Selected Bibliography Architecture - Form Space and Order | Page 50

P ROP E RT I E S OF F ORM

Forms also have relational properties that govern
the pattern and composition of elements:
Position

The location of a form relative to
its environment or the visual field
within which it is seen.

Orientation

The direction of a form relative
to the ground plane, the compass
points, other forms, or to the
person viewing the form.

Visual Inertia The degree of concentration and
stability of a form. The visual inertia
of a form depends on its geometry
as well as its orientation relative to
the ground plane, the pull of gravity,
and our line of sight.

All of these properties of form are in reality affected by the conditions under which we view them.
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A changing perspective or angle of view presents different shapes or aspects of a form to our eyes.
Our distance from a form determines its apparent size.
The lighting conditions under which we view a form affects the clarity of its shape and structure.
The visual field surrounding a form influences our ability to read and identify it.

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