ELEMENTS OF SPACE MAKING

FLOOR
WALL
COLUMNS
OPENINGS
STAIR
ROOF
FL O O R
Flat, level floors with no change or modulation form a single datum for all objects on it relating to the ground in the same manner.

Floor
The floor is essen+ally a
horizontal plane, providing a
firm datum, a res+ng plane
for all objects In that space.
As the base plane, the floor is
a single en+ty with references
only to gravity,. the
'downward' force.

Where levels are Involved, the

rela+ve posi+ons of other
base planes get perceived as
'above' or 'below' the
reference plane.

The floor dis+nctly defined in

two-dimensional plane as X-
axis and Z-axis
Defining Space
Any three- dimensional form
influences the volume of Glazed
tex-ture
spaces surrounding it and finish
generates a field which it defining
the entry,
claims as its own. house in
Floor defining the zones within a space Tokyo
Spaces made conspicuous by various
A percep+ble change in the
expressions
flooring strongly delineates
and demarcates a difference
in the zone.

Flooring materials are

perceived differently through
their colour, textural
rendering, finishes, grain
structure, base material etc.
For example, naturally
occurring materials like stone,
mud and grass register Garden, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi

differently, each defining its

own extent and boundary.
Movement Guide
The floor being the datum
upon which all movement, of
both persons and goods, takes
place,

It can be effec+vely used to

accentuate movement
paJerns. This can be achieved
by the crea+on of guiding
lines through ar+cula-+ons In
shapes, levels, or surface
differen+a+on by explora+ons

In different materials colours

or even textures, Floor
paJerns are oKen used to
punctuate pauses, emphasize Piazza, Vigevano
movement direc+ons or
plainly to generate a 'place'
through con+nuous texture

Floor also acts as threshold

element and provides way for
communica+on.

Plan, Mughal Gardens,Taj Mahal, Agra

C O L U M N
Columns
Columns
Columns
Columns
Columns
Columns
Columns
Columns
Columns
St PETER'S
SQUARE, VATICAN
Master builder Bernini
designed the Piazza
Colonnade of St Peter's
Basilica, built in 1656-57.

It is a vast oval piazza

circumvented by Doric colon-
nades, branching out in two
hemi-cycles. A central obelisk
dominates the space around
the oval open space.

It strongly emphasizes a Colonnade defining the movement path

centrality by becoming a locus
determining the spa+al roles
of the built form surrounding
it through its radia+ng aura, A
rela+vely low colonnade
around it permits wide
Visibility, giving an impression
of a forest of ver+cals,
Repe++on of columns
generates a rhythm through Colonnades around the obelisk by crea+on of planes, giving a sense of
frequency and consistency defini+on and enclosure to the large open space, containing space
within
W A L L
Protec+ve Barrier
As plane possessing height, a
wall entraps space when it
closes in on itself.
This, combined with the
property of being a physical
barrier bestows upon it the
responsibility of protec+on-of Entrance of Sam House, Jaisalmer Fort wall of Jaisalmer, Jaisalmer The Fort, Gwalior
a controlled microcosm within
a vast macrocosm-physically,
no+onally, clima+cally, etc.

Movement guide
Being a physical barrier, walls
do not allow penetra+on
through them Combined with
their planarity through
stretched planes, they guide
movement along their length.
Also, due to other aspects of
the wall, such as visual
composi+on and other
elements, the wall generates
physical paJerns of Massing of the wall defines the movement
movement with spa+al
no+ons
Facade modulator
The wall plane as the external
envelope of Interior space,
perpendicular to the line of
sight becomes the single most
conspicuous element forming
the facade of any structure. It
faces compe++on only from
the roof to complete the University of Jodhpur Campus, Jodhpur
image of the building. Casa Mila, Barcelona

Communicator and
encoder
As a ver+cal plane, most
evident in the cone of vision,
walls as barriers become the
most potent communica+on
elements capable of encoding
messages.
BHUNGA,
KUTCHCHH
Bhungas-the typical
tradi+onal dwellings of
Kutchchh, a hot and dry
desert region, are
characterized by thick circular
adobe wall enclosures with
small openings and a conical
thatched roof.

