Form and Space

The Unity of Opposites

In our visual field, we organize elements into two opposite categories:  positive elements, which are usually perceived as solid figures and negative elements, the space around the figures or the background.

Our perception of the positive and negative determines how viewers see the entire composition.  Often value contrast and placement help the image become less ambiguous.  In this image, the planes can visually be seen as positive space while the cut-outs provide negative space together they form a unity of opposites.

Defining Space with Horizontal Elements

Horizontal elements articulate a volume of space, in which vertical boundaries are implied.  There are four horizontal elements that will define space:  Base Plane, Elevated Base Plane, Depressed Base Plane, and Overhead Plane.  The example below shows an overhead plane that has been lowered to shape and enclose the space. 

Defining Space with Vertical Linear Elements

Vertical forms have a greater presence  than horizontal planes, which means they are more involved in defining the volume of space and providing a sense of enclosure and privacy.  They also serve to separate spaces from one another as well as provide structural supports for base and overhead planes.  This image is of the Parthenon built in ancient Greece.  The Greeks used columns as structural elements to enclose and define space.

 

Qualities of Architectural Space

The spatial qualities of form, proportion, scale, texture, light, and sound define the enclosure of a space.  Our perception of these qualities is influenced by our culture, experiences, and personal interests.  The degree of enclosure, the view, and the amount of light entering a space are influencing qualities of a room.  The image shows floor to ceiling windows that allow a user to view the landscape.

Openings in Space-Defining Elements

This image highlights the openings within the planes, such as, the doors, windows, and skylight.  Equally as important as the elements that define and enclose a space are the openings in space.  Openings aid in circulation patterns, allow light into a space, and build visual relationships between a room and the adjacent spaces, as well as providing natural ventilation of the space.  Openings can exist within planes, at corners, and between planes.