Visual Properties of Form
1. SHAPE: The principle
identifying characteristic of
form; shape results from the
specific configuration of a
form’s surfaces and edges.
2. SIZE: -The real
dimensions of form; it’s
length, width, and depth
- While these dimensions
determine the proportions of
form, it’s scale is
determined by it’s size
relative to other forms in it’s
context.
3. COLOR: The hue,
intensity, and tonal value of
a form’s surface.
-It distinguishes a form from
it’s environment.
4. TEXTURE: The surface
characteristics of a form.
-It affects the visual weight
of a form.
-It affect the tactile and lightreflective qualities of a
form’s surface.
5. POSITION: A form’s
location relative to it’s
environment or visual field
6. ORIENTATION: A form’s
position relative to the
ground plane, the compass
points or the person viewing
the form.
7. VISUAL ENERTIA: the
degree of concentration and
stability of a form.
-the visual inertia depends
on geometry of a form, it’s
orientation relative to the
ground plane and our line of
sight.
ALL OF THESE VISUAL PROPERTIES
OF FORM ARE AFFECTED BY THE
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH WE
VIEW THEM:
1. OUR PERSPECTIVE OR ANGLE OF
VIEW.
2. OUR DISTANCE FROM THE FORM.
3. LIGHTING CONDITIONS.
4. THE VISUAL FIELD SURROUNDING
THE FORM.
1. SHAPE: refers to the
edge contour of a plane.
-it depends on the
degree of visual contrast
between the form and
it’s background.
In architecture we are
concerned with the
shapes of:
•
Planes (walls, floors,
ceilings) that enclose
the space.
•
Openings (windows
and doors)
•
The silhouettes of the
building form.
PRIMARY SHAPES
1. The Circle: a series of points
arranged equally and balanced
about a point.
unstable
stable
equilibrium
neutral
Fixed in
place
stable
Self centered dynamic
2. The Triangle: a plane bounded
by 3 sides and having 3 angles.
It signifies stability.
Resting on one side,
identifies extreme
stability.
3. The Square: presents the pure
and the rational.
It’s static and
neutral figure
having no
preferred
direction.
Resting on one
side, identifies
extreme
stability.
Dynamic when
standing on
one of it’s
corners
REGULAR AND IRRIGULAR FORMS
Regular forms are those
whose parts and related to
one another in a regular
manner, they are stable
and symmetrical about
one or more axes.
Irregular forms are those
whose parts are dissimilar.
They are asymmetrical,
and more dynamic.
-they can be regular forms
form which irregular
elements have been
subtracted or an irregular
composition of regular
forms.
Regular forms can be
contained within irregular
forms and irregular forms
can be contained within
regular forms
THE TRANSFORMATION OF FORM
1. Dimensional Transformation: by altering
one or more of it’s dimensions.
2. Subtraction:
Subtractive forms still
retain it’s identity
depending on the portion
of the subtraction
Subtractive forms can be
used to create entrances,
private courtyard spaces
or window openings
A square
L-shape of 2 rectangles
An additive form is
produced by the addition
of another form to it’s
volume
2. Addition:
The basic possibilities of
two forms to group
together are:
Spatial tension: it requires
that the two forms e
relatively close to each
other, or share a
common visual trait such
as shape, material, or
color.
Edge to edge contact: two
forms share a common
edge, and can pivot
about that edge.
Face to face contact: it
requires that two forms
have flat, planar surfaces
that are parallel to each
other.
Interlocking volumes: two
forms interpenetrate
each other’s space.
These forms need not
share any visual trait.
Additive forms can be characterized by their ability to grow and merge with
other forms. It can be categorized according to the nature of the
relationships that exist among
1. Centralized
Consist of a number of
secondary forms
clustered about a
dominant, central space
Centralized forms require the
visual dominance of a
geometrically regular,
centrally located form
2. Linear
It can be curvilinear to
respond to conditions of
the site such as
topography, view, or
vegetation.
It can be manipulated to
enclose space
It results from a proportional
change in a form’s
dimension or the
arrangement of a series
of forms along a line.
It can be used to front or
define an edge of an
exterior space, or define
a plane of entry to the
spaces behind it
It can be oriented vertically to identify a
point in space or it can act as an
organizing element to which a
variety of forms can be attached
3. Radial forms
It can grow into a network
where several centers
are linked by linear
forms.
4. Clustered forms
It’s flexible enough to
incorporate forms of
various shapes, sizes,
and orientation into the
structure.
It can consist of forms that
are generally
equivalent in size,
shape, and function
A cluster organization
groups it’s forms
according to functional
requirements of size,
shape or proximity.
5. Grid forms
It’s used to break the scale
of a surface down into
measurable units and
give it an even texture