Francis Ching's Form and Space

Form and Space: The Unity of Opposites

Space is constantly encompassing our being. Through the volume of space, one moves, sees forms, hears sounds, feels breezes, and so on. Space is a material substance yet also an inherently formless vapor. Space's visual form, its dimensions and scale, the quality of its light, all of these qualities depend on one's perception of the spatial boundaries defined by elements of form. Depending on what we perceive to be positive elements, the figure-ground relationship of the forms of mass and space can be inverted, i.e. "positive" or "negative".

white on black background or black on white background?

Defining Space with Horizontal Elements: The Base Plane

The Base Plane is a horizontal plane laying as a figure on a contrasting background that defines a simple field of space. This field can be visually reinforced in the following ways: elevated base plane, depressed base plane, and overhead plane.

Defining Space with Vertical Linear Elements: Single Vertical Plane

Vertical linear elements define the perpendicular edges of a volume of space, for example, a single vertical plane articulates the space on which it fronts. A single vertical plane, standing alone in space, has visual qualities uniquely different from those of a freestanding column.

Qualities of Architectural Space: Light

Light can be defined as the illumination surfaces and forms. The sun is a great source of natural light for the illumination of forms and spaces in architecture.

Openings in Space-Defining Elements: At Corners

An opening can be located along one edge or at a corner of a wall or ceiling plane. In either case, the opening will be at a corner of a space.

Citations:

Ching, F. D. K. (2015). Architecture Form, Space, and Order. John Wiley & Sons Inc.