Linear elements

• A row of column supporting an entablature – a

colonnade is often used to define the public face
or façade of a building

• Advantages
• Being penetrated easily for entry.
• Offers a degree of shelter from the elements
• Forms a semi transparent screen the unifiesColonnade in St.Peter’s Square
individual building form behind it.
• Columns can define the edges of an exterior
space.
• Articulate the edges of building mass in space.
• Trellis or pergola can provide a moderate degree
of definition and enclosure for outdoor spaces.
• Allow light and breeze to penetrate.
IIMB, CORRIDOR , B.V.Doshi
Openings In Space Defining Elements
• Openings are required for visual and
spatial continuity.
• Openings determine patterns of
movement (doors and doorways)
• Openings allow light to penetrate the
space (window) & illuminate the
surface of a room.
• They offer views from the
room/interior to exterior.
• They establish visual relationship
between rooms and adjacent
spaces.
• They provide natural ventilation.
• Depending on size, number and
location they can weaken the
enclosure.
Primary Solids
•Sphere •Pyramid

•Cone
•Cube

•Cylinder
PRIMARY SOLIDS
Sphere
•Sphere is body that consists
of regular, continuous surface.
•It has no lines, edges or
corners
•Neither horizontal or vertical
emphasis
•It is a form which is closed
within itself.
 SPHERE BUILDING, SHANGHAI
Visual effect
•Pure convex form externally
•Presents impenetrable,
uninviting appearance.
•It displays visual quality of
repulsion
•Has no points of interest to
focus
•Defined by vague outline of
circle, whole mass appears as
immense dot. FLOATING PAVILION FOR
SHANGHAI
 SPHERE BUILDING, SHANGHAI
Emotional effect
•Lack of concentration
•Restleness
•Diffuseness
•This diffuseness also
characteristics the external
space surrounding the sphere.
•Total effect on observer. Is
lack of sense of orientation

FLOATING PAVILION FOR

SHANGHAI
 Inside the sphere
•There is a dramatic change
inside.
•The bounding surface is
continually concave.
•It opens to the observer.
•Invites attention.
•Attraction is from all sides
•This results in equilibrium of
forces.
•Center of this equilibrium is
center of sphere .the center is
imaginary.
Emotional effect
•It arouses sensations of concentration, repose
and orientation.

HOUSE IN SWEDEN
Derivatives of sphere-Hemisphere

•Cut horizontally in half.

•Cut portion forms an
edge , circular in plan.
•The dome and the edge
portion give the visual
character
Lucky Coin' Building , China

The World's Most Unusual Structure - A Cylindrical Coin-shaped

Building That Is Currently Being Constructed On The Banks Of
The Pearl River.
 Al Dar Headquarters | MZ Architects
Placed In Architecture

• The Circular Shape In Architecture

• The Circle Symbolizes Unity, Stability, Rationality.
• It Is Also The Symbol Of Infinity, Without Beginning Or End, Perfection, The
Ultimate Geometric Symbol.
• It Represents A Completeness Which Encompasses All Space And Time.
Hemisphere
A sphere cut horizontally in half.
The cut portion forms an edge , ciruclar in
plan.
The dome and edge portion gives the
visual character.

Visual effect
•Diffuse quality in the sphere , but continuity
is terminated at rim.
Emotional effect
•A sense of circular movement set up by
the rim.
•While sphere leads to disorientation
hemisphere leads to circular movement.
•Location: Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
Founded By: Maurya Emperor Ashoka
Founded In: 3rd century BC
Status: UNESCO World Heritage Site

• It is a simple hemispherical brick

structure, which has been built over the
relics of Lord Buddha. Surrounding the
main Sanchi Stupa is a path, used for
circumambulation.
Internally
•One concave surface and other flat
•Interior is circular in shape.
•The attention to the observer will be to the
center. Which can be visually identified.
•But the experiences a sense of movement is
Associated with the edge.

