ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 1

RESEARCH

INTRODUCTION TO ELEMENTS OF
DESIGN FOCUSING FORM (VARIOUS
SHAPES AS APPLIED IN DESIGN)

YRREVERRE, ERIC. P
SUBMITTED BY:

ARCH. EDWARD ARELLANO OCHOCO

Architecture is the Art and Science of Designing. Architecture

came from the Latin word “architectura” or from the Greek word

“arkhitekton.” Arkhi meaning “chief” and tekton meaning “builder.”

Architects are often manipulate basic forms, shape and elements of

design in creating designs for a building or structure to produce

aesthetic and well functioning structures. The most used and

significant primary shapes are the circle, triangle and square. The

primary solids are the sphere, cylinder, cone, pyramid and cube.

What is Design? Design is decided upon the look and

arrangement of lines or shapes created to form a pattern or decoration

considering the function. While Form is a three-dimensional object or

building that is perceived by a viewer in space and time, and made

possible by the action of light and shadow. The sphere, cylinder, cone

and cube are examples of regular forms. These forms can be changed

by the addition or subtraction of elements, but can still remain regular.

An irregular form is one whose parts are dissimilar and generally

inconsistent and asymmetrical.

Design principles are rules, standard or rather guidelines to

follow. Some are based on scientific data, some based on human

psychology, some are simply observations over time of what works and
what doesn’t. Each principle of design conveys different messages. To

furthermore, the topic of introduction to elements of design focusing

form will be tackled in this research.

II. CONTEXT

Elements of Design focusing Form (various shapes as applied in

design).

What is the elements of Design? The elements of design are the

basic components used as part of any composition. They are the

objects to be arranged, the constituent parts used to create the

composition itself.

8 Elements of Design

1. Points/Dots – Points are coordinates in space, without dimension

or area. Dots are how we see points. Dots are points of focused

attention. Points and dots are the most basic element and are

the building blocks for everything else.

2. Lines are series of adjacent points. They’re points in motion. By

definition they have one dimension, but to see a line we need to

lines are about movement and direction.

3. Surfaces/Planes/Shapes – all have 2 dimensions. Each is

essentially a flat object without depth. Technically they have no

mass, but we begin to see a visual mass or weight in 2

dimensional objects

4. Form/Volume/Mass take us into 3 dimensions. However the

format we work with (page or screen) is 2 dimensional so we can

only represent form, volume, and mass in design.

5. Pattern/Texture evolve out of structures. When two or more

elements are placed in a design there is a structure between

them. We describe structures through the patterns they form. As

these patterns begin to form their own compositions they

become textures.

6. Size/Scale are about the relative size and proportion of different

elements. Elements of different sizes convey different messages

especially in relation to other elements of different or similar

size.

7. Space connects and separates elements. It’s the contrast that

allows everything else to be seen and recognized. Learning to

see and control space is perhaps the most important skill you

can learn as a designer.

Value is the relative lightness or darkness we see. Both convey a

lot of meaning as each of us is influenced physically,

psychologically, and socially by color and the value of color.

Three Categories of Shape in Design

Shapes in design are categorized into three main types –

geometric shapes, natural (or organic) shapes, and abstract shapes.

Each of these three basic shapes groups and their meanings bring

something very different to a design and suggest something subliminal

about the brand or company using them.

1. Geometrical shapes are the figures which represent the forms of

different objects. Some figures are two-dimensional, whereas

some are three-dimensional shapes. The two-dimensional figures

lie on only the x-axis and y-axis, but 3d shapes lie on the x, y and

z axes. The z-axis shows the height of the object.

2. Organic shapes are often curvilinear in appearance, that are

similar to those found in nature, such as plants, animals, and

rocks.
 3. Abstract shapes are created by abstracting the most basic and

recognizable aspects of a real-life shape and creating a simplified

representation of it.

What is form?

Form can be described as a reference to both the internal

structure and external outline, often in the shape of a three

dimensional mass or volume.

Some of the characteristics of form include:

1. Shape – the outline of the form

2. Size – the dimensions of the form, proportions and scale

3. Colour – the colour of the form will affect its visual weight

4. Texture – the texture of a form will affect how light is reflected or

absorbed

5. Position – where the form is located in relation to its environment

6. Orientation – the position of the form in relation to the ground,

compass points or the person viewing the form

What is the Primary elements of Form?

