LECTURE 5 - PLANE & FORM

T R A N S F O R M AT I O N
Prep. by Abubeker B.
April, 2021
 Form
• An inclusive term from a Latin word “Forma” that has several
meanings:
a. An external appearance that can be recognized.
 ( A chair or the human body that sits in it).
b. A particular condition in which something acts or manifests
itself.
 As when we speak of water in the form of ice of steam
c. In art and design - the manner of arranging and
coordinating the elements and parts of a composition.
Architectural
Forms
 Architectural form
• As space begins to be captures,
enclosed, molded and organized by
solid elements of mass, architecture
come into being.
• “Architectural form is, therefore, the
point of contact between mass and
space”.
 Architectural form
• “The quality of the architecture will be determined by the
skill of the designer in using and relating design elements,
both in the interior spaces (space) and in the spaces around
buildings (mass).”
Edmund N. Bacon
 Architectural form
• Concerned with
 The elements of form notably lines, shapes, volumes,
etc.
 The structures of form through the use of axes, grids,
repetition and rotation.
 The aesthetics of form including values of unity,
variety and harmony.
I. Elements of form
II. Structures of form
III. Aesthetics of form
 Visual properties of form
A. Shape
• The characteristic outline or surface configuration of a
particular form. It is the principal aspect by which we
identify and categorize forms.
 Visual properties by shape
Air Force Academy Chapel, 1962, Colorado, USA , by Walter Netsch
 Visual properties of form
B. Size
• The physical dimensions of length, width, and depth of a form.
While these dimensions determine the proportions of a form,
its scale is determined by its size relative to other forms in its
context.
Visual properties by size
 Visual properties of form
C. Color
• Color is the attribute that most clearly distinguishes a form
from its environment. It also affects the visual weight of a
form.
Visual properties by color
 Visual properties of form
D. Texture
• The visual and tactile quality given to a surface.
• It also determines the degree to which the surfaces of a form
reflect or absorb incident light.
Visual properties by Texture
 Relational properties of form
• Forms also have relational properties which govern the
pattern and composition of elements.
A. Position
• The location of a form relative to its environment or the visual
field within which it is seen.
 Relational properties of form
B. Orientation
• The direction of a form relative to the ground plane, the compass
points, other forms, or to the person viewing the form.
 Relational properties of form
C. Visual inertia
• The degree of concentration and stability of a form. The
visual inertia of a form depends on its geometry as well as
its orientation.
PRIMARY FORMS
Cone, cylinder, pyramid, cube, sphere
 Primary forms

• Cone
• Cylinder
• Pyramid
• Cube
• Sphere
 Primary forms
Cone
• From the revolution of right angle triangle
• Stable form
 Primary forms
Cone

Takoma Museum of Glass, Washington by Reichstag, Berlin, Germany; Foster and

Arthur Erickson Partners
Primary forms
Cone
Cones in architecture (could be played
in form to control sunlight intake): Le
Cone de la Vulcania by Hans Hollein,
France.
 Primary forms
Cylinder
• Generated by revolving rectangle
• Axial form
 Primary forms
Cylinder
• In far distance it appears in outline as
rectilinear and nearer it appear more
like circular.

Nehru Centre , Mumbai BMW Headquarters, Munich

 Primary forms
Cylinder
• Curvature and circular movement continue alongside
a strong vertical movement, the resultant is spiral.
• Spiral ramp and spiral stairs suits a space.

“Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York.

 Primary forms
Pyramid
• A polygonal base with triangular faces
• Can rest in stable manner in every position
• Unlike cone, pyramid is relatively hard and angular.
 Primary forms
Cylinder
• Made up of tapering and inclined
surface and gather together to
form an apex, a corner where the
whole mass culminates.
• Eye will travel towards the corner.
• The directional quality is stronger
than that of a rectilinear forms.
 Primary forms
Derivatives of pyramid
• Fan shape helps of Audi
and cinema theater . One
end helps for natural screen
and expanded side for
viewers.
• Acoustically good and helps
for good viewing angle.
• Pitched roof for dwellings to
throw of rain water
 Primary forms
Derivatives of pyramid
• Flat topped pyramid, reminiscent of
Sumerians and Mayan forms.
• Any major activity taking place upon
it will appear to posses a heightened
importance to those below and
strongly attract their attention.

Ziggurats
 Primary forms
Cube
• Six equal square sides.
• A static form which lacks the apparent movement or direction.
• It is very stable unless it stands in corners.
 Primary forms
Visual effect of a Cube
• Visually and physically impenetrable
uninviting appearance.
• Because the directions are equally
emphasized , the mass as a whole has no
directional quality and neutral.
• Visual force is given by edges.
 VISUAL EFFECT OF A CUBE
Modena Cemetery by Aldo Rossi, San Cataldo, Italy
 Primary forms
Inside a cube
• Space inside cube is bounded in
plane surface, lines and corners.
• When it is treated little bit, it
grasps the attention than others.

