Chapter 2: Form

Primary Solid- Cylinder

The primary solids are spheres, cylinders, cones, pyramids, and cubes. They are the basic three-dimensional shapes. Cylinders have two circular faces and a round barrel.

These Georgian columns are a perfect example of a cylinder. They sit upright on one of their round faces and support the overhang with the other. The round part in between is what takes them from a rectangle to a cylinder.

 

Dimensional Transformation

Any form can be transformed by altering one or more of it's dimensions while still maintaining it's identity as a form. A cube can be compressed into a plane.

This cement building is a cube in it's complete form. The solitary cement wall represents the cube compressed into it's planar form, but it is still a member of the cube family of forms.

Subtractive Forms:

When parts of a form are taken away, the form can either retain its identity in its original form family, or change so much that it joins a different family of forms.

The overhang on this barn is an example of a subtractive form. The interior of the cubic form is missing, creating just an outline of a form.

 

Additive Form- Linear

Made by attaching or relating one or more smaller forms onto the original form.

Town homes stacked next to each other are an example of additive forms arranged in a linear formation. The cube-like shaped homes are attached to one another on each side, making one long line.

Formal Collision of Geometry- Circle & Square

Two different forms join each other and penetrate each others boundaries.

This rendered garden is an example of one of the two forms totally receiving the other within its volume. The boundary of the garden is a square, with the inner path and plants in a circular form.