REVOLUTIONARY GEOMETRY: A Foundation for

Nature-Based Architecture
by JAMES JACOBS
July 2003
page 1 | 2

Historically, simple geometric forms have been the basis for envisioning structure in
architecture. It follows that a study of advanced geometric forms may provide the basis
for envisioning advanced structures in architecture.

There is no historical record of new geometric structural systems being revealed since
the discovery of the circle, square and triangle. The geometric structural system of the
fourth archetypal form, the spiral–in its 3-D form, the the helix–has been uncovered and
developed over the past 25 years by the author.

Helical Geometry is the study of geometry within the tetrahedron, the most fundamental
of the 5 Platonic Solids of Solid Geometry.

Fig. 1 The Fig. 2 The Helical

tetrahedron, the Field Geometry
most basic of the within the
5 Platonic Solids tetrahedron

Helical Geometry is the geometry of the straight twisted rod (Fig. 3), in the same way
that Plane and Solid Geometry are the geometries of the straight rod. (Fig. 4) These are
two distinctly different representations of distance, and so, two distinctly different
approaches to understanding the geometric properties of space.

The geometric forms of Plane

Fig. 3 The straight twisted rod of Helical Geometry and Solid Geometry continue to
be the basis for the way we
design and build, as well as for
the way we think about the laws
Fig. 4 The straight rod of Plane and Solid Geometry of nature and how nature
builds. The new geometrical
system of Helical Geometry, by
redefining distance in space as having a simultaneous measurable degrees-of-rotation,
or twist, has profound implications for the foundations of our existing knowledge.
Literally, Helical Geometry adds new meaning to our ideas of what is "rational." It is
not too bold to suggest that Helical Geometry offers a foundation for advancement in all
areas of knowledge as it changes the way we think about that most fundamental
concept, distance in space. This article discusses Helical Geometry, its correspondence
with Nature, and its incorporation of existing geometric knowledge.

Geometry’s Correspondence with Nature

Geometry is an attempt to understand the source of the symmetry seen in nature, and the
structural order of that symmetry in space. The search for this understanding can be
approached in two ways, numerically (i.e. mathematically), or structurally. Modern
science uses the mathematical modeling approach, assuming that numerical models or
formulas will reveal the source of symmetry in space. The ancient Greek geometers
used the structural modeling approach, assuming that structural models would reveal the
source of symmetry in nature, and, express a numerical model, the formula of a
mathematical theorem.

The geometer Pythagoras was credited with first showing a correspondence between a
geometric structure and the source of symmetry in space around 350 BC. He
demonstrated that two of the properties of the source of symmetry in Nature are the
right angle and four-fold rotation. The archetypal geometric form he used was the
triangle containing a ninety-degree angle, a plane right-angled triangle. He showed how
this family of geometric structures reveals a correspondence with nature’s symmetry in
2-dimensional space.

Pythagoras rotated this unique type of triangle (with its one

right angle) in a fourfold pattern, its longest side facing
outward, and so generated the symmetrical boundaries of a
perfect square. Then, by a redistribution of the triangles
making up the symmetrical pattern, he showed that the
remaining two sides of the right-angled triangle structure also
generated the symmetry of two perfect squares. And, that
Fig. 5 The plane right- these two squares of symmetry are contained within and
angled triangle's proof equivalent to the symmetry of the square of the longest side.
of correspondence with (Fig. 5) This is true of all triangles having a right-angle, and
the 4-fold, 2- not true of any other archetypal geometric structure. (Ref:
dimensional symmetry "The Ascent of Man", Jacob Bronowski)
in Nature.
This unique type of 2-dimensional geometrical structure
having a right-angle visibly demonstrated its correspondence
with nature’s symmetry in 2-dimensional space. For this
reason, the single unique property of this geometrical
structure, its right-angle, and, the fourfold rotation required to generate the symmetry of
the square, are considered to be properties of the source of the symmetry in 2-
dimensional space.

All plane right-angled triangles express a numerical model, the formula of the
mathematical theorem which states: The square of the longest side of the plane right-
angled triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the two shortest sides, which is,
c2=a2+b2, the formula of the Pythagorean Theorem, the most important theorem in all
mathematics. The plane right-angled triangle expresses the Table of Natural
Trigonometric Functions of Sines and Cosines, without which there would be neither
Newtons’s laws of nature, nor Einstein’s Theories of Relativity. The validity of
science’s natural laws and universal theories, dependent as they are on the plane right-
angled triangle, speaks for the correspondence of this geometrical structure with
Nature’s symmetry, and the source of symmetry in 2-dimensional space. If there were
no such correspondence, then its numerical expressions of the plane right-angled
triangle would not have led to subsequent mathematical descriptions corresponding with
the laws of nature and universe.

