymmetrical

- More dynamic

Irregular element subtracted from regular form

Irregular composition of regular forms

Regular forms in an irregular formIrregular form

in a regular form

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Regular & Irregular Forms

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The Transformation of a Form

Dimensional Transformation:

- Altering one or more dimension

- Retain family identity

Subtractive Transformation:

- Subtracting portion of its volume

- Retain initial identity OR

transformed into another family

(depend on the extent of subtraction)

Additive Transformation:

- Adding elements to its volume

- Identity of initial forms is retained

OR altered (depending on

nature of addition process)

All forms are transformed from primary solids

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Dimensional Transformation

A sphere can be transformed into any number of ovoid (like egg)

or ellipsoidal forms by elongating it along an axis

A pyramid can be transformed by altering the dimensions of the base,

modifying the height of the apex, or sloping the normally vertical axis

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Subtractive Forms- One intends 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 FormsBasic possibilities to group two or more forms

1- Spatial Tension: Require forms

to:

- close to each other

- Share a common visual feature

(shape-material- color)

2- Edge to Edge Contact: mention

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

5- Two forms linked

with a third form:

The third form can take

the orientation of one of

them.

Additive FormsBasic possibilities to group two or more forms

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•To get a unified

composition, forms

must be related to

each other in a

coherent manner.

• Using the relations in

the previous slides 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

The possibilities

to group many

forms together

Forms’ types -Additive Forms

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1. Centralized Form

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1. Centralized Form

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2. Linear Forms

- Can result from a proportional

Change in dimension

- Arrangement of a series of forms

- Curvilinear (to respond to site

topography, view, vegetation)

- Define a plane of entry into the

spaces behind it.

- 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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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

4. Clustered organization can

consist of forms that similar in

visual properties (size, shape)

& function

1

2 3

4. Clustered

formsمتجمع او عنقودي

4 similar forms

centralized

4. Clustered forms

4. Clustered forms

• Grid: two or more

intersecting sets of regularly

spaced parallel lines.

• Related to structure system

• 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 GeometryWhen two forms differing in geometry or

orientation collide and interpenetrate each

other's boundaries, 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.Space within a space: One of the two

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. No

collisions

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2

1

3

Why Formal Collisions in Architecture

To face a specific feature of the site.

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 reinforce a local condition of symmetry in a building form

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

To express constructional or mechanical systems that exist within a building form

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

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

Examples of Formal Collisions

Examples of Formal CollisionsSpace within a space

Examples of Formal Collisions: Rotated grid

Examples of Formal CollisionsRotated grid

Rotated grid

Examples of Formal CollisionsRotated grid

Examples of Formal CollisionsRotated grid

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 Forms

A form can be articulated by:

3. Removing corners to

physically separate

neighbouring planes

4. Lighting the form to

create sharp contrasts in

tonal value along edges

and corners

Articulation of Forms

Emphasizes the volume of a form

A corner condition can be visually reinforced by

introducing a separate and distinct element

that is independent of the surfaces it joins.

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 form’s surfaces

Emphasizes the compactness of its volume

Emphasizes softness of its contour

Corners

The simple corners of the forms emphasize the

volumes 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 more than

volume.

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 scaleTexture & color together affect:

1- Visual weight2- scale of a plane3- 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 emphasize 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

Reference:

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

Space, and Order (3rd Edition ed.): John

Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Thank you