CH 2 Lecture Four

Shape
FORM Properties of Form

Transformation of Form
SHAPE
A shape is a visually perceived
area created either by an
enclosing line or by color or
value changes defining the outer
edge.
Shape is two-dimensional and
has height and width, but no
depth.
SHAPE
Shape refers to the characteristic outline of a
plane figure or the surface configuration of a
volumetric 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 exists along the
contour separating a figure from its ground or
between a form and its field.
TYPES OF SHAPES
There are two general
categories that are use
to describe shapes.
Geometric and Free-
Form or Organic
Shapes
TYPES OF SHAPES
Geometric Shapes
Can be described using mathematical
terms
are very regular or precise
are more often found in man-made
things
squares, rectangles, triangles, circles,
oval, pentagons and so on.
TYPES OF SHAPES
Free-form or Organic Shapes
are difficult to describe using
definitions
are irregular or uneven
are more often found in nature
the shape of clouds, puddles, trees,
leaves, rocks…
TYPES OF SHAPES
Positive and Negative Shapes
shapes may be considered positive or
negative depending on how they are used.
Positive shapes are usually those which
are the subject matter within a work of art.
Negative shapes (or space) are those in
the background or around the positive
shapes.
PRIMARY SHAPES
Gestalt psychology affirms that the mind will simplify the visual
environment in order to understand it.
primary shapes: the circle, the triangle, and the square
PRIMARY SHAPES
Circle
A plane curve every point of which is
equidistant from a fixed point within the curve
Triangle
A plane figure bounded by three sides and having
three angles
Square
A plane figure having four equal sides and four
right angles
CIRCLE
The circle is a centralized, introverted figure that is normally
stable and self-centering in its environment.
TRIANGLE
The triangle signifies stability.
SQUARE
The square represents the pure and the rational
FORM
Form: Visible aspect of an
object or figure.
Form as an element of design is
more than a shape that is seen;
it is a shape with definite size,
color and texture.
It is therefore the equivalent of
the summation of the
components that we call visual
element.
FORM
Types of Forms: depending on the nature of the shape, they can be
divided into:
Geometric and Organic Form: created from geometric
and organic shapes
Positive and Negative Form
FORM
PROPERTIES OF FORM
Conceptual
Visual
Relational
Practical
VISUAL PROPERTIES OF FORM
These are representations of conceptual elements on a material
medium.
 Shape
 Size
 Color
 Texture
SHAPE
Shape is the principal aspect by which we identify and categorize
forms.
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.
COLOR
Color is the attribute that most clearly distinguishes a form from its
environment.
It also affects the visual weight of a form.
TEXTURE
The visual and especially tactile quality
given to a surface by the size, shape,
arrangement, and proportions of the parts.
Texture also determines the degree to
which the surfaces of a form reflect or
absorb incident light.
RELATIONAL PROPERTIES OF FORM
Forms also have relational properties that govern the pattern and
composition of elements:
Position
Orientation
Visual Inertia
POSITION
The location of a form relative to its environment or the visual
field within which it is seen.
ORIENTATION
Orientation The direction of a form relative to the ground plane,
the compass points, other forms, or to the person viewing the
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 our line of
sight.
PRACTICAL PROPERTIES OF FORM
•the content of any design: a framework that can be used to
describe what is behind every design work.
•Representation. When a shape is derived from nature or the
man-made world, it is representational. Representation may be
realistic, stylized or near-abstract.
•Meaning. Meaning is present when the design conveys a
message.
•Function. Function is present when a design is to serve a purpose.
PRIMARY SOLIDS
Primary shapes
extended or rotated to
generate volumetric
forms or solids that are
distinct, regular, and
easily recognizable.
PRIMARY SOLIDS
SPHERE
A solid generated by
the revolution of a
semicircle about its
diameter, whose
surface is at all points
equidistant from the
center
PRIMARY SOLIDS
CYLINDER
the revolution of a
rectangle about one of
its sides.
PRIMARY SOLIDS
CONE
the revolution of a
rectangle about one of
its sides.
PRIMARY SOLIDS
PYRAMID
A polyhedron having
a polygonal base and
triangular faces
meeting at a common
point or vertex.
PRIMARY SOLIDS
CUBE
A prismatic solid
bounded by six equal
square sides, the angle
between any two
adjacent faces being a
right angle.
REGULAR AND IRREGULAR FORM
Regular forms refer
to those whose
parts are related to
one another in a
consistent and
orderly manner
Forms can retain
their regularity
even when
transformed
REGULAR AND IRREGULAR FORM
Irregular forms are those whose parts
are dissimilar in nature and related to
one another in an inconsistent manner.
Since we deal with both solid masses
and spatial voids in architecture,
regular forms can be contained within
irregular forms. In a similar manner,
irregular forms can be enclosed by
regular forms.
REGULAR AND IRREGULAR FORMS
A Regular Composition of Regular Forms:

