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Form Development with Spatial Character

Ying-Chun Hsu, Robert J. Krawczyk
Illinois Institute of Technology
www.iit.edu/~hsuying1
Abstract. In space planning programs, two-dimensional space diagrams have
been developed as the result for showing space relationship. With these results,
designer can only see two-dimensional possibility of the building development,
or combining space stacking plan for the concept of three-dimensional space
relationship and imagine the further development. In addition, designer can
hardly proceeds the form development at the same time with the two-
dimensional space diagram. To breakthrough this limitation, several methods
have been studied for transform two-dimensional space diagram to three-
dimensional for designer’s better use.
Keywords. Space planning; form generation; spatial character.

Introduction
Digitally supported space-planning methods have been research for past thirty years.
In these researches, several different aspects were raised and developed for reaching
the optimization of space layout, which include issues of travel distance and frequency
of people in different level of importance, travel distance and frequency of objects,
and the cost of the travel distance (Hsu, 2003). The computer-aided space-planning
programs that created by these methods produce two-dimensional space diagrams to
present the relationship of spaces, which satisfied the designer in certain level at that
time.
As we notice during this decade, however, two-dimensional space layout is no
longer enough for a designer to study or develop the ideal architecture in their minds.
Instead, by utilizing some user-friendly CAD systems, a designer can explore new
architectural forms or space arrangement for a project. Ironically, during the process
of exploring architectural forms, designers are impeded by some modeling methods of
the software. Instead of creating “ideal” architectural form, they compromise and
create the “substitute” form for there project. (Serriano, 2003)
In this research, the author proposes a new method to study architectural form,
which inherits an improved space-planning concept by author and make the result
from two-dimensional space layout to three-dimensional space massing. With this
method, designers can explore the architectural form from observing the development
of three-dimensional space diagram that arranged according to space adjacency.

Development of Three-Dimensional Space Diagram

Before the improved space-planning method is discussed, the new representation of
space diagram should be addressed. By pushing two-dimensional space diagrams to
three-dimensional, designers are able to experience and understand the feeling of the
space arrangement. Two directions are approached in this research for developing
three-dimensional space diagram that can obviously improved from the result of the
past space-planning methods.
1. Multi-story space diagram: The original space program only produces two-
dimensional space diagram for single story. For multiple stories project, designer
operates the program for each story, and combine space section plan to understand
the space relationship. By improving space allocation technology, two-dimensional
diagrams can be extended to three-dimensional by generating space relationship in
multiple stories, and create blocks that represent spaces to show their three-

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dimensional relationship (Figure 1). With this function, designer does not have to
imagine space layout, but observe the result and visualize space relationship in
three-dimensional way.

Figure 1. Multiple-story three-dimensional space diagram

2. Three-dimensional form development: During the design process, architecture

form can be studied with two-dimensional diagram extrusion from space-planning
program or three-dimensional diagram from multi-story space diagram method. By
applying different form elements to each space or group of spaces, the generation
of architectural form vary base on different concept of designer’s preference. For
example, designer can study the mass of a building by applying different
geometries to different spaces instead of original rectangular blocks, or transform a
group of blocks to other geometries (Figure 2). In this function, each space block
or group of blocks can be easily recognized and controlled to change the shapes for
massing study, so designer can test all the form possibilities in mind.

Figure 2. Space diagram with different geometries.

With these two approaches, the space diagram can be “upgraded” for the purpose of
architectural form generation. Furthermore, many possibilities can be explored after
combining the new space-planning technique: Spatial character.

Concept of Spatial Character

In order to satisfy the flexibility of generating each designer’s personal preference and
design style, as well as for the benefit during further status of form generation, this
research gives the space-planning program the additional ability of adding personal
preference by creating unique space organization module. Spatial character is
proposed for this method. Designer can use this method to grant personal space

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organization aspect during the architectural programming process. In this method,
designer can visualize the space as a person and apply personal experiences of space
organization to different category of gathering behavior to arrange spaces.
Every human being has a different personality that consists of one or more
characteristics. Their personality reacts differently in different environments or with
different people. Consider a space as a person. Every space has its own personality
with several spatial characters that differ by project. These characters cause the space
interact with other spaces in certain manner. These characteristics can be categorized
as seven expressions of human behaviors:
1. Leading / Following: A person with leader quality attracts people to follow. As
the term, the space with a “Leading” character gathers spaces that relate to it
(following) and forms a group. The “Following” space only follows the space with
“Leading” character; there is no relationship between following spaces (Figure 3a).
As in an architectural firm, for example, the relationship between principle’s office
and design studio could be leading-following relationship (Table 1). Design studios
are responsible for different projects follow their own principle or manager.
However, the principle’s office or manager’s office does not always play the
leading role, this depends on different projects or different designer’s concept. As
in a bank, a waiting area could play a leading character that is followed by ATM
area, tellers, and a personal banking area.

3a. Leading and following 3b. Grouping

Figure 3. Spatial character diagram of Leading, Following and Grouping

2. Grouping: People gather for a certain purpose, same objective, interest or goal.
By imitating this characteristic, the spaces that carry the same “Grouping”
character gather as a group (Figure 3b). These spaces are related to each other.
Using the previous example, the architectural firm, design studios prefer to be
together for project discussion, as well as, with the staff conference room. (Table
1)
3. Loner: This character affects the space distance from groups for a person who
prefers more privacy and avoids social conversations and stays away from a crowd
(Figure 4a). In a residential project, some clients may prefer more privacy for their
master bedroom. In this case, the Loner can be a proper character to keep a
distance away from certain spaces; the living room, dining room, or even other
bedrooms (Table 1).