Inverted hemisphere
•If the base is flattened it would be
horizontal arena towards the which
attention is focused.
•This would be idea for viewing a
centrally activity such as sporting
events.
Roman Arena
OPENINGS
•Interrupt continuity of the domical
surface.
•Decrease the visual impact .
•Weakens rim.
•Separation of internal and external
spaces is less.
Australian Academy of
•Center of interior visible form outside Science building in
draws observers to the interior. Canberra
•From the interior , outside catches the
attention.
•Hence the attention constantly fluctuates
between inside and outside leading to
mild visual excitement.
•Surface quality invites.
•Spatial quality repulses.
•Space is emotional uncomfortable.
•A space is suitable for a stage.
•Space for audience seating with
attention towards screen. Australian Academy of
•Frame or gateway emphasizing an Science building in
Canberra
axis.
The St. Louis Gateway Arch is Missouri is one of Missouri’s oldest
public memorials and the tallest monument of its kind in the United
States. The Gateway Arch is 630 feet tall and 630 feet wide at its
widest point.
CUBOID

CUBE
CUBE

• Six equal square sides

• Angle between any two
adjacent faces being right angle
• Cube is static form
• It is very stable unless it stands
in corners.
• The cube remains a highly
recognizable form.
VISUAL EFFECT

•The vertical blank square neither

invites nor repulses .visually and
physically impenetrable, uninviting
appearance.
•Because the directions are
equally emphasized, the mass as
a whole has no directional quality
and neutral.
•Visual force is given by edges.
INSIDE CUBE

•Space inside cube is

bounded in plane
surface, lines and
corners.
•Corners won’t project
towards the observer
but recede away from
him.
•When it is treated little
bit, it grasps the
attention than others
Falling water in
Pennsylvania
Cuboid
Altering the equal sides of the cube, cuboid
is obtained.
The volume is spread in particular direction
either horizontal or vertical , irrespective of
the surface.
Each mass has a longer side and
Shorter side.
Surface lines are emphasized than corners.
Horizontality – urban street.
(because of the continuity one hesitates to
stop unless opening is created )
Verticality – high rise building
(both physical and visual tension makes it
dominating visual entity)
 Apartment in Las
Street in Dublin
Vegas
The horizontal internal space stimulates a horizontal movement,
which is greater with increasing horizontality. So space
becomes transformed into a passage, a corridor and an internal
street.
Vertical space stimulates vertical movement when filled with
stair case, lift or ramp.
 Water Cube, also known as the National Aquatics Center

The Water Cube's design was a

Team Masterpiece: the Chinese
partners felt a square was more
symbolic to Chinese culture and its
relationship to the Bird's Nest
stadium, while the Sydney based
partners came up with the idea of
covering the 'cube' with bubbles,
symbolizing water.

It should be noted that contextually

the cube symbolizes earth whilst the
circle (represented by the stadium)
represents heaven.
 The Zollverein School , Germany

• Organization of the openings,

windows in three different sizes,
create an unusual interaction with
the surroundings and the interior.
• The building has four floors with
ceilings of varying height as well
as a roof garden. The idea of
stacking open floor plans was
developed in compliance with the
demands made by the various
functions.
The Cube Condo Hotel , DUBAI

It’s located in Dubai

Sports City, has 27
floors and 561 luxury
condos that will
satisfy even the
pickiest tourists.
 •PYRAMID

CONE
 Pyramid
•Made up of tapering and inclined
surface and gather together to
form an apex , a corner where the
whole mass culminates.
•Eye will travel towards the corner.
•The directional quality is stronger
than that of a rectilinear tower.
•Pyramidal form shows the
devotional character.
SECTION OF THE PYRAMID
•Flat topped pyramid ,
reminiscent of Sumerians and
Mayan forms.
•Accumulation of force at the
upper edge ,which encloses the
square plateau above and hold it
in a kind of visual field force.
•Any major activity taking place ZIGGURAT
upon it will appear to posses a
heightened importance to those
below and strongly attract their
attention.
Derivatives of pyramid
•Fan shape helps of
audio and cinema
theater . One end
helps for natural
screen and
expanded side for
viewers.
• Acoustically good
and helps for good
viewing angle.
•Pitched roof for
dwellings to throw of
rain water
CYLINDER
Cylinder
Rounded surface- In far distance it
appears in outline as rectilinear
and nearer it appear more like
circular.