Coonley Playhouse, Riverside, Illinois, 1912, Frank Lloyd Wright
Irregular Forms:
Philharmonic Hall, Berlin, 1956-63, Hans Scharoun
Irregular Forms within a Regular Field:

Philharmonic Hall, Berlin, 1956-63, Hans Scharoun
An Irregular Composition of Regular Forms: Regular Forms within an Irregular Composition:

Katsura Palace, Kyoto, Japan, 17th century Masjed of Sultan Hasan, Cairo, Egypt, 1356-63 34
projects of architect Frank Gehry, using
the concept design of the irregular
forms .
35
projects of architect Frank Gehry, using
the concept design of the irregular forms .
36
TRANSFORMATION OF FORM
TRANSFORMATION OF FORM
All other forms can be understood to be transformations of the
platonic solids,
variations that are generated by
a. Dimensional transformation
b. Subtractive transformation
c. Additive transformation
DIMENSIONAL TRANSFORMATION
by altering one or more of its dimensions and still retain its family
identify.
DIMENSIONAL TRANSFORMATION
SUBTRACTIVE TRANSFORMATION
by subtracting a portion of its volume.
the form can retain its‘ identify, or be transformed into a form, of
another family.
SUBTRACTIVE FORM
ADDITIVE TRANSFORMATION
by the addition of element to its volume.

ADDITIVE FORM
The basic possibilities for grouping two or more forms are
by:
Spatial Tension
Edge-to-edge Contact
Face-to-face Contact
Interlocking Volumes
SPATIAL TENSION
the close proximity of the forms or their sharing of a common visual

trait, such as shape, color, or material.
EDGE-TO-EDGE CONTACT
the forms share a common edge and can pivot about that edge.
FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT
forms have corresponding planar surfaces which are parallel to

each other.
INTERLOCKING VOLUMES
the forms interpenetrate each other’s space. The forms need not
share any visual traits.
ORGANIZATION OF FORMS
Structure in a composition is used to define the interrelationship

between the elements of design.
The use of structure in a composition is particularly important as it
defines and communicates the purpose, meaning or effect the
elements of the composition must produce together.
ORGANIZATION OF FORMS
Forms therefore can be categorized based on the existing

relationships between component forms, as well as the resulting
overall configuration.
• Centralized form
• Linear form
• Radial form
• Clustered form
• Grid form
CENTRALIZED FORM
•A number of secondary forms

clustered about a dominant,
central parent form
•Requires the visual dominance of
a geometrically regular and
centrally located form
CENTRALIZED FORMS
•Because of their inherent centrality , primary solids share the self

centering properties of the point and circle if they located centrally.
CENTRALIZED
FORM
LINEAR FORM
•A series of forms arranged sequentially in a row (along a line)

•A linear forms can be segmented or curvilinear
•Can be oriented vertically as tower
•Usually a repetitive elements
LINEAR FORM
•Forms that are significant to the organization can occur any where along
the linear sequence .
RADIAL FORMS
•A composition of a linear forms extending

outwards from a central form in a radial manner
•It consist of a linear organization that extends
outward from a centrally located core element in
a radiating manner
RADIAL FORM
•The central element can be visually dominant form , or it can

merge with and become a subservient to the radiating arm .
•The radiating arms ( which have a similar properties to
those of linear ) give a radial organization extroverted
nature .
CLUSTERED FORM
•A collection of forms grouped together by proximity or the sharing of a

common visual trait.
•Can also consists of forms with equivalent size ,shape
CLUSTERED FORM
Considering their flexibility , clustered organization of forms

may be organized in the following way
•Can be attached as appendages to a large parent form
CLUSTERED FORMS
•Can be related by proximity

•Can interlock their volumes and merge in to a single
form having a variety of faces
CLUSTERED FORM
Habitat Montreal, 1967, Moshe Safdie

GRID FORM
•A set of modular forms related and regulated by a three

dimensional grid
GRID FORM
•The organizing power of a grid results from

the regularity and continuity of its pattern .
•Since a 3D grid consists of repetitive ,
modular units ,it can be subtracted from
,added to, or layered , and still maintaining
its identity as a grid
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Shape

FORM Properties of Form

A Regular Composition of Regular Forms:

Irregular Forms within a Regular Field:

An Irregular Composition of Regular Forms: Regular Forms within an Irregular Composition:

by the addition of element to its volume.

the close proximity of the forms or their sharing of a common visual

forms have corresponding planar surfaces which are parallel to

Structure in a composition is used to define the interrelationship

Forms therefore can be categorized based on the existing

•A number of secondary forms

•Because of their inherent centrality , primary solids share the self

•A series of forms arranged sequentially in a row (along a line)

•A composition of a linear forms extending

•The central element can be visually dominant form , or it can

•A collection of forms grouped together by proximity or the sharing of a

Considering their flexibility , clustered organization of forms

•Can be related by proximity

Habitat Montreal, 1967, Moshe Safdie

•A set of modular forms related and regulated by a three

•The organizing power of a grid results from

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