Spaces and Surfaces

Architectural form is the point of contact between

mass and space.

Form refers to a three- dimensional mass or

volume and shape refers more specifically to the
aspect of form that governs its appearance – to
identify forms
 The primary elements of form…

…in the order of their growth

From a point to a one-dimensional line, from the
line to a two dimensional plane and from the plane
to a three dimensional volume.
 The prime generators of form….

Point – indicates a position in space

Line – A point extended becomes a line with properties
of length, direction, position
Plane – A line extended becomes a plane with
properties of length and width, shape, surface
orientation and position
Volume – A plane extended becomes a volume with
properties of length, width, depth; form and space;
surface; orientation and position
 The form…
Shape is the primary identifying characteristic of a
plane. It is determined by the contour of the line
forming the edges of a plane. The surface, color,
pattern and texture affect its visual weight and stability.
In the composition of a visual construction, a plane
serves to define the limits and boundaries of a volume.
Form is the primary identifying characteristic of a
volume. It is established by the shapes and inter-
relationships of the planes that describe the boundaries
of the volume.
 SPACE

Space is nothing it is emptiness

But it has meaning - meaningful emptiness
It is infinite without limit still it has dimension -
when scooped out for a function ie putting limit to
limitless in terms of
 LENGTH
 BREADTH
 WIDTH
 To create a space

To create a space by adding

 Points
 Lines
 Planes together
Between 4 columns
there is space
Just two columns
guide you ‘IN’ / Gate
A moving space
between two walls ,
a corridor
Just a floor pavement
suggest a space above
 The Beginning of Any Design is SPACE

The raw material is Space

Space is the essence
Meaningful, though empty
Emptiness: space exist. But unplanned
No length breadth or height that is unlimited
That is this space exist but undefined
Now a meaning is attached
An intended purpose is served
 The Process of Design

 The process of design involves

1. Understanding of the GIVEN SPACE

2. The Principles of Design elements of design
3. The Technology/ The Engineering
4. Personal Skill
 Knowing Your Given Space

Usually an interior designer is provided with a

made or built space
So knowing it, is important
Imbibing a knowledge/ means experiencing it
 Through your pre-acquired theory passed down
through words
 Through your 5 senses touch - smell – hear – see -taste

 Through your mind – psychology

 Through soul/spirit
 Knowing Your Given Space

So with your acquired pre knowledge – like data,

plan, sketch, photographs you can start with.
Still personal experience with the space is equally
important
Never dare to do a work sitting away from the given
space or sending another person.
 Two Major Aspects About Space

I. Physical Quantity
II. Attached Quality
 I. QUANTITY
It is the form or geometry.
It is the dimensions.
Available geometry – pure form- is very limited.
The circle – the triangle- the quadrangle –
‘vruta’ – ‘tricona’ – ‘chatur cona’
Each geometry is only a form which is two
dimensioned; it can grow into third dimension.
For example, a prism or pyramid.
Still these are only forms. That means a quantity
is not defined - how big or small.
Now you need a dimension to define the quantity
that is how big or small the space is.
 Assessing the Quantity

 For this you need to know two things

1. The purpose intended
2. A scale to quantify
 1. The Purpose Intended

The size of the room or any other interior which is

expresses by length x breadth x height
Which depends on:
 The number of people using the room at a time
 The furniture or equipments they use
 Articulation space
 Space for limbs movement while in action
 Space for the movement of the furniture or equipments
 2. Scale
To quantify an unknown matter or space you
need a scale
This scale should be something known and
familiar unit.
This unit is called the scale
 Ex: a foot, a square foot, a cubic foot, etc
How many times a ‘foot’ is a cot ?
You want to assess or quantify the length of the
given cot, it is a comparison of this unknown cot
with a known ‘foot’ which is the unit which is the
scale.
This is a way of understanding or a method of
conveying scale .
 Scale

It is a tool to measure length, area, volume or weight.

It has to be universally acceptable
It has to have a compatible relation with element
that is to be measured.
It should be universally known unit.
It is used to asses an unknown quantity.
 Ex: 4’’ long pencil, 10 cm long line, 1 Kilometer distances
 Scale

Inch, cm, furlong, Km etc are units, of length used to

measure lengths.
Four times of one such unit inch will be the
understandable / assessed length of a pencil, which
was unknown before.
The unit ‘inch’ cannot be made a tool to measure any
road distances because it is not compatible.
 Scale

a. Absolute scale
b. Comparative scale
 Architectural Scale

A window can be taken as a unit to count and assess

the number of floors in a multistoried building.
A door help us to judge the total room height.
It the frame of building is not associated with any
scale there can be confusion, or misjudgment in
quantifying
 Comparative Scale

 Height of man:
 Is not an absolute unit but a unit
 To assess the door or height of the habitable room is
compared with height of man.
 The depth of a well is expressed in terms of how many
man’s depth
 A picture of a man or a tree will give an understanding of
building facade.
 A single storey building will be giving an understanding of a
multi storey building.
 Hence all these things will make a handy architectural scale
Scale
 Comparative Scale

Thus a scale is essential for a good interior or

exterior
A scale gives clarity, no confusion and serenity
applies peace.
An apprehension which means a grip over the
space by the user
But definitely the chosen scale should be
 Familiar
 Universal
 Acceptable
 Compatible
INTERIOR DESIGN
 Qualities of Architectural space

Properties of Enclosure Qualities

of Space
Shape Form
Surface Colour
Edges Texture
Pattern
Sound
DimensionsProportion
Scale
Configuration Definition
Openings Degree of enclosure
Light
View
 Quality of Interior Space

