UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

College of Architecture

Theory of Architecture 1

TRANSFORMATION OF FORMS with and become subservient to the radiating

All other forms can be understood to be arm.
transformations of the platonic solids, variations that are b. The radiating arms give a radial form its
generated by the manipulation of their dimensions, or by extroverted nature. They can reach out and
subtraction or addition of elements. relate or attach themselves to specific features
of the site.
1. Dimensional Transformation – a form can be c. The radiating arm can expose their long
transformed into one or more of its dimensions and still surfaces to the desirable conditions of sun, wind,
retain its family identify. view, or space.
2. Subtractive Transformation – a form can be
transformed by subtracting a portion of its volume. 4. Clustered forms - consist of forms that are
Depending on the extent of the subtractive process, the grouped together by proximity or the sharing of a
form can retain its’ identify, or be transformed into a common visual trait. A clustered organization groups its
form, of another family. forms according to functional requirements of size,
3. Additive Transformation – a form can be shape or proximity. It is flexible enough to incorporate
transformed by the addition of element to its volume. forms of various shapes, sizes and orientations into its
The nature of the additive process will determine structure.
whether the identity of the initial form be retained or Uses:
altered. a. They can be attached as appendages to a
larger parent form or space.
ORGANIZATION OF FORMS b. They can be related by proximity alone to
articulate and express their volumes as
1. Centralized forms – consists of number of individual entities.
secondary forms clustered about dominant, central, or c. They can interlock their volumes and merge
parent form. Centralized forms require the visual into a single form that has a variety of faces.
dominance of a geometrically regular, centrally located
form. 5. Grid forms – are modular forms whose
relationships are regulated by three-dimensional
Uses: grids. A grid may be defined as two or more
a. Ideal as a freestanding structure, isolated intersecting sets of regularly spaces points
within their context, dominating a point in space, (where the grid lineintersect) and regularly
or occupying the center of a defined field. shapes fields. It based on the geometry of the
b. They can embody sacred or honorific places, square. It is essentially neutral non-directional.
or commemorate significant persons or events The square grid, when projected into the third
as monuments. dimension, generates a spatial network of
reference of points and lines, within this modular
2. Linear forms - consist of forms arranged framework, any number of forms and spaces
sequentially in a row, It can result from a proportional can be visually organized.
change in the form’s dimensions, or the arrangement of Uses:
a series of forms along a line. A series of forms may be a. It can be used to break the scale of a surface
repetitive, or they maybe dissimilar in nature and down into measurable units and give it an even
organized by a separate and distinct element. It can be texture.
segmented or curvilinear. b. It can be used to wrap several surfaces of a
Uses: form and unify them with its’ repetitive and
a. It can be used to define an edge of an exterior pervasive geometry.
space, or define a plane of entry to the spaces
behind it. ARTICULATION OF FORM
b. It can be manipulated to enclose a space. Articulation refers to the manner in which the
c. It can be oriented vertically to fix a point in surfaces of from come together to define its shape and
space. volume. A form and its surface planes can be articulated
d. It can act as an organizing element to which a by:
variety of forms can be attached. 1. Differentiating adjacent surfaces with a
change in material, color, texture or pattern.
3. Radial forms - are compositions of linear 2. Developing the corner as a distinct linear
forms that extend out from a central form in a radial element independent of the surface.
manner. It can grow into a network where several 3. Removing the corner to physically separate
centers are linked by their linear forms. Its organization the adjacent planes.
can be best seen and understood from an aerial view. 4. Lighting the form to create sharp distinctions
Uses: of light and dark at its corners.
a. The core is either symbolic or functional
center of the organization. Which can be
articulated as a dominant form, or it can merge