Transformers

When I began this series of vocabulary words and terms that deal with FORM, my thoughts immediately went to the movie "Transformers". I love the scenes where the cars "transform" into these robotic super heroes.

Just like in the movie "Transformers", basic forms do actually morph (not with as much animated drama usually) into other more complex and many times more interesting forms.

PRIMARY SOLIDS

PRIMARY SOLIDS are the basic primary shapes (2-D) that have been extended or rotated to become forms (3-D). A circle can transform to a cylinder or sphere, a triangle can transform to a cone or pyramid, and a square can transform into a cube.

One piece of the private residence featured below is a great example of a primary solid. Pay attention to the extreme right cone-like structure.

By focusing on this section, as seen above with graphic overlay, the cylindrical body of the space as well as the cone-like roof structure are evident. Below is a diagram of this structure that shows the cone and the cylinder and gives a simple visual definition of Primary Solids.

DIMENSIONAL TRANSFORMATION

DIMENSIONAL TRANSFORMATION occurs when a form is altered by one or more of its dimensions, but it is still directly related to its original family of forms.

In the photo below, this beautiful garden scene shows walls as backdrops for garden elements. These walls are actually a transformation of a cube.

Take a look at the same picture with graphic overlay. Is this overlay, the origin of the cube is seen, while the wall is shown as the end of a 3 dimensional cube.

This form is show again in a simplified diagram that gives a visual example of Dimensional Transformation.

SUBTRACTIVE FORMS

SUBTRACTIVE FORMS occur when a portion is subtracted from the original form to create a new form that may or may not become a form that can be considered its original identity.

In this photograph, a 3 dimensional wall has been used but areas have been "craved out" or subtracted, to create a logo for branding purposes in this retail space.

Looking at the picture with graphic overlay, we can focus on the negative space that has been subtracted.

In a simpler diagram, we can see how this logo is actually carved out of a solid cube.

ADDITIVE FORMS

ADDITIVE FORMS occur when a form has additional form added to its volume to create a new form.
A type of Additive Form is GRID FORM which is a set of modular forms organized by a 3-D grid.

In this picture we see an avant-guarde sculpture as an element of an interior. The building block type structure is set on a grid pattern.

In the photo below with graphic overlay, we can easily see the grid-like pattern on the surface of this 3-D structure.

Now lets look at this term and this photo in a simple form still showing the grid-like structure.

FORMAL COLLISION OF GEOMETRY

FORMAL COLLISION OF GEOMETRY occurs when true different geometric forms or like forms of different orientation collide or overlap. A type of Formal Collision of Geometry is CIRCLE & SQUARE which occurs when the circle interacts or overlaps the square.

In the photo below, the sphere can be seen interesting with the square lines of the pool, but also notice the curves of the corners and circular motif.

This is better represented when looking at the same photo with graphic overlay. Also notice the rectangular shrubbery and the triangular shaped shrubbery that meet toward the top of the photo.

Now let's look at a simple diagram that shows how the circles intersect or collide with the square of the pool. This demonstrates the Formal Collision of Geometry.

Although the way the forms of our built environment morph are not near as dramatic as the movies, it is obvious that all of the built elements around us can be traced back to primary forms and particular ways the forms can be manipulated to shape the environment that surrounds us.

It's All About the Basics

The age old question continues - Which came first? The chicken or the egg? Depending on who you ask, you will get different answers with different sets of reasoning. This question represents our wonder at the beginnings of life and our longing to know how it all began.

In the built environment, there are basic parts of form known as the PRIMARY ELEMENTS - but unlike the chicken and the egg, we know for sure the order in which these elements occur.

POINT

The first primary element of form is POINT. By definition, a point is a static position in space that has neither shape nor form. Below is a diagrammatic example of a point.

While a point is directionless it can serve to mark the beginning and end of a line, the intersection of two lines, the meeting of lines at the corner of a plane or volume, and the center of a field. Below is a photo of a built-in wall unit in a kitchen that is serving as a wine rack.

Looking back at our formal definition of point, we know that a point can serve to mark the intersection of two lines. Take a look below at how point is illustrated graphically in relation to this photo.

In this photo with graphic overlay, the points where the lines intersect in the wall unit are shown.

LINE

The next Primary Element is LINE. Line is an important element for visual construction. It's like the old saying "connect the dots". At its most basic a line is the connecting of two points. Lines are one dimensional but can have varying degrees of thickness and can serve to join, link support surround or intersect other visual elements. Take a look at Line in diagram.

The orientation of a line can affect its role in visual construction. A vertical line expresses a state of equilibrium with the force of gravity. A horizontal line represents stability, the ground plane, the horizon, or a body at rest. A diagonal line is dynamic and is visually active. Let's take a look at a photo from an interior space and look at line.

Line can be seen in many places in this photo. A graphic overlay highlights some of the strongest lines in this space.

The horizontal edge of each stair along with the vertical lines in the stair handrail show two orientations of line mentioned earlier.

PLANE

The third primary element of form is PLANE. A plane is two dimensional with length and width, but no depth and it's primary identifying characteristic is its shape. A diagram of plane is as follows.

The three types of plane in the built environment include Overhead (roof or ceiling), Wall Plane, and Base Plane (ground or floor). A photo of an interior below shows a wall plane.

In this interior space, the second floor continuation of the stair rail and serves as a wall.

Even though this railing is not totally solid and can be seen through, it is a plane as shown in the overlay of the photo above.

VOLUME

The last basic element of form is VOLUME. Volume is a three dimensional element and can be a solid or an enclosed void. All volumes consist of of POINTS where planes connect, LINES where planes connect, and PLANES that determine its limits.

Form is the primary identifying characteristic of volume. In architecture, a volume can be seen to be either a portion of space contained and defined by wall, floor, ceiling or roof planes, or a quantity of space displaced by the mass of a building.
The photo below shows the exterior of a home and is a great example of volume.

In this photo, the exterior wall and roof planes can easily be seen as well as points and lines where they meet. In the overlay below the outlines of these planes are highlighted and can show where two wall planes meet.

So there they are - the four pieces that serve as the primary elements of form. These elements of POINT, LINE, PLANE and VOLUME when joined together visually form our built environment. Without them we would have no place to keep the chicken or the egg!