PRINCIPLES OF COMPOSITION

PRINCIPLES OF COMPOSITION
Principles applied to the elements of design that bring them together into
one design.
UNITY / DUALITY
RHYTHM / REPETITION
SCALE
PROPORTION
CONTRAST
RESTRAINT / REPOSE
DEFINITION / STRENGTH
ACCENTUATION
GRADATION / HIERARCHY
BALANCE / HARMONY
VITALITY / DYNAMISM
Unity
Unity
When all elements are in agreement, a design is
considered unified.
OR
when all elements or form are in relationship with
one another and to whole to form a homogeneous
composition.
No individual part is viewed as more important

than the whole design.
A good balance between unity and variety must be

established to avoid a chaotic or a lifeless design
Unity
Unity without variation can be uninteresting
Unity is usually achieved when part complete each other in a way they have something in common.
Unity can be achieved by use of the same colour, or using a similar graphic style for illustrations
Consistency of form and color are also powerful tools that can pull a composition together.
Use of color as unifying elemnt Use of Pattern as unifying elemnt.

Unity can be achieved by:
•Perspective: sense of distance between elements.
•Similarity: ability to seem repeatable with other elements.
•Continuation: the sense of having a line or pattern extend.
•Repetition: elements being copied or mimicked numerous times.
•Rhythm: is achieved when recurring position, size, color, and use of a

graphic element has a focal point interruption.
•Altering the basic theme achieves unity and helps keep interest.
UNITY Unity refers to the holistic view of the composition.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING IN DHAKA, DESIGNED BY Ar. LOUIS KHAN

The same facade pattern is applied
UNITY on all parts of building.
Use of similar geometric form of opening on

different parts of the building acts as a unifying
element.
UNITY Use of similar opening on different
parts of the building acts as a unifying
element.
Unity is achieved
by use of same
color.
Jodhpur, the Blue city, India

Duality
Duality
If a composition has two dominating element
the single focus is lost . This leads to Duality in
design.
Duality leads to split focus.
A composition has two equal and detached

elements both call for attention, yet they
coherence with one another.
Petronas Towers Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

NOTRE DAME DE CHARTRES, FRANCE
A single element dominates
the subsidiary elements and
results in Unity
Two elements of similar nature

are composed as a part of
larger framework
DUALITY CONTROLLED IN A ROMANESQUE

WINDOW
Rhythm
Rhythm
Rhythm is based on the recurrence/repetition of elements in
space and time. Recurrence of elements or motifs may be at
regular or irregular intervals.
The repetition not only creates visual unity but also induce
continuity of movement.
Rhythms can be random, regular, alternating, flowing, and
progressive.
Example –series of arches forming an archied.
Beams and columns repeat themselves to form repetitive

structural bays and modules of space.
Series of Windows and doors repeatedly puncture the surfaces
of a building
Rhythm in Architecture- This building shows rhythm
through the turning and
Rhythm is a concept of shifting of similar elements.
systematic repetition. As
human beings we are
naturally engaged in
experiencing things that are
done in a rhythm such as
Music, Dance; where time and
movements are coordinated.
In Architecture Rhythm is
present in columns, windows,
walls and others elements of a
building designed in such way
that it transmit a repetition of
the same element.
Jubilee Church (Rome, Italy, 2003) / Richard Meier

Rhythm and Repetition
Movement through Arch way

Sense of rhythm
consists of successive
patterns in which the
same elements
reappear in a regular
order
The wooden slats are

arranged on façade in
rhythmic fashion to build
continuity
Asakusa Culture and Tourism Center / Kengo Kuma & Associates

Nanjing Art Museum / KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten
Rhythm by Gradation
Rhythm and gradation – where we

see repetition with variety.
Gradation uses intervals of change
in a progressive series and sets a
path for the eye to follow. For
instance, forms may grow smaller
to bigger or they might gradually
shift their color or shape.
Repetition
Repetition:
Characterized by the regular recurrence of similar

elements, it creates the opportunity for interval
and rhythm.
Repetition of the same or similar elements exerts

order onto a composition.
Too much repetition, too much order, however

emits a visual drone.
REPETITION
The simplest form of Rhythm is a linear pattern of elements.
Elements need not be perfectly identical, however they
can be grouped in repetitive manner.
INTERNAL FACADE OF A BASILICA

Victorian Façade building In San Fancisco.
Repetition refers to one object or shape repeated;
Pattern is a combination of elements or shapes repeated in a recurring and regular
arrangement;
Rhythm--is a combination of elements repeated, but with variations
Scale
SCALE
Scale refers to how we perceive or judge the size of something in

relation to something else.
The entity an object or space is being compared to may be an accepted

unit or standard of measurement.
In drawing, we use a scale to specify the ratio that determines the

relationship between an illustration to that which it represents.
For example, the scale of an architectural drawing notes the size of a

depicted building in comparison to the real thin
SCALE
1. Generic scale – the size of a building element relative to other forms in context.
Ex: Monumental Scale - Buland Darwaza at Fathepur Sikri
2. Human scale – relative to human body Ex: The Modulor Scale, by Le Corbusier
Human scale: in architecture is based on the dimensions and
proportions of the human body.
We can, however, gauge a space whose width is such that we can

