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Module 3

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29 views9 pages

Module 3

Uploaded by

eulalia.baga
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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TAD 1.

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

MODULE 3. PRIMARY ELEMENTS

This chapter presents the primary elements of form in the order of their growth from
the point to a one-dimensional line, from the line to a two-dimensional plane, and
from the plane to a three-dimensional volume. Each elements is first considered as
a conceptual element, then as a visual element in the vocabulary of architectural
design.

As conceptual elements, the point, line, plane, and volume are not visible except to
the mind’s eye. While they do not actually exist, we nevertheless feel their presence.
We can sense a point at the meeting of two lines, a line marking the contour of a plane,
a plane enclosing a volume, and the volume of an object that occupies space.

 POINT indicates a position in space

 LINE with properties of


Length
Direction
Position

 PLANE with properties of:


Length and width
Shape
Surface
Orientation
Position

 VOLUME with properties of:


Length and width
Form and Space
Surface
Orientation
Position

Ar. W.Fernandez
TAD 1. THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

A. POINT

A point marks a position in space. Conceptually, it has no length, width, or depth


and is therefore static, centralized and directionless.

A point can serve to mark:


 the two 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

Point theoretically has neither shape nor form, it begins to make its presence felt
when placed within a visual field. At the center of its environment, a point is stable
and at rest, organizing surrounding elements about itself and dominating its field.

When the point is moved off-center, however, its field becomes more aggressive and
begins to compete for visual supremacy. Visual tension is created between the point
and its field.

Ar. W.Fernandez
TAD 1. THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

EXAMPLE.

1. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy

2. Canton Tower, China

Ar. W.Fernandez
TAD 1. THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

B. LINE

A point extend becomes a line. Conceptually, a line has length, but no width or depth.
Whereas a point is by nature static, a line, in describing the path of a point in motion,
is capable of visually expressing direction, and movement, and growth.

It can serve to:

 Join, link, support, surround, or intersect other visual elements.

 Describe the edges of and give shape to planes

 Articulate the surfaces of planes

Ar. W.Fernandez
TAD 1. THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

EXAMPLE.

1. Selim Mosque, Edirne, Turkey

2. Caryatid Porch, The Erechtheion, Athens, by Mnesicles

Ar. W.Fernandez
TAD 1. THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

C. PLANE

Shape is the primary identifying characteristic of a plane. It is determined by the


contour of the line forming the edges of a plane. Because our perception of shape can
be distorted by perspective for shortening, we see the true shape of a plane only when
we view it frontally.

The supplementary properties of a plane - its surface color, pattern, and texture -
affect its visual weight and stability.

Three generic types of planes:

Overhead Plane
The overhead plane can be either the roof plane that spans and shelters the interior
spaces of a building from the climatic elements, or the ceiling plane that forms the
upper enclosing surface of a room.

Wall Plane
The wall plane, because of its vertical orientation, is active in our normal field
of vision and vital to the shaping and enclosure of architectural space.

Base Plane
The base plane can be either the ground plane that serves as the physical foundation
and visual base for building forms, or the floor plane that forms the lower enclosing
surface of a room upon which we walk.

Ar. W.Fernandez
TAD 1. THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

EXAMPLE.

1. Machu Picchu, an ancient Incan city

2. Robie House, Chicago, Frank Lloyd Wright

Ar. W.Fernandez
TAD 1. THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

D. VOLUME

A plane extended in a direction other than its intrinsic direction becomes a volume.
Conceptually, a volume has three dimensions: length, width, and depth.

All volumes can be analyzed and understood to consist of:


 points or vertices where several planes come together
 lines or edges where two planes meet
 planes or surfaces that define the limits or boundaries of a volume

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


shapes and interrelationships of the planes that describe the boundaries of the volume.

A volume can be either a solid—space displaced by mass—or a void—space contained or


enclosed by planes.

Ar. W.Fernandez
TAD 1. THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

EXAMPLE.

1. Notre Dame Du Haut, Ronchamp, France, Le Corbusier

Ar. W.Fernandez

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