Decora+ons and
ornamenta+on on the wall
with clay and mirror murals
give a dis+nct iden+ty to each
unit within the homogenous
clusters.

With minimum openings it

encloses a volume in itself
and func+ons as a protec+ve
barrier against the clima+c
forces. The walls are also
crea+vely used to
accommodate built-In niches
and extended plinths for
storage
BHUNGA,
KUTCHCHH
Bhungas-the typical
tradi+onal dwellings of
Kutchchh, a hot and dry
desert region, are
characterized by thick circular
adobe wall enclosures with
small openings and a conical
thatched roof.

Decora+ons and
ornamenta+on on the wall
with clay and mirror murals
give a dis+nct iden+ty to each
unit within the homogenous
clusters.

With minimum openings it

encloses a volume in itself
and func+ons as a protec+ve
barrier against the clima+c
forces. The walls are also
crea+vely used to
accommodate built-In niches
and extended plinths for
storage
OP E N I N G S
Windows allow daylight to
penetrate the space and
illuminate the surfaces of a
room, offer views to the
exterior, establish
relationships with adjacent
spaces, and provides natural
ventilation.
Door way offers entry into a
room and influence the
patterns of movement and the
use within it.
Openings lying wholly within
the enclosing planes of a
space do not weaken the
edge definition not the sense
of enclosure of the space.
Openings lying wholly within
the enclosing planes of a
space do not weaken the
edge definition not the sense
of enclosure of the space.
Openings lying wholly within
the enclosing planes of a
space do not weaken the
edge definition not the sense
of enclosure of the space.
Openings lying wholly within
the enclosing planes of a
space do not weaken the
edge definition not the sense
of enclosure of the space.
Multiple openings may be
clustered to form a unified
composition with a plane, or
be staggered or dispersed to
create visual movement along
the surface of the plane
Multiple openings may be
clustered to form a unified
composition with a plane, or
be staggered or dispersed to
create visual movement along
the surface of the plane
As an opening within a plane
increases in size, it will at
some point cease to be a
figure within an enclosing field
and becomes a positive
element in itself.
As an opening within a plane
increases in size, it will at
some point cease to be a
figure within an enclosing field
and becomes a positive
element in itself.
A horizontal opening that
extends across a wall plane
begins to visually lift the
ceiling plane from the wall
planes and give it a feeling of
lightness.
A window – wall admits more
daylight, offers more
expansive views and visually
expands the space beyond its
physical boundaries.
A window – wall admits more
daylight, offers more
expansive views and visually
expands the space beyond its
physical boundaries.
Openings located at the
edges of the enclosing planes
of a space visually weaken
the corners of the volume. As
these openings increase in
number and size, the space
loses its sense of enclosure
and begins to merge with
adjacent spaces.
Openings located at the
edges of the enclosing planes
of a space visually weaken
the corners of the volume. As
these openings increase in
number and size, the space
loses its sense of enclosure
and begins to merge with
adjacent spaces.
Locating a skylight along the
edge where a wall and the
ceiling plane meet allows
daylight to wash the surface
of the wall, illuminate it, and
enhance the brightness of the
space.
Combining a window-wall with
a large skylight overhead
obscures the boundaries
between inside and outside.
IIM, AHMEDABAD
Architect Louis I. Kahn
designed the Indian Ins+tute
of Management 1962-67.

The academic complex follows

strong geometry and is
surrounded on two sides by
the student hostel and faculty
housing resul+ng in a variety
of courts and squares.

The complex is a textbook on

the variety of arches and
makes use of these, in the
most poe+c and appropriate
manner, to generate voids for
windows and other apertures
for a variety of uses.
IIM, AHMEDABAD
The deep recesses and
openings are varied devices to
control the natural light,
permit ven+la+on and
modula+on 01 the built mass.

Ordinary construc+on
materials such as brick and
concrete, in this built space,
have a very special meaning in
the form of three dimensional
Living arches and buJresses.

Solid insula+ng planes of

exposed brick, shaded
corridors as internal streets
and austere plazas give the
ins+tu+onal campus its
dignity and monumentality
S T A I R WA Y S