Islamic University-Gaza

Faculty of Engineering
Architecture Department

Principles of Architectural and

Environmental Design -EARC 2417

Lecture 3
Form & Space
Form Defines Space
Instructor: Dr. Suheir Ammar
2015

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We can define space using:
 Horizontal Elements
 Vertical Elements Defining
space

Horizontal Vertical
elements elements

Overhead Linear vertical

Base plane Vertical plane
plane element.

L- shape U- shape
configuration configuration

The form and enclosure of each space in

Parallel 4 planes
abuilding either determines or is planes (enclosure)
determined by, the form of the spaces
around it.
A-Defining Space With Horizontal Elements

1.Base Plane :A horizontal plane laying as

a figure on a contrasting background defines a
simple field of space. This field can be
visually reinforced in the following ways.
a. Elevated Base Plane: A horizontal plane
elevated above the ground plane establishes
vertical surfaces along its edges that reinforce
the visual separation between its field and the
surrounding ground.
b. Depressed Base Plane: A horizontal plane
depressed into the ground plane utilizes the
vertical surfaces of the lowered area to define
a volume of space.
2. Overhead Plane: A horizontal plane located
overhead defines a volume of space between
itself and the ground plane.
 3. horizontal spaces

Overhead plane

Elevated plane

Base plane
 A-Defining Space with Horizontal Elements
1-The Base Plane 1.as a figure
 A simple field of space
may be defined by a
horizontal plane laying as
a figure on a contrasting
background.

 A change in color or
texture between its
surface and the plane
upon which it lies.
A-Defining Space With Horizontal Elements
1-The Base Plane 1.as a figure
 The stronger the edge definition of
the horizontal plane is, the more
articulate will be its field.

The strongest definition The weakest definition

Functional zones
A- Defining Space with Horizontal Elements
1-The Base Plane/ b- Elevated Base Plane
 A horizontal plane elevated
above the ground plane
established vertical surfaces
along its edges that reinforce
the visual separation between
its field and the surrounding
ground.
 Elevating a portion of the base
plane will create a field of
space within a larger spatial
context.
 The change in level along the
edge of the elevated plane
defines the boundaries of its
field and interrupts the flow of
space across its surface.
A- Defining Space With Horizontal Elements
1-The Base Plane/ b- Elevated Base Plane

The elevated plane is the same in

appearance as its surrounding
space.-- Weak definition

A change in form, color, or

texture for the elevated plane,
make it distinct from its
surroundings.-- strong definition
A- Defining Space With Horizontal Elements
1-The Base Plane/ b- Elevated Base Plane

 A special place is
established by a platform in
an artificial lake surrounded
by the emperor's living and
sleeping quarters.

 Elevated base plane

reinforced by vertical
elements and overhead
plane.
A- Defining Space With Horizontal Elements
1-The Base Plane/ b- Elevated Base Plane
The degree to which spatial and visual continuity is maintained
between an elevated space and its surroundings depends on the
scale of the level change.

1.Edge of the field is well- defined,

•Visual and spatial continuity is
maintained,
•Physical access is easily accommodated.

2. Visual continuity is maintained;

• spatial continuity is interrupted;
•physical access requires the use of stairs.

3. Visual and spatial continuity is

interrupted;
• The elevated plane is transformed into a
sheltering element for the space below.
A- Defining Space With Horizontal Elements
1-The Base Plane/ b- Elevated Base Plane

 The ground plane can be

elevated to provide a platform
or stage that structurally and
visually supports a building’s
form. The elevated ground
plane can be a pre-existing
site condition, or it can be
artificially constructed to
deliberately raise a building
above its surrounding context
or enhance its image in the
landscape.
 An elevated plane can define a
transitional space between
the exterior and interior of a
building. Combined with a
roof plane, it develops into the
semi-private realm of a porch
or veranda.
b- Elevated Base Plane
Lankawi- Malaysia

Same elevated plane seen from

different points
 b- Elevated Base Plane
Lankawi- Malaysia

Elevated base plane over

water

Elevated base plane in a

garden

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b- Elevated Base Plane

 An elevated floor plane can define an

interior spaces that serves as a
retreat from the activity around it.
It can be a platform for viewing the
surrounding space.

 It can be elevated over sea water.

Lankawi- Malaysia
 A- Defining Space With Horizontal Elements
1-The Base Plane/ c- Depressed Base Plane

 A horizontal plane depressed into

the ground plane utilizes the
vertical surfaces of the
depression to define a volume of
space.

 The boundaries of the field are

defined by the vertical or
inclined surfaces of depression.

 These boundaries are not

disguised, as in the, case of an
elevated plane, but visible edges
that begin to form the walls of
the space.
 c. Depressed Base Plane
Antalya- Turkey

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A- Defining Space with Horizontal Elements
1-The Base Plane/ c- Depressed Base Plane

 The field of space can be

further articulated by
contrasting the surface
treatment of the depressed
area and the surrounding
base plane.

 A contrast can be in form,

geometry, color, texture, or
orientation.
A- Defining Space With Horizontal Elements
1-The Base Plane / c- Depressed Base Plane

 An area within a large room can be sunken to

reduce the scale of the room and define a more
intimate space within it. The elevated area
can also serve as a transitional space between
the sunken area and the other level of a
building
 A- Defining Space With Horizontal Elements
1-The Base Plane / c- Depressed Base Plane
The degree of spatial continuity between the depressed field and
surrounding area depends on the scale of the level change.
1. The depressed field can be an interruption of the ground or floor plane
and remain an integral part of the surrounding space.
2. Increasing the depth of the depressed field weakens its visual
relationship with the surrounding space, and strengthens its definition
as a distinct volume of space.
A- Defining Space With Horizontal Elements
1-The Base Plane / c- Depressed Base Plane

3- Once the original base

plane is above our eye-
level, the depressed field
becomes, in effect, a
separate and distinct room
in itself.
A-Defining Space With Horizontal Elements
2.The Overhead Plane

 The major overhead element of a building is its roof plane.

