AED 1104 Environmental Design 1, 2008/2009
Input Lecture- Plane and Its Attributes
PLANE AND ITS ATTRIBUTES
1. FORM AS PLANE
On a two-dimensional surface, all flat forms that are not commonly recognized as points
or lines are forms as planes. A planar form is bound by conceptual lines which
characteristics of these conceptual lines and their interrelationships determine the shape
of the planar form.
Planar forms have a variety of shapes, which may be classified as follows:
1. Geometric- constructed mathematically.
2. Organic- bounded by free curves, suggesting
fluidity and growth.
3. Rectilinear- bound by straight lines which are not
related to one another mathematically.
4. Irregular- bound by straight and curved lines which are
not related to another mathematically.
5. Hand-drawn- calligraphic or created with the
unaided hand.
6. Accidental- determined by the effect of special
processes or materials, or obtained accidentally.
Planar forms may be suggested by means of outlining. In this case, the thickness of the
lines used should be considered. Points arranged in a row can also outline a planar form.
Points or lines densely and regularly grouped together can also suggest planar forms.
They become the texture of the plane.

Extracted from Chapter 2- Form (Two-Dimensional Design), Chapter 2- Designing A Form (Two-Dimensional Form) and Chapter 2- Serial Planes
(Three-Dimensional Design) of Wucious Wong’s Principles of Form and Design, 1993, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. This handout is meant for guideline only.
Further reading on the topic is highly recommended.
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AED 1104 Environmental Design 1, 2008/2009
Input Lecture- Plane and Its Attributes
2. DESIGNING A FORM (PLANE)
a) THE ADDITION OF PLANES
Two planes can be combined, or added, whether or not they are of
the same shape or size.
Planes might overlap or intersect with other
planes, while the shape of an individual plane
maintains its separate identity. Shapes thus
created are less seen as singular forms, but
more as plural or compound forms.
Two planes that have been combined might
have some common edges, which result in a shape without easily
discernible components.
b) THE SUBTRACTION OF PLANES
When a negative plane overlaps a positive plane, space
appears to have been subtracted from the positive plane. The
resulting shape shows a missing portion where the negative
plane merges with the background.
Sometimes subtraction leads to loose parts.
A smaller negative plane can be completely contained within a
larger positive plane.
c) THE INTERPENETRATION OF PLANES
Two planes can create a transparent effect by forming a
negative shape within an overlapped area.
Negative shapes might become positive when overlapped within a design
that includes the interpenetration of more than two planes.
d) VARYING THE SIZE OF PLANES
A plane can be enlarged gradually, or dilated. Smaller planes can
then be placed within larger planes concentrically, or with slight
variations in the direction or position of elements.
Alternate positive and negative shapes might be overlapped.
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AED 1104 Environmental Design 1, 2008/2009
Input Lecture- Plane and Its Attributes
e) THE TRANSFORMATION OF PLANES
Planar shapes (or flat form) can be rotated gradually to achieve
transformation. The transformed shapes can then be superimposed.
In addition, the size of shapes can be altered to suggest receding
and advancing elements in space.
As with size variations, alternate positive and negative shapes
might be overlapped.
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AED 1104 Environmental Design 1, 2008/2009
Input Lecture- Plane and Its Attributes
3. SERIAL PLANES
Points determine a line. Lines determine a plane. Planes determine a volume.
A line can be represented by a series of points.
A plane can be represented by a series of lines.
A volume can be represented by a series of planes.
When a volume is represented by a series of planes,
each plane is cross section of the volume.
Thus, to construct a volumetric form, we can think in terms of its cross sections, or how the
form can be sliced up at regular intervals, which will result in serial planes.
Each serial plane can be considered as a unit form which may be used either in
repetition or in gradation.
As mentioned, repetition refers to repeating both shape
and size of the unit forms.
Gradation refers to gradual variation of the unit form,
and it can be used in three different ways:


Gradation of size but repetition of shape

Gradation of shape but repetition of size

Gradation of both shape and
size
Further information on Gradation can be found in Wucius Wong’s Principles of Form and Design, Chapter 6-Gradation (Two-Dimensional Design).
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AED 1104 Environmental Design 1, 2008/2009
Input Lecture- Plane and Its Attributes
POSITIONAL VARIATIONS
Position has to do with, first of all, spacing of the planes. If no directional variations are
introduced, all the serial planes will be parallel to one another, each following the next
successively, with equal spacing between them.
If one plane follows another in a straight
manner, then the two vertical edges of the
planes trace two parallel straight lines, with
a width the same as the breadth of the
planes.
Spacing between planes can be made narrow or wide,
with different effects. Narrow spacing gives the form
greater feeling of solidity, whereas wide spacing weakens
the suggestion of volume.
Without changing the spacing between the planes, the position of
each plane can be shifted gradually towards one side or back and
forth. This causes the volumetric shape to undergo various distortions.
Again without changing the spacing between the planes, the
position of each plane can be shifted gradually upwards or
downwards. This can be easily done if the planes are hung or
supported in midair.
If the planes are placed on a baseboard, we can reduce the height of the planes to
suggest the effect of their gradual sinking- in just by positional variation in a vertical
manner.
DIRECTIONAL VARIATIONS
Direction of the planes can be varied in three different ways:

Rotation on a vertical axis
Rotation on vertical axis requires a diversion of the planes from parallel
arrangement. Position is definitely affected, because every directional
change
simultaneously
demands
positional
change.
The plane in this case can be arranged in radiation,
forming a circular shape.
Or they can form a shape with curves left and right.
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AED 1104 Environmental Design 1, 2008/2009
Input Lecture- Plane and Its Attributes

Rotation on a horizontal axis
Rotation on horizontal axis cannot be done if the planes are fixed on a
horizontal baseboard. If they are fixed on a vertical baseboard, their
rotation on a horizontal axis would be essentially the same as the rotation on
a vertical axis described above.

Rotation on its own plane
Rotation on its own plane means that the corners or edges of each plane
are moved from one position to another
without affecting the basic direction of the
plane itself. This results in a spirally twisted
shape.
The planes can be physically curled or bent if desired.
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