What about Form?

Primary Solids

What are primary solids? They are simply shapes in three dimensional form, such as a circle is to a cylinder or a square is to cubes. These solid forms are the building blocks of architecture and design. And just like anything in design they have special meaning associated with there use. An example of this would be the unstable feel of a cylinder if it is not resting on one of its circular ends, almost as if it is about to roll off of a table.

This cabin design is a great example of a primary solid used in architecture. The designer of this project worked to create a space that is totally created and defined by a cylinder, aka a primary solid.

Dimensional Transformation 

Dimensional transformation is when one part of an form is changed, such as the orientation, size, and/or shape, which alters the co-ordinate axis of an object. Yet it still directly relates to its original forms.

To show this I choose a house that has been transformed form a traditoinal cube by a change in the size and texture of the wall plane.

Subtractive Forms

Subtractive forms are when a portion of a forms volume has been striped away or subtracted from the form. One of the most basic examples of this idea is the subtraction of area from a cube, such as in this chair by Le Corbusier, who was a well know architect and furniture designer.

Another example of subtractive form would be this roof overhang on this house. The interior of this form has been subtracted and all that remains is the outline of the form to show volume and mass.

   

Additive

Additive forms are forms that can be transformed or changed by the addition of different elements to enlarge the total form. In architecture we use this principle quite often it is the same idea as an addition made onto a house or structure.

This addition of a cube, or primary solid, onto this traditional apartment building is very straight forward example of addition of one form to another. Because it is one form clustered unto another form it is considered a clustered form.

Formal Collision of Geometry 

Formal collision of geometry is simply, when two form with different geometry used in the same area to create interest in the space. A basic example of this would be combining a circle and a square to form a new shape or form.

 This bookstore uses this idea of geometric collision, with its rounded shaped aisle of bookcases and the addition of square pass thoughts and walkways.