INTRODUCTION TO ELEMENTS OF

DESIGN FOCUSING ON FORMS

 PROPERTIES OF FORM
Horyu-Ji Temple

Form
It may refer to an external SHAPE TEXTURE COLOR
appearance that can be Hue, saturation
Outline/surface Tactile quality
recognized. It may also and tone value
allude to a particular SIZE
condition in which Length, width &
something act or manifest depth
itself. POSITION
Location
Queen Nerfertiti’ s Head Statue ORIENTATION
Perspectives
GESTALT PSYCHOLOGY PRIMARY
SHAPES
• Composition of Circles and
Affirms that the mind Circular Segments
will simplify the visual
environment in order
to understand it. • Triangle

• Square
 a solid generated by the
a solid generated by the
revolution of the semicircle
revolution of the right
SPHERE
about its diameter, whose
surface is all points
CONE
triangle about one of its
sides
equidistant to the center.

SOLIDS a solid generated by the

A three dimensional body or
figure.
CYLINDER
revolution of the rectangle
about one of its sides.
a polyhedron having a
polygonal base and
PYRAMID
triangular faces meeting
at a common point.

CUBE
a prismatic solid bounded
by six equal square sides.
 REGULAR FORMS IRREGULAR FORMS
- PARTS ARE DISSIMILAR IN
- PARTS ARE RELATED TO ONE NATURE AND RELATED TO ONE
ANOTHER AND IN AN ANOTHER IN AN
ORDERLY AND CONSISTENT INCONSISTENT MANNER.
MANNER - ASYMMETRICAL AND MORE
- STABLE AND SYMMETRICAL DYNAMIC
- SPHERE, CONE, CYLINDER, - RESULTS FORM IRREGULAR
PYRAMID, AND CUBE COMPOSITION OF REGULAR
TRANSFORMATION OF FORMS

All other forms can be understood to

be transformations of primary solids,
variations which are generated by the
manipulation of one or more
dimensions by the addition or
subtraction of the elements.

- Dimensional Transformations
- Additive Form
- Subtractive Form
 A form can be transformed by
DIMENSIONAL altering one or more of its
dimensions and still retain its
TRANSFORMATION identity.

SUBTRACTIVE A form can be transformed by

subtracting a portion of its volume.
FORM

A form can be transformed by

ADDITIVE FORM addition of elements to its volume.
RESULTS OF
ADDITIVE SPATIAL EDGE-TO-EDGE
FORM
TENSION CONTACT

FACE-TO-FACE INTERLOCKING
CONTACT VOLUMES
 FORMAL ORGANIZATION
A.) CENTRALIZED FORM
Consists of secondary forms clustered about
dominant, central parent-form.
C.) RADIAL FORM
A composition of linear forms extending
outward from a central form in a radial
manner. It combines the aspect ot centrality
and linearality into a sing compostion.
B.) LINEAR FORM
A series of form arranged sequentially. A
linear form can result from a proportional
change in a form's dimensions or thr
arrangement of a series of discrete forms
along a line.
- it can be segmented or curvilinear
- can front on or define an edge of an exterior space
or define a plane of entry into a space behind it
- can be manipulated to enclose a portion of space
- can be oriented vertically as a tower element to
establish or denote a point in space
- can serve as an organizing element to which a
variety of secondary forms are attached.
CENTRALIZED FORM LINEAR FORM RADIAL FORM
 CLUSTERED
ORGANIZATION GRID
A clustered organization relies
ORGANIZATION
on physical proximity to relate
A grid organization consists of
spaces to one another. It often
forms and spaces whose positions
consists of repetition, cellular
in space and relationship with one
spaces that have similar
another are regulated by a three-
functions and share a common
dimensional grid pattern or field.
visual trait such as shape or
orientation.
FORMAL COLLISIONS
ON GEOMETRY
- To accentuate the differin requirements of
exterior form and interior surface
- To express symbolic importance of form
- To generate composite forms

- To inflect a space
- To carve a well-defined volume of space
- To articulate various constructional and
mechanical systems

- To reinforce a local condition of symmetry

- To respond to contrasting geometries
- To acknowledge an already existing path to
a building
 ROTATED GRID
A rotated square and movement along a
diagonal are two devices architects and designers
use to achieve emphasis and a sense of increased
size. Both tools rely on a difference between the
rooms and spaces on a regular grid of 90 degrees
— and the sudden introduction of an element
askew from that grid.
 Architects and designers know that if the
shortest distance between two points is a
straight line, the longest straight line is going to
be the one on a diagonal. So, we use a diagonal
to increase the perceived size of a room as well
as to maximize a room's efficiency.
 Articulation
Articulation refers to the
manner in which the
surfaces of a form come
together to define its shape
and volume. An articulated
form clearly reveals the
precise nature of its parts and
their relationship to each
other and to the whole.
An articulated group of forms accentuates the joints between the
constituent parts in order to visually express their individuality.

A form can be articulated by:

 Differentiating adjoining planes with a change in material, color,
texture, or pattern.
 Developing corners as distinct linear elements independent of the
abutting planes.
 Removing corners to physically separate neighboring planes.
 Lighting the form to create contrasts in tonal value along edges and
corners.

In opposition, the corners of a form can be rounded and smoothed over to

emphasize the continuity of its surfaces. Or a material, color, texture, or pattern
can be carried across a corner onto the adjoining surfaces to de-emphasize the
individuality of the surface planes and emphasize instead the value of a form.
CORNERS
SPACE ARTICULATION
REFERENCE:
• FRANCIS D.K. CHING. ARCHITECTURE: FORM, SPACE AND ORDER 3RD
EDITION