Helical Geometry uses a structural modeling approach similar to that of the ancient
Greek geometer’s approach to understand the source of symmetry in nature. It
demonstrates its correspondence with the 3-dimensional symmetry in space by the
fourfold rotation of a unique geometrical structure, the helical building panel, that
mimics the 3-dimensional symmetry of the natural form of a molecule-thin liquid
membrane, the soap-film (Fig. 6). In addition, Helical Geometry’s unique geometrical
structure shows a direct correspondence with the geometry of the plane right-angled
triangle, and expresses the Table of Natural Trigonometric Functions of Sines and
Cosines, but in 3-dimensional space as opposed to 2-dimensional space.

Fig. 6 The helical building panel's proof (#1 of 2) of

correspondence with the 4-fold, 3-dimensional symmetry
in Nature.

How Helical Geometry Demonstrates Correspondence with the Source of

Symmetry in Nature.

A nature-based way of designing and building begins with a nature-based geometry.

Helical Geometry is structural biomimicry, that is, its forms structurally mimic the
natural form of a soap film.

The helical form is universal, existing in every form of matter. From the microcosmic,
atomic structure of crystal growth to the molecular structure of DNA to the
macrocosmic spiral form of galaxies, all structure in matter mimics the source of
symmetry in Nature. Uncovering the 3-dimensional geometry of the helical form in
Nature, then, is to uncover the 3-dimensional source of the symmetry in nature.

Soap films exemplify an important mathematical idea called a minimal surface. Soap
films form minimal surfaces because the energy of surface tension in a soap film is
proportional to its area. Nature always minimizes energy expenditure, so soap films
minimize area. For example, the natural form of a soap film represents the surface of
smallest area within a framework of Plexiglas tubes.
Fig. 7 The structural properties of the helical soap-film

Structurally mimicking the properties of a soap film stretched

within a framework of Plexiglas tubes demonstrates the
natural basis for Helical Geometry. When a soap film is
suspended within a framework of Plexiglas tubes that are
strung like long cylindrical beads we are able to observe its
Fig. 8 The helical edge structural properties (Fig. 7).

of the soap-film At first glance the warped surfaces of the soap film appear
to resemble the familiar form called the hyperbolic-
paraboloid, a saddle-shaped surface generated by straight
rods. But a significant difference is seen under closer
observation. The outer edges of the soap film, where it
adheres to the Plexiglas tubes, have a helical form. The
minimal surface of the soap film's edges twists around the
Plexiglas tubes (Fig. 8). This is the structural property of
Fig. 10 the natural surface form of a soap film that distinguishes it
Structurally mimicking from the hyperbolic-paraboloid, whose outer edges are
the soap film straight rods.

9 Structurally mimicking the helical edges of the soap-film.

Fig. 11
Matching the helical
edges of 6 Helical
Geometry Elements
(Cos 45°) We can mimic this helically edged property of the natural
soap film form using a framework of flat, twistable rods or
struts. (Fig. 9) We can then mimic the surface form of the
soap film by extending flat, twistable struts between the
opposing helical edges of the framework. (Fig. 10). [Note
the four kite-shaped forms that generate the full helical
framework by their 4-fold rotation]. The resulting system of
"soap film rigid structures" may now be seen as segments
Fig. 12
Matching the helical
edges of 32 Helical
Geometry Elements
(COs 45°)
or units of linear helical structures, rather than as independent saddle-shapes. Linear
helical structures are generated by matching the helical edges of the helical units. (Figs.
11, 12) These helical units are the basic elements of Helical Geometry, a structure
system that mimics natural helical form.

It was the fourfold rotation in 2-dimensional space of the plane right-angled triangle that
generated the natural 2-dimensional symmetry of the plane square in Pythagoras's
demonstration of the correspondence of the plane right-angled triangle with the source
of symmetry in Nature. (Fig. 5). Likewise, it is the fourfold rotation in 3-dimensional
space of the kite-like helical building panel (Fig. 6), that generates the 3-dimensional
helical geometric structure that mimics the symmetry of the soap film. (Fig. 7) This
demonstrates the correspondence of the elements of Helical Geometry with the source
of symmetry in Nature. The kite-like helical building panels are like 3-dimensional
right-angled triangles.