BMW Headquarters ,
Nehru Centre , Mumbai Munich
Curvature and circular movement continue alongside a
strong vertical movement; the resultant is spiral. The
spiral ramp suits the space.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New
York.
Sections of cylinder
Transformation of forms
Dimensional transformation
•A form can be transformed by altering
one or more of its dimensions and still
remains its identity as a member of
family forms.
•A cube can be transformed into
similar prismatic forms through
discrete changes in height , width or
length.
•It can be compressed into a planar
form or be stretched out into a linear
form.
Subtractive transformation
Form can be transformed by subtracting a portion of
its volume. Depending on the extent of the subtractive
process , the form can retain its initial identity or be
transformed into a form of another family.
Jakob + Macfarlane: Orange Cube
The five-storey orthogonal
cube plays off the fluid
movement of the river
Saône, exploring the effects
of subtraction and voids on
the quality and generation of
space.
ADDITIVE TRANSFORMATION

•A form can be
transformed by the
Addition of elements to its
volume.
•The nature of the additive
process & the number and
relative sizes of the
elements being attached
determine whether the
identity of the initial form
is altered or retained.
 GWATHMEY RESIDENCE AND STUDIO , New York

structures are composed of primary, minimal geometric forms that

appear to be carved from a solid volume rather than constructed as
an additive, planar assemblage. They are manipulated in response
to site, orientation, program and structure.
ADDITIVE FORM – TYPES
ADDITIVE FORM – TYPES
SPATIAL ORGANIZATION
There are five types of spatial
organization:

1. Central Organization
2. Linear Organization
3. Radial Organization
4. Cluster Organization
5. GRID Organization
Central Organization
•It is a stable & concentrated composition
•It consists of numerous secondary spaces that are clustered
around a central, dominant & bigger space.
•It presents secondary spaces that are equal in terms of role,
shape & form, which creates a distribution package that is
geometrically regular to two or more axes.
•Those central organizations whose forms are relatively compact
& geometrically regular can be used to :-
–Establish "places" in space,
– Be term of axial compositions,
–finally act as a form-object inserted into a field or an exactly
defined spatial volume.
National assembly building ,Bangladesh , Louis Khan.
Dominant central form – sphere , cylinder ,
cone etc.
Eg- Villa capra , Italy , Andrea Palladio.
 Linear Organization
•Consists essentially of a series of spaces.
•May be interconnected directly, or be linked through another linear
independent and distinct space.
•Those spaces that are important, functionally or symbolically within
this organization, can take place anywhere in the linear sequence and
show their relevance using their size and shape.
•The organization can solve linear different conditions at the site.
•It can be a straight, segmented or curve line and it can develop itself
horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
•The linear organization can relate itself with other forms of its context
connecting them, working as a barrier to separate things and
surrounding them to create a space field.
Baker House , M.I.T , Massachusetts , Alvar Alto.
Radial Organization
It combines elements of both linear and centralized
organizations. It consists of a dominant central space, with
many radial linear organizations.
While a centralized organization is an introverted scheme
that directs to the interior of its central space, a radial
organization is an extrovert scheme that escapes from its
context.
The central space of a radial organization has a regular form,
acts as the hub of the linear arms and maintains the formal
regularity of the whole organization.
•Extroverted in nature .
•Relate to or attach themselves to specific features of a site.
•Exposed to sun , wind , view.

Secretariat Building ,UNESCO

Headquarters ,Paris, Marcel Breuer
CLUSTER Organization
This type of spatial organization is used to connect spaces using
proximity.

It can accommodate in its composition spaces with different sizes,

shapes and functions, as long as they relate themselves by
proximity and some visual element.

The connected spaces can be grouped gather around a large area

or a well defined spatial volume.
 •interlock their volume
and merge into a single
form having variety of
faces.
•Contains spaces which
have common properties
– shape , size, texture

Habitat Israel , Jerusalem , Moshe Safdie

GRID ORGANIZATION

•It consists of forms and spaces whose position in space

and their interrelationships are regulated by a type of
plot or a three-dimensional field.
• It can be created by establishing a regular scheme of
points that define the intersections between two groups
of parallel lines.
•Its capacity on organization is the result of its regularity
and continuity that includes the same elements that
distributes.
The Gunma Museum of Fine Arts is
an Art Muesum designed by Arata
Isozaki JAPAN.
Regular and irregular forms
•Regular forms refer to those whose parts are related to
one another in a consistent and orderly manner. They are
generally stable in nature and symmetrical about one or
more axes.

•The sphere, cylinder, cone, cube, and pyramid are

examples of regular form.

•Forms can retain their regularity even when transformed

dimensionally or by the addition or subtracted of elements.

• From our experiences with similar forms, we can

construct a mental model of the original whole even when
a fragment is missing or another pair is added.