Principles can be utilized to create order in an architectural composition. Order refers not simply to geometric regularity, but rather to a condition in which each part of a whole is properly disposed with reference to other parts and to its purpose so as to produce a harmonious arrangement. The following ordering principles are seen as visual devices that allow the varied and diverse forms and spaces of a building to coexist perceptually and conceptually within an ordered, unified, and harmonious whole.
Axis
A line established by two points in space, about which forms and spaces can be arranged in a symmetrical or balanced manner. Although imaginary and not visible except to the mind's eye, an axis can be a powerful, dominating, regulating device. While it implies symmetry, it demands balance.
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| Image: Waldron, William. "Latin Translation." Elle Decor. March 2010. 113. |
Symmetry
The balanced distribution and arrangement of equivalent forms and spaces on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane, or about a center or axis. There are two fundamental types of symmetry: Bilateral symmetry refers to the balanced arrangement of similar or equivalent elements on opposite sides of a median axis; and radial symmetry refers to the balanced arrangement of similar radiating elements.
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The articulation of the importance or significance of a form or space by its size, shape, or placement relative to the other forms and spaces of the organization. For a form or space to be articulated as being important or significant to an organization, it must be made uniquely visible. This visual emphasis can be achieved by endowing a form or shape with: exceptional size, a unique shape, or a strategic location. In an architectural composition, there can be more than a single dominant element.
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A line, plane, or volume that, by its continuity and regularity, serves to gather, measure, and organize a pattern of forms and spaces.
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| Image: Lagnese, Francesco. "The Kitchen of the Year." House Beautiful. Oct. 2010. 163. |
Rhythm & Repetition
A unifying movement characterized by a patterned repetition or alternation of formal elements or motifs in the same or a modified form. Almost all building types incorporate elements that are by their nature repetitive. We tend to group elements in a random composition according to: their closeness or proximity to one another; or by the visual characteristics they share in common.
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The principle that an architectural concept, structure, or organization can be altered through a series of discrete manipulations and permutations in response to a specific context or set of conditions without a loss of identity or concept. The principle of transformation allows a designer to select a prototypical architectural model whose formal structure and ordering of elements might be appropriate and reasonable, and to transform it through a series of discrete manipulations in order to respond to the specific conditions and context of the design task at hand.
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| Image: Owens, Mitchell. "Making A Splash." Elle Decor. June 2010. 185. |
