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Organization of Form

There are five primary types of organizational forms in architecture: centralized, linear, radial, clustered, and grid. Each type has distinct characteristics. Centralized forms are organized around a dominant central element. Linear forms consist of elements arranged sequentially. Radial forms extend outward from a central core. Clustered forms are grouped loosely based on proximity or traits. Grid forms relate elements based on a repeating modular system.

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391 views

Organization of Form

There are five primary types of organizational forms in architecture: centralized, linear, radial, clustered, and grid. Each type has distinct characteristics. Centralized forms are organized around a dominant central element. Linear forms consist of elements arranged sequentially. Radial forms extend outward from a central core. Clustered forms are grouped loosely based on proximity or traits. Grid forms relate elements based on a repeating modular system.

Uploaded by

Aicelle Gayap
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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THEORY of ARCHITECTURE 1

ORGANIZATION OF FORMS

Source:
Francis D. K. Ching, Architecture –
Form, Space and Order, 4th Ed [2015]
• Centralized Form
• Linear Form
• Radial Form
• Clustered Form
• Grid Form

ORGANIZATION OF FORMS
Centralized Form
A number of secondary forms clustered
about a dominant, central parent-form.
Centralized forms require the visual
dominance of a geometrically regular,
centrally located form, such as a sphere,
cone, or cylinder. Because of their inherent
centrality, these forms share the self-
centering properties of the point and circle.
They are ideal as freestanding structures
isolated within their context, dominating a
point in space, or occupying the center of a
defined field. They can embody sacred or
honorific places, or commemorate
significant persons or events.
Centralized Form
Linear Form
A series of forms arranged sequentially
in a row.

• A linear form can result from a proportional


change in a form’s dimensions or the
arrangement of a series of discrete forms along
a line. In the latter case, the series of forms may
be either repetitive or dissimilar in nature and
organized by a separate and distinct element
such as a wall or path.
• A linear form can be segmented or curvilinear to
respond to topography, vegetation, views, or
other features of a site
Linear Form
• A linear form can front on or define an edge of an
exterior space, or define a plane of entry into the
spaces behind it

• A linear form can be manipulated to enclose a


portion of space.

• A linear form can be oriented vertically as a


tower element to establish or denote a point in
space.

• A linear form can serve as an organizing element


to which a variety of secondary forms are
attached
RADIAL FORM
A radial form consists of linear forms that extend
outward from a centrally located core element in a
radiating manner. It combines the aspects of
centrality and linearity into a single composition.

The core is either the symbolic or functional center


of the organization. Its central position can be
articulated with a visually dominant form, or it can
merge with and become subservient to the radiating
arms.
The radiating arms, having properties similar to
those of linear forms, give a radial form its
extroverted nature. They can reach out and relate to
or attach themselves to specific features of a site.
They can expose their elongated surfaces to
desirable conditions of sun, wind, view, or space.
RADIAL FORM

Radial forms can grow into network of centers


linked by linear arms
RADIAL FORM
Examples:

Skyscraper by the Sea,


Project for Algiers, 1938, Le
Corbusie

Secretariat Building,
UNESCO Headquarters,
Place de Fontenoy, Paris,
1953–1958, Marcel Breue
CLUSTERED FORM
A collection of forms grouped together by proximity
or the sharing of a common visual trait.

While a centralized organization has a strong geometric


basis for the ordering of its forms, a clustered
organization groups its forms according to functional
requirements of size, shape, or proximity. While it lacks
the geometric regularity and introverted nature of
centralized forms, a clustered organization is flexible
enough to incorporate forms of various shapes, sizes,
and orientations into its structure. Considering their
flexibility, clustered organizations of forms may be
organized in the following ways:
• They can be attached as appendages form or space.
• They can be related by proximity alone to articulate and
express their volumes as individual entities.
• They can interlock their volumes and merge into a
single form having a variety of faces.
CLUSTERED FORM

A clustered organization can also consist of forms


that are generally equivalent in size, shape, and
function. These forms are visually ordered into a
coherent, nonhierarchical organization not only by
their close proximity to one another, but also by the
similarity of their visual properties.

A Cluster of Forms Attached to a


Parent Form: Vacation House,
Sea Ranch, California, 1968,
MLTW
CLUSTERED FORM
A Cluster of Interlocking Forms:
G.N. Black House (Kragsyde),
Manchester-by-the Sea,
Massachusetts, 1882-1883
Peabody & Stearns

A Cluster of Articulated Forms:


House Study 1956, James Stirling
& James Gowan
Grid Form
A set of modular forms related and regulated by a
three-dimensional grid.
A grid is a system of two or more intersecting sets of
regularly spaced parallel lines. It generates a geometric
pattern of regularly spaced points at the intersections of the
grid lines and regularly shaped fields defined by the grid
lines themselves.
The most common grid is based on the geometry of the
square. Because of the equality of its dimensions and its
bilateral symmetry, a square grid is essentially
nonhierarchical and bidirectional. It can be used to break
down the scale of a surface into measurable units and give it
an even texture. It can be used to wrap several surfaces of a
form and unify them with its repetitive and pervasive
geometry.
The square grid, when projected into the third dimension,
generates a spatial network of reference points and lines.
Within this modular framework, any number of forms and
spaces can be visually organized.
Grid Form

Examples:
Nakagin Capsule Tower, Tokyo, 1972,
Kisho Kurokawa

Hattenbach Residence,
Santa Monica, California,
1971-1973, Raymond Kappe

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