reach out and touch its walls. Similarly, we can judge its height if we
can reach up and touch the ceiling plane overhead. Once we can no
longer do these things, we must rely on visual rather than tactile
clues to give us a sense of the scale of a space.
Understanding the sense of scale in building.
SCALE
BULAND DARWAZA AT FATHEPUR SIKRI
Size of openings are appropriately designed along

different planes and show a reduction in scale
Assignment:
What is scale? Explain in detail Human Scale and Monumental scale with
sketches.
Explain and Unity-Dualty and Rhythm - Repetition with sketches.
Rhythm is a strong, regular, repeated pattern that forms a harmonious sequence or correlation of colors or elements, which usually develops from organizing the space between objects.
This rhythmic flow, which is accomplished by repetition, acts as a unifying device for the composition and is often used to suggest movement. Alteration of large and small areas of
negative (dark) space within a composition generates this sense of motion.
• Alternating rhythm: This sense of rhythm consists of successive patterns in which the same elements reappear in a regular order. A common example of this alternating theme can be
seen in the columns of a classic Greek temple. Photographically, alternating light against dark areas or using complementary colors, such as green and red, is a way to create this effect.
• Progressive rhythm: This is produced through the repetition of a shape that changes in a regular manner, generating a sequential pattern. It is frequently accomplished with a
progressive variation of the size of a shape, through its color, value, and/or texture.
Rhythm can be described as timed movement through space; an easy, connected path along which the eye follows a regular arrangement of motifs. The presence of rhythm creates
predictability and order in a composition.
Rhythm depends largely upon the elements of pattern and movement to achieve its effects. The parallels between rhythm in sound/ music are very exact to the idea of rhythm in a visual
composition. The difference is that the timed "beat" is sensed by the eyes rather than the ears.
barnbaumdance.jpg (78443 bytes) barnbaummoonrise.jpg (65141 bytes)
Bruce Barnbaum Dance of the Corn Lilies, 1991 Moonrise over Cliffs and Dunes,1992
Docu0001.jpg (2498315 bytes) BosqueinNovember1934.jpg (29024 bytes) Albert Renger-Patzsch. Buchenwald in Fall (or Trees). 1936 Bosquein November 1934
Linear rhythm refers to the characteristic flow of the individual line. Accomplished artists have a recognizable manner of putting down the lines of their drawings that is a direct result of
the characteristic gesture used to make those lines, which, if observed, can be seen to have a rhythm of its own. Linear rhythm is not as dependent on pattern, but is more dependent on
timed movement of the viewer's eye.
Repetition involves the use of patterning to achieve timed movement and a visual "beat". This repetition may be a clear repetition of elements in a composition, or it may be a more
subtle kind of repetition that can be observed in the underlying structure of the image.
Alternation is a specific instance of patterning in which a sequence of repeating motifs is presented in turn; (short/long; fat/thin; round/square; dark/light).
Gradation employs a series of motifs patterned to relate to one another through a regular progression of steps. This may be a gradation of shape or color. Some shape gradations may in
fact create a sequence of events, not unlike a series of images in a comic strip.
Prolonged visual involvement through intricacy (contrast of detail) is a more unusual form of emphasis, not as commonly used in Euro-American design, though it is common in many
other cultures. In this case, many points of emphasis are created that are to be discovered through close attention to the intricacies of the design.
Rhythm and Gradation

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No individual part is viewed as more important

A good balance between unity and variety must be

Use of color as unifying elemnt Use of Pattern as unifying elemnt.

•Perspective: sense of distance between elements.

•Similarity: ability to seem repeatable with other elements.

•Continuation: the sense of having a line or pattern extend.

•Repetition: elements being copied or mimicked numerous times.

•Rhythm: is achieved when recurring position, size, color, and use of a

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING IN DHAKA, DESIGNED BY Ar. LOUIS KHAN

Use of similar geometric form of opening on

Jodhpur, the Blue city, India

Duality leads to split focus.

A composition has two equal and detached

Petronas Towers Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Two elements of similar nature

DUALITY CONTROLLED IN A ROMANESQUE

Example –series of arches forming an archied.

Beams and columns repeat themselves to form repetitive

Jubilee Church (Rome, Italy, 2003) / Richard Meier

Movement through Arch way

The wooden slats are

Asakusa Culture and Tourism Center / Kengo Kuma & Associates

Rhythm and gradation – where we

Characterized by the regular recurrence of similar

Repetition of the same or similar elements exerts

Too much repetition, too much order, however

INTERNAL FACADE OF A BASILICA

Scale refers to how we perceive or judge the size of something in

The entity an object or space is being compared to may be an accepted

In drawing, we use a scale to specify the ratio that determines the

For example, the scale of an architectural drawing notes the size of a

We can, however, gauge a space whose width is such that we can

Size of openings are appropriately designed along

barnbaumdance.jpg (78443 bytes) barnbaummoonrise.jpg (65141 bytes)

Rhythm and Gradation

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