VISUAL AND RELATIONAL

PROPERTIES OF FORM
1.
2.
3.
4.
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6.
7.

Shape
Size
Color
Texture
Position
Orientation
Visual Inertia

Shape
The characteristic
outline or surface
configuration of a
particular form.
It is the primary means
by which we recognize,
identify and categorize
particular figures and
forms
Our perception of shape
depends on the degree
of visual contrast that
exist along the contour
separating a figure from
its field

In architecture, we are
concerned with the
shapes of:
-floor, wall, and ceiling
planes that enclose
space.
-door and window
openings within a
spatial enclosure.
-silhouettes and
contours of building
forms.

Primary shapes
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 simpliest and most regular shapes. The simpler and more
regular a shape is, the easier it is to perceive and understand.
From geometry, we
know the regular
shapes to be the circle,
and the infinite series
of regular polygons that
can be inscribed within
it. The most significant
is the:

1. Circle
2. Triangle
3. Square

Circle
The circle is a
centralized,
introvert figure
that is normally
stable and self
centering in its
environment.
Placing a circle in the
center of a field
reinforces its
inherent
centrality.
Placing elements
along its
circumference
can induce in the
circle an
apparent rotary
motion.

Triangle
The triangle signifies
stability. When
resting on one of
its sides, the
triangle is an
extremely stable
figure. When
tipped on one of
its vertices, it can
be balanced in its
precarious state
of equilibrium of
be unstable and
tend to fall over
onto one of its
side

Square
Square represents pure
and rational. It is a
static and neutral
figure having no
preferred direction.
All other rectangles are
considered as
variation of the
square.
Like the triangle, the
square is stable
when resting on one
of its side, and
dynamic when
standing on one of
its corners.

Primary solids
1. Sphere
2. Cylinder
3. Cone
4. Pyramid
5. Cube

Size
The physical
dimensions of
length, width,
depth of a
form.
While these
dimensions
determine the
proportion of
the form, its
scale is
determined by
its size relative
to other forms
in its context.

Color
A phenomenon
of light and visual
perception that
may be described
of an individual
perception of
hue, saturation
and tonal values.
Color is an
attribute that
most clearly
distinguish a
form from its
environment

Texture
The visual and
especially the
tactile quality given
to a surface by the
shape, arrangement
and proportion of
the parts.
Texture also
determine the
degree to which the
surfaces of a form
reflect or absorb
incident light.

Position
The location
of the form
relative to its
environment
or the visual
field within
which it is
seen

Orientation

The direction of a form

relative to the ground
plane, the compass
points, other forms, or
to the person viewing
form

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
relative to the ground
plane, the pull of gravity
and outline of sight.

All of these properties of

form are in reality
affected by the
conditions under which
we view them:
1. Changing the
perspective or angle
of view presents
different shapes or
aspects of a form to
our eyes.
2. Our distance from the
form determines its
apparent size.
3. The lighting
conditions under
which we view a form
affects the clarity of
its shape and
structure
4. The visual field
surrounding the form
influences our ability
to read and identify
it.