Form

Primary Solids: A primary solid is a three dimensional form derived from primary shapes and include spheres, cubes, cylinders, cones, and pyramids. There are several examples of primary forms in the photograph below.

by Martha O’Hara Interiors

Dimensional Transformation: Three-dimensional transformation can occur when a primary solid is altered in some way but still maintains its identity. For example, a pyramid can be elongated, truncated or vertically cut in half and still take on the same primary solid form. The changes are the dimensions are transformations. In the picture below, a cube has been transformed into a slimmer cube, or rectangular prism, where the depth is less that the height or width.

Decoist – Interior Design and Architecture

Subtractive Form: Taking away, or subtracting, from a form to create other forms can also change primary solids. The skylight in the photograph below has rectangular form that is subtracting from the space in the ceiling.

Photo by Andrew Gershman

Additive Form (Clustered Forms): Additive form is the visual affect of attaching one or more forms to a primary volume. One way that a form can be additive is through interlocking volumes. For instance, the Frederick C. Hamilton building, a cube interlocks with a dominant pyramid to create an interesting additive primary solid transformation in a clustered manner. Overall, the design of a building is a cluster of various solids.

Photo by Randy Yagi

Formal Collision of Geometry (Circle & Square): Formal collisions of geometry take place when two different forms intercept one another and either keep their individual identities, engulf the other form, share volume, or be linked by a third form. The example below includes a wall in a child’s room where cylinders are totally within a rectangular wall.

Photo by Michelle Lesser

#chapter2form