THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE B.

Arch, First Year

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 1

UNIT 03: ELEMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE – FORM
Understanding perceptual effects of specific geometric forms such as sphere, cube,
pyramid, cylinder and cone and its sections as well as their derivatives with respect to
the evolution of architectural form and space.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 2

FORM : SPHERE
§A solid generated by the revolution of a
semicircle about its diameter, whose surface is at
all points equidistant from the center.
§A sphere is a centralized and highly concentrated
form.
§Like the circle from which it is generated, it is self-
centering and normally stable in its environment.
§It can be inclined toward a rotary motion when
placed on a sloping plane.
§From any viewpoint, it retains its circular shape.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 3

 FORM : SPHERE

MAUPERTIUS, PROJECT FOR AN AGRICULTURAL LODGE, 1775, CLAUDE-NICOLAS LEDOUX MATRI MANDIR, AUROVILLE, AR. ROGER ANGER

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 4

FORM : CIRCLE
§The Circle symbolizes unity, stability, rationality. It
is also the symbol of infinity, without beginning or
end, perfection, the ultimate geometric symbol.
§It represents a completeness which encompasses all
space and Time.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 5

 FORM : CIRCLE

GUANGZHOU CIRCLE, AR. JOSEPH DI PASQUALE

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 6

 FORM : CIRCLE

AL DAR HEADQUARTERS, MZ ARCHITECTS

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 7

FORM : HEMISPHERE
§Cut horizontally in half.
§Cut portion forms an edge, circular in plan.
§The dome and the edge portion give the visual
character.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 8

 FORM : HEMISPHERE

CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES VALENCIA, SANTIAGO CALATRAVA

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 9

 FORM : HEMISPHERE

NATIONAL CONGRESS, BRASILILA, AR. OSCAR NIEYMEYER

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 10

 FORM : HEMISPHERE

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE REPUBLIC, AR. OSCAR NIEYMEYER

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 11

FORM : CYLINDER
§A solid generated by the revolution of a
rectangle about one of its sides.
§A cylinder is centralized about the axis passing
through the centers of its two circular faces.
§Along this axis, it can be easily extended.
§The cylinder is stable if it rests on one of its
circular faces; it becomes unstable when its central
axis is inclined from the vertical.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 12

 FORM : CYLINDER

CHAPEL, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, EERO SAARINEN AND ASSOCIATES

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 13

FORM : CYLINDER

INDIAN COFFEE HOUSE, LAURIE BAKER

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 14
FORM : CONE
§A solid generated by the revolution of a right
triangle about one of its sides.
§Like the cylinder, the cone is a highly stable form
when resting on its circular base, and unstable
when its vertical axis is tipped or overturned.
§It can also rest on its apex in a precarious state of
balance.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 15

 FORM : CONE

PROJECT FOR A CONICAL CENOTAPH, 1784, ÉTIENNE-LOUIS BOULÉE

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 16

FORM : PYRAMID
§A polyhedron having a polygonal base and
triangular faces meeting at a common point or
vertex. The pyramid has properties similar to
those of the cone.
§Because all of its surfaces are flat planes, however,
the pyramid can rest in a stable manner on any of
its faces.
§While the cone is a soft form, the pyramid is
relatively hard and angular.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 17

FORM : PYRAMID

PYRAMID OF GIZA, EGYPT

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 18
FORM : PYRAMID

LOUVRE MUSEUM, AR. I.M. PEI

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 19
FORM : CUBE
§A prismatic solid bounded by six equal square
sides, the angle between any two adjacent faces
being a right angle.
§Because of the equality of its dimensions, the cube
is a static form that lacks apparent movement or
direction.
§It is a stable form except when it stands on one
of its edges or corners.
§Even though its angular profile is affected by our
point of view, the cube remains a highly
recognizable form.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 20

 FORM : CUBE

HANSELMANN HOUSE, FORT WAYNE, MICHAEL GRAVES

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 21

 FORM : CUBE

APPLE SHOWROOM, NEW YORK, AR.BOHLIN CYWINSKI JACKSON

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 22
REGULAR | IRREGULAR FORMS

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 23

REGULAR | IRREGULAR FORMS

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 24

FORM : transformation

[ Dimensional Transformation
Subtractive Transformation
Additive Transformation
[

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 25

 FORM : DIMENSIONAL TRANSFORMATION

• A form can be transformed by altering one or more of

its dimensions and still retain its identity as a member
of a family of forms.
• 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.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 26

FORM : DIMENSIONAL TRANSFORMATION

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 27

 FORM : DIMENSIONAL TRANSFORMATION

UNITÉ D’HABITATION, AR.LE CORBUSIER THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 28
 FORM : 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.
• For example, a cube can retain its identity as a cube
even though a portion of it is removed, or be
transformed into a series of regular polyhedrons that
begin to approximate a sphere.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 29

FORM : SUBTRACTIVE TRANSFORMATION

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 30

 FORM : SUBTRACTIVE TRANSFORMATION

GWATHMEY RESIDENCE, CHARLES GWATHMEY/GWATHMEY SIEGEL

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 31
 FORM : SUBTRACTIVE TRANSFORMATION

SHODHAN HOUSE, AHMEDABAD, AR.LE CORBUSIER THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 32
 FORM : ADDITIVE TRANSFORMATION

• A form can be transformed by the addition of elements

to its volume.
• 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.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 33

FORM : ADDITIVE TRANSFORMATION

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 34

FORM : ADDITIVE TRANSFORMATION

HABITAT 67, AR. MOSHIE SAFIDIE THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 35
FORM : ADDITIVE TRANSFORMATION

THE INTERLACE, OMA, OLE SCHEEREN THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 36
ASSIGNMENT 02: CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF AN ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 37

ASSIGNMENT 02 : CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF AN ARCHITECTURE PROJECT

§[ 10 - 15 Min Presentation + Sketches + Report ]

PRILIMINARY ANALYSIS: SECONDARY ANALYSIS:
A. Aesthetics & Psychological Context
A. Project Type
B. Character
B. Project Location C. Circulation
D. Experience
C. Year Of Construction E. Expression
D. Architecture Style F. Function
G. Materials
E. Design Concept H. Services
I. Structure
F. Planning J. Uses

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 38

ASSIGNMENT 02 : CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF AN ARCHITECTURE PROJECT
ELEMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE ANALYSIS:
Point, line, plane, form and space, shape, pattern, light, color, surface and texture with reference to the evolution of architectural form
and space.
FORM ANALYSIS:
Analysis of usage of geometric forms, sections and its derivatives. (Sphere, cube, pyramid, cylinder and cone)
SPATIAL CONFIGURATION ANALYSIS:
1. Enclosure
2. Internal And External Spaces
3. Continuous Spaces And Spatial Relationships
4. Spatial Organization : Centralized, Linear, Radial Clustered, Grid – built form
5. Open Space Relationships
ARCHITECTURE PRINCIPLES ANALYSIS:
Analysis of architectural principle used. ( Proportion, scale, balance, symmetry/asymmetry, rhythm, axis, hierarchy, datum, unity,
harmony, dominance, climax – Movement, Building approach and entrance, path configuration and form, path space relationship,
orientation. )

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 39

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE | PRESENTATION BY: AR. GEEVA CHANDANA 40