POINT A point marks a position in space.Conceptually,it has no length,width,ordepth,and is therefore static,centralized, and directionless. As the prime element in the vocabulary of form,a point can serve to mark: ·the two ends of a line the intersection of two lines the meeting of lines at the corner of a plane or volume ·the center of a field Although a point theoretically has neither shape nor form.it begins to make its presence felt when placed within a visual field.At the center of its environment,a point is stable and at rest,organizing surrounding elements about itself and dominating its field. When the point is moved off-center,however,its field becomes more aggressive and begins to compete for visual supremacy. Visual tension is created between the point and its field. 4 ARCHITECTURE:FORM,SPACE,ORDER
4 / ARCHITECTURE: FORM, SPACE, & ORDER A point marks a position in space. Conceptually, it has no length, width, or depth, and is therefore static, centralized, and directionless. As the prime element in the vocabulary of form, a point can serve to mark: t UIFUXPFOETPGBMJOF t UIFJOUFSTFDUJPOPGUXPMJOFT t UIFNFFUJOHPGMJOFTBUUIFDPSOFSPGBQMBOFPSWPMVNF t UIFDFOUFSPGBGJFME Although a point theoretically has neither shape nor form, it begins to make its presence felt when placed within a visual field. At the center of its environment, a point is stable and at rest, organizing surrounding elements about itself and dominating its field. When the point is moved off-center, however, its field becomes more aggressive and begins to compete for visual supremacy. Visual tension is created between the point and its field. t POINT
POINT ELEMENTS 1 A point has no dimension.To visibly mark a position in space or on the ground plane,a point must be projected vertically into a linear form,as a column,obelisk,or tower.Any such columnar element is seen in plan as a point and therefore retains the visual characteristics of a point.Other point-generated forms that share these same visual attributes are the: Piazza del Campidoglio,Rome.c.1544.Michelangelo Buonarroti. The equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius marks the center of this urban space. ·Circle Tholos of Polycleitos,Epidauros,Greece. c.350B.C. ·Cylinder Baptistery at Pisa,Italy. 1153-1265,Diotisalvi ·Sphere Cenotaph for Sir Isaac Newton. Project,1784,Etienne-Louis Boulee Mont St.Michel,France,13th century and later. The pyramidal composition culminates in a spire that serves to establish this fortified monastery as a specific place in the landscape. PRIMARY ELEMENTS /5
PRIMARY ELEMENTS / 5 A point has no dimension. To visibly mark a position in space or on the ground plane, a point must be projected vertically into a linear form, as a column, obelisk, or tower. Any such columnar element is seen in plan as a point and therefore retains the visual characteristics of a point. Other point-generated forms that share these same visual attributes are the: Piazza del Campidoglio, Rome, c. 1544, Michelangelo Buonarroti. The equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius marks the center of this urban space. Mont St. Michel, France, 13th century and later. The pyramidal composition culminates in a spire that serves to establish this fortified monastery as a specific place in the landscape. t $ZMJOEFS #BQUJTUFSZBU1JTB, Italy, 1153–1265, Diotisalvi t $JSDMF 5IPMPTPG1PMZDMFJUPT, Epidauros, Greece, c. 350 B.C. t 4QIFSF $FOPUBQIGPS4JS*TBBD/FXUPO, Project, 1784, Étienne-Louis Boulée POINT ELEMENTS
TWO POINTS Two points describe a line that connects them.Although the points give this line finite length,theline can also be considered a segment of an infinitely longer path. Two points further suggest an axis perpendicular to the line they describe and about which they are symmetrical.Because this axis may be infinite in length,it can be at times more dominant than the described line. In both cases,however.the described line and the perpendicular axis are optically more dominant than the infinite number of lines that may pass through each of the individual points. 6/ARCHITECTURE:FORM,SPACE,ORDER
6 / ARCHITECTURE: FORM, SPACE, & ORDER Two points describe a line that connects them. Although the points give this line finite length, the line can also be considered a segment of an infinitely longer path. Two points further suggest an axis perpendicular to the line they describe and about which they are symmetrical. Because this axis may be infinite in length, it can be at times more dominant than the described line. In both cases, however, the described line and the perpendicular axis are optically more dominant than the infinite number of lines that may pass through each of the individual points. TWO POINTS
TWO POINTS Two points established in space by columnar elements or centralized forms can define an axis.an ordering device used throughout history to organize building forms and spaces. Torii,Ise Shrine,Mie Prefecture,Japan.A.D.690 In plan,two points can denote a gateway signifying passage from one place to another.Extended vertically.the two points define both a plane of entry and an approach perpendicular to it. ● The Mall,Washington,D.C.lies along the axis established by the Lincoln Memorial,the Washington Monument,and the United States Capitol building. PRIMARY ELEMENTS /7
PRIMARY ELEMENTS / 7 Two points established in space by columnar elements or centralized forms can define an axis, an ordering device used throughout history to organize building forms and spaces. The Mall, Washington, D.C., lies along the axis established by the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the United States Capitol building. In plan, two points can denote a gateway signifying passage from one place to another. Extended vertically, the two points define both a plane of entry and an approach perpendicular to it. 5PSJJ *TF4ISJOF, Mie Prefecture, Japan, A.D. 690 TWO POINTS
LINE A point extended becomes a line.Conceptually.a line has length,but no width or depth.Whereas a point is by nature static,aline,in describing the path of a point in motion.is capable of visually expressng direction.movement,and growth. A line is a critical element in the formation of any visual construction. A line can serve to: .join,link,support,surround.or intersect other visual elements describe the edges of and give shape to planes articulate the surfaces of planes 8/ARCHITECTURE:FORM,SPACE,ORDER
8 / ARCHITECTURE: FORM, SPACE, & ORDER A point extended becomes a line. Conceptually, a line has length, but no width or depth. Whereas a point is by nature static, a line, in describing the path of a point in motion, is capable of visually expressing direction, movement, and growth. A line is a critical element in the formation of any visual construction. A line can serve to: t KPJO MJOL TVQQPSU TVSSPVOE PS intersect other visual elements t EFTDSJCFUIFFEHFTPGBOEHJWFTIBQFUPQMBOFT t BSUJDVMBUFUIFTVSGBDFTPGQMBOFT LINE