The primary elements of form are points, lines, planes and

volumes – each one growing from the other. A point is a position in

extension of a line. A voluPrimary shapes and solid

Primary shapes and solids

The most significant primary shapes are the circle, triangle and

square. The primary solids are the sphere, cylinder, cone, pyramid and

cube.

Regular and irregular forms

A regular form is considered to be a form that is consistent and

orderly. They are generally symmetrical about one or more axes. The

sphere, cylinder, cone and cube are examples of regular forms. These

forms can be changed by the addition or subtraction of elements, but

can still remain regular.

An irregular form is one whose parts are dissimilar and generally

inconsistent and asymmetrical. A regular form can be contained within

an irregular form.
What is the translation of shapes?

Translations of shape is an architectural tool used in buildings to

give the impression of uniformity through the movement of the same

shape throughout the entire structure.

“Translation has been an integral part of architectural design.

Translations in architecture can be discussed in relation to converting

from drawing to building from diagram to project from one place to

another, from different discipline to architecture, and from text to

visual image.” (Akcan, 2012).

Many variations of a form can be generated from the primary

solids, by manipulating dimensions of the solids, or adding or

subtracting elements.

Subtractive and additive forms

Subtractive forms will have portions removed from its volume,

but they often retain their identity until the profile is drastically altered.
 Additive forms are produced by relating or attaching one or more

subordinate forms to its volume. This can be broken down into

different types of contact.

- Spatial tension – where the forms are within close proximity to

one another.

- Edge to Edge – where the forms are sharing a common edge.

- Face to Face – where the forms have corresponding surfaces

which are parallel. to one another.

- Interlocking – where the forms are inter connected to one

another.

Additive forms often grow and merge with other forms, creating

relationships that can be categorised as below:

1. Centralised

- Centralised forms are often freestanding, and isolated within

their context.

2. Linear

- A linear form is often a response to a topography or site context.

They tend to demonstrate a selection of forms along a line.

3. Radial
 - A radial form features a centrally located core with linear forms

extending outwards from the centre. Radial forms can create a

network of centres linked by the linear forms.

4. Clustered

- A clustered form tends to be a collection of varying forms. They

are often based on a more functional requirement, and tend not

to be regular or formal. A clustered form can be interlocking,

face to face, or edge to edge amongst others.

5. Grid

- A grid form demonstrates a form that is focused on a grid layout.

These forms tend to be considered in third dimension and are of

a modular framework.

Collisions of geometry

There are often occasions where two geometries will collide to create a

new composite form. This may occur in many circumstances:

To suit the functional requirements of the internal space

To display a symbolic importance

To direct a space toward or away from a specific site context feature

To create a volume of space within an existing form

To demonstrate the nature of the structure

To respond to site context or topography

To respond to an existing path or movement through the site

III. CONCLUSION

The elements of design are the basic components used as part of

any composition. They are the objects to be arranged, the constituent

parts used to create the composition itself. The 8 Elements of Design

are; Points/Dots, Lines, Surfaces/Planes/Shapes, Form/Volume/Mass,

Pattern/Texture, Size/Scale, Space, and Color/Value.

Form can be described as a reference to both the internal

structure and external outline, often in the shape of a three

dimensional mass or volume. Many variations of a form can be

generated from the primary solids, by manipulating dimensions of the

solids, or adding or subtracting elements.

Subtractive forms will have portions removed from its volume,

but they often retain their identity until the profile is drastically altered.
 Additive forms are produced by relating or attaching one or more

subordinate forms to its volume. This can be broken down into

different types of contact.; Spatial tension, Edge to Edge, Face to Face

and Interlocking

Collisions of geometry There are often occasions where two

geometries will collide to create a new composite form. This may occur

in many circumstances: To suit the functional requirements of the

internal space; To display a symbolic importance, To direct a space

toward or away from a specific site context feature, To create a volume

of space within an existing form, To demonstrate the nature of the

structure, To create a symmetry in the building, To respond to site

context or topography and To respond to an existing path or

movement through the site

Sources:

- Architecture Dictionary – Form, Space & Order. 4th edition

by Francis D.K. Ching

- The Elements Of Design Part I: Introduction By Steven

Bradley on July 5, 2010..

- First in Architecture. Owned by Archiwork Ltd.

by masterclass on june, 08, 2021