How Helical Geometry Incorporates Previous Knowledge

"Does it incorporate previous knowledge?" "Does it demonstrate undeniable

correspondences with existing knowledge?" These are the crucial questions, the
prerequisites, for a valid claim by any new knowledge to an
advance in the foundations of existing knowledge. Helical
Geometry satisfies these two questions by demonstrating the
Fig. 13 Fig. 14 incorporation of the knowledge represented by the plane right-
Cosine distance angled triangle, and by its ability to generate the archetypal forms
(blue) of Plane and Solid Geometry.
The 45° twisting
Cosine distance of Incorporating the Knowledge of the Plane Right-
the helical
Angled Triangle
building panel
(left), and the
You can point at the shortest edge of any helical building panel
Plane Right-
and say, "The length of this shortest edge is the cosine of the
angled Triangle
degrees of rotation or twist along its length (Fig. 13)." Likewise,
(right).
you can point at the horizontal leg of a plane right-angled triangle
and say, "The length of this shortest edge is the cosine of the
degrees of rotation relative to the hypotenuse (Fig. 14)." Helical
Geometry incorporates the knowledge of the plane right-angled
Hypotenuse (blue) triangle, transforming it into a 3-dimensional concept.
Fig. 15
Helical Right Helical Geometry’s multiple kite-like helical building panels
Triangle (left), each represents a cosine ranging from 0 to 90 degrees. The kite-
Plane Right like helical panel represents the number of degrees of rotation by
Triangle (right) the amount of twist over the length of its shortest edge. And, its
length is the cosine of the number of degrees of rotation or twist
along the shortest edge. So, for example, the helical building
panel in Figures 13 and 14, has 45 degrees of twist or rotation
along the shortest edge. And, the length of this shortest edge is
the cosine of 45°, or, .7071 in relation to the constant length of
the longest edge, which is 1.
Fig. 16
The angle of plane
rotation vs. the
angle of helical
rotation.
This trigonometric relationship is true for all the kite-like helical building panels: As the
length of the shortest edge decreases the amount of twist, or degrees of rotation,
increases, and, the numerical relationship is the same as that of the Table of Natural
Trigonometric Functions for Sines and Cosines. This table of functions is derived from
the 2-D system of structures, the plane right-angled triangle. We can liken the
hypotenuse of the plane right-angled triangle to the longest edge of the helical building
panel (Fig. 15), and the horizontal leg of the plane right-angled triangle to the shortest
edge of the helical building panel (Figs. 13, 14). The difference is that the plane right-
angled triangle expresses its degrees of rotation as a plane angle of rotation between 0
and 90 degrees, a 2-dimensional representation, while the helical building panel
expresses its degrees of rotation over a distance, a helical angle of rotation or twist, a 3-
dimensional representation. (Fig. 16) This is why the helical building panels can be
called "3-dimensional right-angled triangles", or "Helical Right Triangles", just as the 2-
dimensional right-angled triangles are called Plane Right Triangles.

Incorporating the Archetypal Structures of Plane and Solid Geometry

Imagine that we had never seen the geometric structures of Plane and Solid Geometry,
never seen a circle, square, triangle, sphere, cube or pyramid. If all we knew was Helical
Geometry it would reveal to us all of these archetypal geometric structures. And this
stands to reason. If Helical Geometry represents an advance in geometrical knowledge,
then, it should be able to generate in its geometrical configurations the geometrical
structures of Plane and Solid Geometry, the geometries that historically preceded
Helical Geometry.

Helical Geometry is a 'field geometry', meaning its helical building panels with lattice
surfaces represent a geometrical system of fields having helical, saddle-shaped
form. Using the building panels of Helical Geometry we can make models in which the
panels intersect one another, matching their helical edges at the intersections. Matching
the helical edges means that we are following the "logical rules of connection" inherent
in the Helical Geometry panels or fields. A logical connection is one in which the
degrees of twist and direction (left or right), and, the corresponding length at the
connection of two intersecting or edge-connecting helical panels, match or coincide.

Following these logical rules of connection a configuration can be constructed in which

96 kite-like panels intersect to generate the outward form of two interpenetrating
tetrahedrons. Within this configuration of logically intersecting helical fields of form
can be seen an empty space. It is a space that is defined by the inner surfaces of the
helical fields of form. Looking closer we can see that within the configuration of
intersecting fields of helical form has been generated the plane geometry of the circle,
square and triangle; and the solid geometry of the sphere, cube and pyramid (Figs. 17,
18). So, while Helical Geometry cannot be generated from Plane or Solid Geometry,
Plane and Solid Geometry can be generated from Helical Geometry. Helical Geometry,
then, can be said to be "prior to" Plane and Solid Geometry, which is to say it
incorporates existing geometrical knowledge and represents an advance in fundamental
geometrical knowledge.
Figs. 17, 18
Within Helical Geometry's intersecting tetrahedrons (on
right in photos), is generated the archetypal forms of
Plane and Solid Geometry (on left)

Helical Geometry represents a foundation for advancement in architectural knowledge.

It promises the foundation for visionary applications of advanced architectural design
that is organic, ecological and evolutionary. It is a nature-based geometry that embodies
a synthesis of form and function. Its varied structural forms promise sensitivity to the
environment, simplicity in application and economics, and natural elegance.

Helical Geometry is learned by modeling, by creating constructions using multitudes of

one or more types of the kite-like building panels of Helical Geometry. How Helical
Geometry has been used to date in modeling and constructions, and instructions on how
to fabricate helical building panels for modeling and construction will be subjects of
future writings.