 It shelters the building’s interior spaces from sun, rain,
snow…
 It can affect the building’s overall form and the form of its
spaces.
A-Defining Space With Horizontal Elements
2.The Overhead Plane

 A horizontal plane located overhead

defined a volume of space between
itself and the ground plane.
 A shade tree gives similar definition.

 Since the edges of this field are

established by the edges of the
overhead plane, the form of the
space is determined by the plane’s
shape, size, and height above the
ground plane.

 These characteristics are determined

by the structural system.
A-Defining Space With Horizontal Elements
2.The Overhead Plane

 Vertical linear elements,

such as posts or columns
support the overhead plane,
and aid in visually
establishing the limits of the
defined space without
disrupting the flow of space
through the field.

 The overhead plan articulate

the space into zones. And it
contain lights and sound
treatments.
2.The Overhead Plane
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Restaurant- Antalia

Hotel- Penang-Malaysia

Thailand airport
Form from inside & outside related to the structural system
26

KL Airport

Turkey-Antalia
B-Defining Space With Vertical Elements

Vertical forms are:

 More active in our visual field than

horizontal planes,

 Provide a strong sense of enclosure

 Supports for a building’s floor and roof

planes.

 Control the visual and spatial continuity

between a building’s interior and exterior
environment.

 Control the flow of air, light, noise,

through a building’s interior spaces.
B-Defining Space With Vertical Elements

1. Linear vertical elements can

define the vertical edges of a
volume of space.
2. A vertical plane will
articulate the space in front of
it.
3. An “L”- Shaped
configuration of planes
generates a field of space
from it’s corner outward
along a diagonal.
B-Defining Space With Vertical Elements

4. Parallel planes define a

volume of space between them
that is axially oriented toward
the open ends of the
configuration
5. A “U”- Shaped configuration
of planes defines a volume of
space that is oriented toward the
open end of the configuration.
6. Four planes enclose an
isolated space, and articulate the
field of space around the
enclosure.
B-Defining Space With Vertical Elements
1-Defining space with linear vertical element

Using columns to assure the

entrance.

Using trees to define a

path.
1. Defining Space With Vertical Elements

Hotel- Penang-Malaysia

Using columns to
define an entrance.
USM Malaysia
B-Defining Space With Vertical Elements
2- Defining Space With Single Vertical Plane

 The height of a plane, relative to our

height and eye-level, is the critical
factor.
 When 60 cm high, a plane can define
the edge of a field but provides little or
no sense of enclosure for the field.
 When waist-level high, it begins to
provide a sense of enclosure while
allowing for visual continuity with
surrounding spaces,
 When it approaches our eye-level in
height, it begins to divide one space
from another.
 Above our height, a plane interrupts
visual and spatial continuity between
two fields and provides a strong sense
of enclosure.--privacy
B-Defining Space With Vertical Elements
2- Defining Space With Single Vertical Plane

 The surface colour, texture,

and pattern of a plane affect
its visual weight, scale, and
proportion.
 A vertical plane can be the
primary face of the space and
gives it a specific orientation.
-It can front the space and define
a plane of entry into it.
-It can be a free standing element
within a space and divide the
volume into two separate but
related areas.
 B-Defining Space With Vertical Elements
36 2- Defining Space With Single Vertical Plane/ wall
partitions
B-Defining Space With Vertical Elements
3- defining space with L – Shaped Configuration of Planes

1.The two planes of the configuration

define two edges , its other edges
remain ambiguous unless further
articulated by additional vertical
elements, manipulations of the base
plane, or an overhead plane.

1.The definition is weakened. The two

planes will be isolated from each other,
and one will appear to slide by and
2 visually dominate the other.
2.The field becomes more dynamic in
nature and organize itself along the
diagonal of the configuration.
3
B-Defining Space With Vertical Elements
3- defining space with L – Shaped Configuration of Planes

L shape for commercial center

L shape for school plan.

 B-Defining Space With Vertical Elements
4- Defining Space With Parallel Vertical Planes
1. The spatial field can be visually expanded
by extending the base plane beyond the open
ends of the configuration.

1 2. The definition of the spatial field can be

visually reinforced, by manipulating the base
plane or adding overhead elements to the
composition.

2 3. The expanded field can, in turn, be

terminated by a vertical plane whose width
and height is equal to that of the field.
3
4. If one of the parallel planes is differentiated
from the other by a change in form, color, or
texture, a secondary axis, perpendicular to the
4 flow of the space, will be established within
the field. Openings in one or both of the
planes will also introduce secondary axes to
the field and transform the directional quality
of the space.
 B-Defining Space With Vertical Elements
4- Defining Space With Parallel Vertical Planes

Turkey-Antalia

Parallel planes defining a

commercial street.
Parallel planes
defining a road.
B-Defining Space With Vertical Elements
5-defining space with U Shaped Configuration of Planes

 It has an inward focus as well

as outward orientation.

 It allows the field to have

visual and spatial continuity
with adjoining space.

using columns
The definition of the space can
be increased using columns or
overhead element. overhead element

 The plane opposite the open end the principal element

will be the principal element
among the three planes of the
configuration.
B-Defining Space With Vertical Elements
5- defining space with U Shaped Configuration of Planes
B-Defining Space With Vertical Elements
6-defining space with 4 planes: closure

The strongest type

of spatial definition.

Visual and spatial

continuity can be
obtained using
openings.
 Increasing the openings can weaken the enclosure.
 One of the planes can dominate when having
different size, shape, openings or texture
 Thank you

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