Falling water interior

 Primary forms
Derivation of a cube
• Cuboid by altering the equal sides of the cube.
• The volume is spread in particular direction
either horizontal or vertical.
• It has a longer and shorter side.
• Horizontality: urban street (because of the
continuity one hesitates to stop unless opening
is created).
• Verticality: high rise building( both physical
and visual tension makes it dominating visual
entity).
 Primary forms
Derivation of a cube
• Horizontal space in a cuboid
stimulates a horizontal movement.
So space becomes transformed
into a passage, a corridor and
an internal street.
• Vertical space in a cuboid
stimulates vertical movement
when filled with stair case, lift or
ramp.
 Primary forms
Sphere
• Sphere is a body that consists of
regular and continuous surface.
• It has no lines, edges or corners.
• Neither horizontal nor vertical
emphasis.
• A form which is closed within itself.
 Primary forms
Visual effect of a sphere
• Pure convex from externally.
• Presents uninviting appearance.
• Displays visual qualities of
repulsion.
• Has no points of interest to focus.
• Defined by vague outline of
circle, whole mass appears as
immense dots.
 Primary forms
Emotional effect of a
sphere
• It arouses sensations of
concentration, repose and
orientation.
• Restless
• Diffusion
• Lack of sense of orientation.
 Primary forms
Inside the Sphere
• There is a dramatic change inside.
the bounding surface is continually
concave.
• It opens to the observer and invites
attention. Attraction is from all sides.
• This results in equilibrium of forces.
Center of this equilibrium is center
of the sphere.
• The center is imaginary.
 Primary forms
Derivation of sphere
Hemisphere
• Cut horizontally in half
• Cut portion forms an edge, circular in plan.
• The dome and the edge portion give the
visual character.
 Primary forms
Derivation of sphere
Inverted hemisphere
• If the base is flattened, it would
be horizontal arena.
• Better for viewing a central
activity such as sporting events.
Primary forms
TRANSFORMATION
As planes and as forms
Transformation of forms & planes

 Dimensional Transformation
 Additive transformation
 Subtractive transformation
 Dimensional transformation
• A plane & a form can be transformed by altering one or more
of its dimensions and still retain its identity.

Circle Ellipse

Square Rectangle
Dimensional transformation

Dimensional transformations
 Dimensional transformation
• A cube, for example, can be transformed into similar prismatic
forms through discrete changes in height, width, or length. It can
be compressed into a planar form or be stretched out into a
linear one.
Dimensional transformation

Unité d’Habitation, Firminy-Vert, France, 1963–

68, Le Corbusier
 Dimensional transformation

• Circle in architecture symbolizes unity, stability. rationality. It is also the

symbol of infinity, without beginning or end, perfection, the ultimate
geometric symbol.
 Subtractive transformation
• When a negative plane overlaps a positive plane, space
appears to have been subtracted from the positive plane.
• A smaller negative plane can be completely contained within
a larger positive plane.
Subtractive transformations
 Subtractive transformation
• A form can be transformed by subtracting a portion of its
volume.
• Depending on the extent of the subtractive process, the form
can retain its initial identity or be transformed into a form of
another family.
Gwathmey Residence, Amagensett,
New York, 1967.
 Additive transformation
• Two planes can be combined or added,
whether or not they are of the same shape
and size.
• Planes might overlap or intersect with other
planes, while the shape of an individual plane
maintains its separate identity.
• Planes, thus, created are less seen as singular
form, but more as plural or compound forms.
 Additive transformation
• The nature of the additive process, and the number and
relative sizes of the elements being attached determine
whether the identity of the initial form is altered or retained.
 Possibilities of additive transformation
1. Spatial Tension 2. Edge-to-edge Contact
This type of relationship relies on In this type of relationship, the
the close proximity of the forms or forms share a common edge
their sharing of a common visual and can pivot about that edge.
trait, such as shape, color, or
material.
 Possibilities of additive transformation
3. Face-to-face Contact 4. Interlocking Volumes
This type of relationship requires In this type of relationship, the
that the two forms have forms interpenetrate each other’s
corresponding planar surfaces space. The forms need not share
which are parallel to each other. any visual traits.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, California, 1987–2003, Frank O. Gehry & Partners

ADDITIVE TRANSFORMATION
 Multiplication
• The same plane or form can be multiplied or used repeatedly
without change in shape or size.
• A plane that is multiplied can produce separate planes,
planes that touch, planes that are joined, planes that
overlap, planes that interpenetrate, planes that combine
positive and negative shapes.
 Division
• A plane or a form can be divided into equal or unequal parts.
• Negative lines can be introduced with gaps between dissected
planes.
• The slight displacement of dissected shapes can lead to
interesting effects, but the original shape of the plane must
remain recognizable.
 Variation
• A plane can be enlarged gradually or dilated.
• Smaller planes can then be placed within larger planes
concentrically, or with slight variations in the direction or position
of elements.
Variation
Variation
 Rotation
• Shapes or forms can be
rotated gradually to achieve
transformation.
• The transformed shapes can
then be superimposed.
 Interpenetration
• Two planes or forms can create a transparent effect by forming
a negative shape.
• Negative spaces might become positive when overlapped
within a design that includes the interpenetration of more than
two planes.
Interpenetration
 Rippling & Creasing
• The excessive curling of a
shape leads to ripples.
• Creases created by curling
and rippling a shape can
be given sharp edges.
Rippling & Creasing
 Curling & Twisting
• A shape can be treated as a soft plane that curls to reveal
the bottom or back of the shape.
• A shape can also be distorted by twisting it and narrowing
its middle.
 Deviation
• Sometimes strict regularity
produces a rigid composition,
and some deviation is
desirable.
• Deviation is effectively
applied when one or more
components change shape,
size, position, or direction
without seriously disrupting
the original design.
Other modifiers

Tension
 EXERCISE 1
• Practice the form transformation mechanisms by using 2 or more
platonic forms.
 EXERCISE 2
 By using at least 5 of the plane & form transformations
mechanisms, create one great composition.
• Format - base in A4 size
- models using hard color papers
• Submission date: May 26, 2021 G.C.