Primary Elements of Design

Theory of Architecture 1

Course Module 2:
Primary Elements of Design

Ar. Elda Magna G. Olegario

Faculty, BSArch
 Primary Elements of Design

TOPIC OUTLINE

2 Primary Elements of Design

• Point
• Line
• Plane
• Volume

OBJECTIVES
A F T E R R E A D I N G T H I S P A R T O F T H E M O D U L E ,
T H E L E A R N E R S W I L L B E A B L E T O :

1. appreciate and understand the basic elements of

design; and

2. recognize, observe and classify the elements of design

in the natural and built environment.

 Primary Elements of Design

Point

A point marks a position in space. It has no length, width or depth & is

therefore static, centralized & directionless. It can serve to mark:

- the 2 ends of a line

- the intersection of two lines

- the meeting of lines at the corner of a plane

or volume

- the center of a field

At the center of its environment, a point is stable & at rest, organizing

surrounding elements about itself & dominating its field. However,

visual tension is created between the point & its field when the point is

moved off-center; its field becomes aggressive & begins to compete

for visual supremacy.

A point has no dimension. To visibly mark a position in space or on the

ground plane, a point must be projected vertically into a linear form, as

a column, obelisk or tower. Any such columnar element is seen in plan

 Primary Elements of Design
as a point & therefore retains the visual characteristics of a point. Other

point-generated forms that share these same visual attributes are the:

• Circle – ex. Tholos of Polycleitos, Epidauros, Greece, c. 350BC

• Cylinder – ex. Baptistery at Pisa, Italy, 1153-1265, Dioti Salvi

• Sphere – Cenotaph for Sir Isaac Newton, Project, 1784, Etienne-

Louis Boule

Line
A point extended becomes a line with properties of length, direction &

position, but no width or depth. A line, in describing the path of a point

in motion, is capable of visually expressing direction, movement &

growth. It can serve to:

- Join, link, support, surround, or

intersect other visual elements

- Describe the edges of & give shape to planes

- Articulate the surfaces of planes

The character & orientation of a line affects its role in a visual

construction and our perception:

 Primary Elements of Design
• Horizontal – represent stability, the ground plane, the horizon or

a body at rest; expresses peacefulness, serenity, humbleness &

closeness to surroundings

• Vertical – making a statement & challenge the norm, strength,

stability, contrast the surroundings; expresses state of equilibrium

with the force of gravity or mark a position

• Oblique – deviation from horizontal or vertical; it is dynamic &

visually active in its unbalanced state

• Rough – expresses masculinity, strength & power

• Soft – expresses sensitivity, sharpness & speed

• Lines with edges – worries, instability, unfinished works

• Fine wavy – softness, flexibility, happiness & fluidity

Vertical linear elements, such as columns, obelisks, & towers, have

been used throughout history to commemorate significant events &

establish particular points in space. They can also define a transparent

volume of space. Linear members that possess the necessary material

strength can perform structural functions such as:

- express movement across space

- provide support for an overhead plane

 Primary Elements of Design
- form a 3-dimensional structural frame for architectural space

Two parallel lines have the ability to visually describe a plane. The

closer the lines are to each other, the stronger will be the sense of

plane they convey. A series of parallel lines, through their

repetitiveness, reinforces our perception of the plane they describe.

A row of columns supporting an entablature – a colonnade – is often

used to define the public face or façade of a building, especially one

that fronts on a major civic space.

The linear members of trellises & pergolas can provide a moderate

degree of definition & enclosure for outdoor spaces while allowing

filtered sunlight & breezes to penetrate. Vertical & horizontal linear

elements together can define a volume of space.

Plane
A line extended becomes a plane with properties of length & width,

shape, surface, orientation and position, but no depth.

Shapes of Plane

Shape is the primary identifying characteristics of a plane. It is

determined by the contour of the line forming the edges of a plane.

 Primary Elements of Design
The supplementary properties of a plane –its color, pattern & texture

– affect its visual weight & stability.

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 process or

materials or obtained accidentally.

 Primary Elements of Design
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 effect. Narrow spacing

gives the form greater feeling of solidity,

whereas wide spacing weakens the suggestion of volume.

Directional Variations

Direction of the planes can be varied in three different ways:

• Rotation on a vertical axis – requires 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

 Primary Elements of Design
arranged in radiation, forming a circular shape, or they can form

a shape with curves left and right.

• Rotation on a horizontal axis – cannot be done if the

planes are fixed on a horizontal baseboard. It 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 – 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.

In the composition of a visual construction, a plane serves to define

the limits or boundaries of a volume, thus plane should be regarded

as a key element in the vocabulary of architectural design. Planes

in architecture define 3-dimensional volumes of mass & space.

 Primary Elements of Design
Types of Plane:

• Overhead Plane – can either be:

 Roof plane - shelters the interior spaces of a building from

the climatic elements; as a design element, it is significant

because of the impact it can have on the form & silhouette of

a building within its setting.

 Ceiling plane - forms the upper enclosing surface of a room;

usually out of our reach & is almost always a purely visual

event in a space; it may be the underside of an overhead

floor or roof plane & express the form of its structure as it

spans between its supports, or it may be suspended as the

upper enclosing surface of a room or hall.

• Wall Plane – because of its vertical orientation, it is active in our

normal field of vision & vital to the shaping & enclosure of

architectural space

 Exterior wall plane – isolate a portion of space to create a

controlled interior environment. As it molds interior space, it

simultaneously shape exterior space & describe the form,

massing and image of a building in space.

 Primary Elements of Design
 Interior wall plane – govern the size & shape of the internal

spaces or rooms within a building.

• Base Plane – can be elevated to honor a sacred or significant

place; carved, stepped or terraced to provide suitable platform &

allow changes in elevation; can either be:

 Ground plane - serves as the physical foundation & visual

base for building forms; ultimately supports all architectural

construction.

 Floor plane - forms the lower enclosing surface of a room

upon which we walk; sustains that force of gravity as we

move around & place objects for our use on it. Its shape,

color & pattern determine to what degree it defines spatial

boundaries or serves as unifying element for the different

parts of a space.

The overall form of a building can be endowed with a distinctly planar

quality by carefully introducing openings which expose the edges of

vertical & horizontal planes. These planes can be further differentiated

& accentuated by changes in color, texture, or material.

 Primary Elements of Design

Volume
A plane extended becomes a volume with properties of length, width

& depth, form & space, surface, orientation and position. All volumes

can be analyzed & understood to consist of:

- points or vertices where several planes come together

- lines or edges where 2 planes meet

- planes or surfaces which define the limits or boundaries of a

volume

Form is the primary identifying characteristic of a volume. It is

established by the shapes & interrelationships of the planes that

describe the boundaries of the volume. As the 3-dimensional element

in the vocabulary of architectural design, a volume can be either a solid

(space displayed by mass) or a void (space contained or enclosed by

planes).

In architecture, a volume can be seen to be either a portion of space

contained & defined by wall, floor & ceiling or roof planes, or a quantity

of space displaced by the mass of a building. It is important to perceive

 Primary Elements of Design
this duality, especially when reading orthographic plans, elevations &

sections.

Building forms that stand as objects in the landscape can be read as

occupying volumes in space. Building forms that serve as containers

can be read as masses that define volumes of space.

References
Tait, James (2018). The Architecture Concept Book.
Balme, Jeffrey & Swisher, Michael T. (2019). Diagramming the Big
Idea: Methods for Architectural Composition 2nd Edition
Pabón-Charneco, Arleen (2020). Architecture History, Theory and
Preservation: Prehistory to the Middle Ages 1st Edition