Islamic University-Gaza

Faculty of Engineering
Architecture Department

Principles of Architectural and Environmental Design

EARC 2417

Lecture 2& 3: Forms

Instructor: Dr. Suheir Ammar

2019

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 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
Visual Properties 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.
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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:
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

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
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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

equilibrium unstable

placing a circle
inside a square.

equilibrium unstable
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 An extremely stable

Balanced in a hazardous state of

equilibrium

Unstable and tend to fall

plan

sections

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The Square:
- Represents pure &
balanced
static & neutral stable
- Have no direction

As an elevation -Balanced
in a hazardous state of
equilibrium

As a plan- dynamic, as
elevation – unstable

compositions from squares

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 Platonic Solids
(solids here refer to a three-dimensional
geometric body)extended Distinct
Primary shape Platonic Solids Regular
Easy
or rotated recognized
Circle sphere & cylinder
Triangle cones & pyramids
Square cubes

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 Cone: is a highly stable when
resting on its circular base,
Highly -unstable when its vertical
stable axis is tipped
unstable - It can also rest on its apex in
a hazardous state of balance.

Precarious state
& balance CUBE:
static – no movement direction
PYRAMID: hard & angular Highly recognizable

unstable

Precarious state Stable

& balance (any face) stable unstable
While the cone is a soft form, the pyramid is relatively hard and
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angular.
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
Irregular element subtracted Irregular composition
manner from regular form of regular forms

- Asymmetrical
- More dynamic
Irregular form
Regular forms in an irregular form in a regular15
Regular & Irregular Forms

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The Transformation of a Form
All forms are transformed from primary solids
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)

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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
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shapes are
still square?
Subtractive Forms

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Addition and subtraction
 Additive Forms
Basic 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

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 Additive Forms
Basic possibilities to group two or more forms

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.
Forms’ types -Additive Forms
The possibilities
to group many
forms together
•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
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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 27
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
Core radiating manner.
(symbolic or (centrality + Linearity)
functional)
•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)

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 3. Radial Forms

UNESCO Headquarter, Marcel Brever, Paris

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3. Radial Forms

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4. Clustered Clustered organization is flexible
enough to incorporate forms of
forms‫متجمع او عنقودي‬ various shapes, sizes, orientation

Clustered forms may be

organized in the following ways:
centralized
1 1. Attached as attachments to
larger parent form or space

2. Related by proximity alone

3. Interlock & merge into a single

form
2 3
4. Clustered organization can
consist of forms that similar in
visual properties (size, shape)
& function
4 similar forms

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4. Clustered forms
4. Clustered forms
5. Grid Form • 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
Formal Collisions of Geometry
When 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 1.The two forms can be weaken and
merge to create a new composite form

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2.Space within a space: One of the two
forms can receive the other totally within
its volume
3 3.The two forms can retain their
individual identities and share the
interlocking portions of their volumes
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4.The two forms can separate & be linked
by a third element that recalls the
geometry of one of the original forms. No
collisions
Why Formal Collisions in Architecture

different requirements To express the functional To generate a composite

of interior space and or symbolic importance of form that combines the
exterior form a form or space within its contrasting geometries into
context. its centralized organization

To face a specific To cut a well-defined

feature of the site. volume of space from a
To express constructional or
building form
mechanical systems that
exist within a building form

To reinforce a local To respond to the

condition of symmetry topography, vegetation, To acknowledge an already
in a building form boundaries, or existing existing path of movement
structures of a site through a building site
Examples of Formal Collisions
Examples of Formal Collisions
Space within a space
Examples of Formal Collisions: Rotated grid
Examples of Formal Collisions
Rotated grid
Examples of Formal Collisions
Rotated grid

Rotated grid
Examples of Formal Collisions
Rotated grid
 Articulation of Forms
Articulation refers to the
manner in which the surfaces
of a form come together to
A form can be articulated by: 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

3. Removing corners to
physically separate
neighbouring planes

4. Lighting the form to

create sharp contrasts in
tonal value along edges
and corners
 Corners
 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.
 A distinct contrast
between the surface
color of a plane and that
of the surrounding Modifying its tonal value
field can clarify its shape 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
Texture & color together affect: and scale
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
 Surface Articulation

The color, texture, & pattern of surfaces articulate the

existence of planes & influence the visual weight of a
form
 Linear columnar elements Surface Articulation
emphasize the verticality of this
high-rise structure

The linear sun-shading devices emphasize the horizontality

of the building form

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.
Reference:
Ching, F. D. K. (2007). Architecture: Form,
Space, and Order (3rd Edition ed.): John
Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Thank you