What is form? It is ‘the visible shape or configuration of something and a particular way in which a thing exists or appears. In a broader sense, form, in art, means the whole of a piece’s visible elements and the way those elements are united.’

This is what we focused on in Eve’s seminar today. In interior design form distinguishes one object from another and is built from geometry and proportion. The golden ratio is part of geometry and proportion. It is a ratio of proportion that is aesthetically pleasing and is used throughout interior design, such as in the TajMahal! It is 1:1:618 and can be transferred to 60% of a space being furniture. The spiral of a sunflower is an example. In Geometry and Proportion, Andy Sully wrote; ‘the centre shows the seed pattern in two interlocking spiralling shapes. The overall pattern is created by a series of proportionally related squares arranged concentrically around a central point. The proportional relationship of one square to the next is the golden ratio.’

A room could either be symmetrical for aesthetic reasons or a different layout may be needed for it to be more functional. Geometry is found in architecture, furniture, a rooms plan, shapes, patterns, and helps establish themes. It can be man made, or come from inspiration, such as the patterns in plants. The relationship between form and materials is very important in determining how things are put together and how they work.

Equiangular Spiral (Golden Spiral)

How a shell’s geometry can be interpreted into a spiraling staircase

Buildings are created through geometry and proportion, as shown in plans, sections, elevations and the built ending. They can be two-dimensional or three-dimensional, such as isometric drawings. We can build up common shapes to create new and interesting ones. The most common shapes are the circle, square and equilateral triangle.

Interior designers and architects have to work around a given brief and the function of the room or building they are designing. Amongst this is the ability of a human to use the given space. Here designers, like my self, will take into consideration anthropometric data which is the study of the human body and its movements and includes measurements. Ergonomics links into this which is the study of people and their relationship with the environment. The Vitruvian Man is a drawing created by Leonardo da Vinci which depicts the common measurements of the human scale. It is a male figure in two positions with his arms and legs apart which are inscribed in a square and circle. It has inspired designers ever since.

The Vitruvian Man

Architecture can be made rhythmically. If you follow a line with your eyes and you have an experience that can be compared with the experience of a ballerina, for example. Rhythm can be expressed through forms and shapes – their positives and negatives. They can be repeated or different throughout, but still have a common link. Proportion is important in allowing for a room to function and to have an aesthetic appeal – again linking to anthropometrics and ergonomics. The Italian architect Alberti wrote ‘Ratios comply with simple musical consonances because there is a sort of rhythm in any proportional method. Beauty consists in a rational integration of the proportions of all parts of a building, in such a way that every part has an absolutely fixed size and shape and nothing can be added or taken away without destroying the harmony of the whole.’

There are many theories in geometry and proportion. The golden ratio which I discussed above is one. Another is The Flower of Life which is ‘a geometrical figure composed of multiple evenly spaced overlapping circles that are arranged to form a flower-like pattern with a six-fold symmetry, like a hexagon. The centre of each circle is on the circumference of six surrounding circles of the same diameter.’

Flower of Life

Le Corbusier’s Le Modulor is a system based on human measurments and unites the metric and imperial systems , Fibonacci numbers and the golden ratio. His theory provided a base for designers when deciding what measurements to give certain rooms. Le Corbusier recommended that the ceiling height of a domestic area should be that of an average man’s vertically upwards stretched arm.

Le Corbusier’s Le Modulor

Geometry, proportion and form are a few of the necessities in the design world, be it from ancient theories or new configurations.

References

Sully, Anthony, (2012) “Geometry and proportion” from Sully, Anthony.,  Interior design: theory and process   pp.75-88, London: A. & C. Black, (Accessed: 5 October 2015).