Light
Primary task light: light for functional purpose.
Can be natural, artificial or combinations
Play on emotions:
 play, dance , music
 Joyful, dull, restful needs or enthusiasm
Thermal:
 any light (white light) brings in heat and warmth-Sunbath,
glare
Age , climate and health
Decide the kind of light required
 Light

Light for highlighting:

 An important antique
 A picture
 A complete wall (wash of light)
 A corner – end to end, top to bottom etc
 A path
 A plant / tree
 A notice board/direction advertisements etc
 Direction of Light

Direct light – not recommended at all

Reflected light – good
Task light – directing on the object, never on the
eyes
Warm Climate Demands
 Less of light
 No direct light
Cool Climate
 Sky is less bright
 Invites use of large glass areas
Spot light for special purposes / functional
Level of lighting at the work level
As vision cone of eyes sweep floor ie. Downward
more than ceiling; hence darker flooring, brighter
ceiling to protect eyes.
Cut down too much light and glare by use of louvers/
blinds/curtains colour glass etc for special effects
(Ex: Church)
 Openings - light

The location of an opening affects

the manner in which natural light
enters a room and illuminates its
forms and surfaces.
The shape and articulation of an
opening is reflected in the shadow
pattern cast by sunlight on the
forms and surfaces.
The color and texture of the forms
and surfaces affect their
reflectivity and the ambient light
level within the space.
 Organisation of Space

The ways in which the spaces can be

related to one another and organized
into coherent patterns of form and
space

A larger space can envelop and

contain a smaller space within its
volume. Visual and spatial
continuity between the two spaces
can be easily accommodated.
Organisation of space
Organisation of space
Spatial organisation
 Ventilation

Warm climate needs more of ventilation at body

level and at working level
Cross ventilation is the best
Corner ventilation also can be made effective
avoiding short circuiting
One side opening gives no ventilation
II. QUALITY OF SPACE

Mental experience
 Static space
 Dynamic space
 With / without a scale

 I am so little ( horizontally)

 I am so little (vertically)
 I am lost

Result is
 I cannot get an idea
 Not compatible
Here the space is
scaled
Sequence of space is
gradual and gentle /
sudden and full exposure

Awesome feeling
Surfaces- Functions of surfaces. Floors,
walls, ceiling, dividers.
In the context of interior design, “surface” refers to any physical plane –
this includes not only walls and ceilings, but also the sides of furniture and
fittings
FLOORS: The surface with their necessary supports which provide
accommodation to the users to live at different levels in a building. 

Floors in buildings provide strong level surface to support occupants, furnitures,

and other equipments. 

Following are the functional requirements of floors in building:

•Strength and stability

•Resistance to weather and ground moisture
•Durability and free from maintenance
•Fire resistance
•Resistance to passage of heat
•Resistance to passage of sound
Walls

• A Vertical load-bearing member.

• Wall fulfills the function of privacy, security and protection against natural
factors.
• It supports roof and ceilings. The main purpose of the wall is to divide the
space of the building.

A wall is a structure and a surface that defines an area; carries a load; provides
security, shelter, or soundproofing; or, is decorative. There are many kinds
of walls, including: Walls in buildings that form a fundamental part
of the superstructure or separate interior rooms
ceiling

A ceiling is an overhead interior surface that covers the upper limits of a room.
It is not generally considered a structural element, but a finished surface
concealing the underside of the roof structure or the floor of a storey above.
Ceilings can be decorated to taste, and there are many fine examples of frescoes
and artwork on ceilings especially in religious buildings.
The most common type of ceiling is the dropped ceiling which is suspended
from structural elements above.
Pipe work or ducts can be run in the gap above the ceiling, and insulation and
fireproofing material can be placed here.
Other types of ceiling include the cathedral ceiling, the concave or barrel-
shaped ceiling, the stretched ceiling and the coffered ceiling.
False Ceiling
A ceiling suspended a foot or more below the actual ceiling to provide space for
an easy access to wiring and ducts, or to alter the dimensions of a room.
Functional
Aesthetics
Acoustic
Thermal insulation
Sustainability
its used to conceal varied service lines- structural features, open pipes and
wiring, and air conditioning ducts

It enhances and transforms the feel of the space.

It gives more options to use special lighting systems such as cove lighting,
wall washers, floating effects.

The acoustic performance of a room can be enhanced by sound absorption

and attenuation. This is achieved by adding insulation known as sound
attenuation bats (sabs), more commonly referred to as “sound bats”, above
the panels to help deaden sounds and keep adjacent rooms quieter.

A False ceiling creates a layer of insulation between the main ceiling and the
room. This buffer layer traps some of the heat coming from the roof through
the main ceiling thus reducing the transfer of this heat to the room. This
helps to keep the room cool.
It is installed a layer below the main ceiling thereby reducing the volume of
the room that needs to be cooled. The AC is more effective and cools faster,
leading less electricity consumption. ( see image below)
Partitions

A partition wall may be defined as a wall or division made up of bricks,

studding, glass or other such material and provided for the purpose of dividing
one room or portion of a room from another.

Partition walls are designed as non-load bearing walls. It may be of folding,

collapsible or fixed type.

If partition walls are load bearing then they are called as ‘internal wall’.
ADVANTAGES OF PARTITION WALLS

Divide the whole area into a number of rooms.

Provide privacy to the inmates from sight and sound.

Are light in weight and cheaper in cost of construction.

Occupy lesser area

Easily constructed in any position.