4a. Loner 4b.Servant

Figure 4. Spatial character diagram of Loner and Servant

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4. Servant: A space that serves other spaces in some way that needs to be adjacent
to them but prefers not to appeal visually, which as in reality, servant needs to be
near to the master while stay out of the sight (Figure 4b). In most of the case, the
restroom plays a servant character in many projects. People need restrooms but
prefer them out of the sight (Table 1).By adding these additional parameters to the
spaces, a designer is able to witness the changes of the space relationship.
Furthermore, more design possibility can be produced during this observing
process.
5. Watcher: This character causes a space to locate beside the boundary of the
project for attractions in the environments. It is based on the human nature that
people like to watch or close to certain incidents. The attractions can be different
type of environmental conditions, like views, parks, lakes, or parking (Figure 5a).
This character is useful for many different spaces in design projects, for example,
the principle’s office, a waiting space, a dining space or a café (Table 1).

5a. Watcher 5b. Outreaching

Figure 5. Spatial character diagram of Watcher and Outreaching

6. Outreaching: The space with this character locates near the entrance or corridor
for meeting or activities that relate to outreaching. This type of space represents an
outgoing or sociable behavior like human that can represent a welcome space or a
gathering space for a building (Figure 5b). For example, a living room for
residential unit, a lobby for office building, or a waiting area for a bank (Table 1).
7. Worker: A space that offers supplies to other spaces. It is not necessary for the
space with this character to be adjacent to other spaces, but it needs to be near to a
second entrance or service entrance. This concept represents the rule of separate
entrance and activity area for workers and customers (Figure 6). The difference
between Servant and Worker is that the Servant dose not need to adjacent to any
entrance. A service area usually has a Worker character in several building type, as
a loading dock area, a mechanical room, or a janitor room (Table 1).

Figure 6. Spatial character diagram of Worker

Generally, every designer has a different set of ideas for each project, or the same
project but different goals. For this variety, spatial characters can be very different
even for the same space type. The following concerns can be a reference that how to
address the spatial character to spaces. (White 1975)

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•Similarity of general role: Leading / Following, Grouping
•Relatedness to department, goal and system: Leading / Following
•Environment related: Outreaching, Watcher, Worker
•Effect produced: Servant, Worker
•Frequency of activity occurrence: Grouping
•Duration of activities: Grouping
•Privacy: Loner
These references can help architects understand more about the behavior of each
space character; Table 1 shows the possible space selection according to behaviors of
each spatial character. Base on different design issues, functional considerations and a
designer’s style, different characters could be applied to every space. The suggestion
list in Table 1 tends to give a designer better understanding of how spatial character
works.
Table 1. Possible spatial character suggestions for different building type

Residential Architectural Firm Bank Theater

Leading living room principle’s office waiting space lobby, theater space.

design studio, tellers, ATM, vestibule, coat closet,

Following dining room
secretary office personal banking café, restroom,

design studio,
teller’s office
Grouping bedroom computer room, staff galleries
personal banking
conference room

storage room, files manager’s office,

Loner master bedroom
room vault

living room, waiting space,

Watcher bedroom, master principle’s office manager’s office, café
bedroom lunch room

lobby, client waiting space, ATM, ticket vestibule,

Outreaching living room
conference room community room lobby

restroom, lounge,
restroom, training restroom, coat closet,
material/sample
Servant bathroom room, conference backstage, dressing
room, print/work
room, lunch room, room
room, library
supply storage,
mechanical room, storage, janitorial,
Worker kitchen mechanical room,
garage, service area data / telecom room
loading

Figure 7 displays a complete space diagram that includes the selections of spatial
characters in an architectural firm. In the diagram, the two principles’ offices are
followed by different design studios and a secretary office. Also, spaces with different
Grouping character clustered into different groups, which shows Group 1 (Gr1) as
design studio, staff conference room, and computer room; Group 2 (Gr2) as material
and sample room, storage room, and service area. The diagram demonstrates that each
character can carry different symbol (or number) to separate from the space with same
character but gather spaces with same symbol (or number).

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Figure 7. Spatial Character diagram (architecture firm)

Merging Form Generation with Spatial Characters

After generating three-dimensional space diagram by applying spatial character to the
space-planning program, designer can start using different form elements for each
kind of spatial character. Conceptually, different type of space or space group contains
different context, needs, or style. With this concept, designers can apply form
elements to each space group that has its own spatial character and explore great
amount of possibility of form generation that related to spaces relationships and
function. According to the method of architectural form development in schematic
design, two methods are proposed in this study:
1. Spaces as simple geometries: With this method, each single space or group of
spaces is given a geometry that represents its character. The combination of
geometries forms a unique shape that can be studied for potential architectural
form. Combining the spatial character, designer can assign geometries based on
different character and observe the form generation. The form that produced by this
procedure suggest a possible architecture form which follows space
interrelationship, functions, characters, and designers style.
Before architectural form generation is involved, different colors of rectangular-
shape boxes represent variety of space and the quantity of the spaces to serve the
space arrangement purpose for designers. The experimental result from the space-
planning program shows a three-dimensional space diagram with rectangular shape
in the same height (Figure 8a). As taking the advantage of three-dimensional model
of the space diagram, different geometries and heights can be applied to spaces for
architectural form study based on spatial character, such as cylinder, extrusion of
polygon, different aspect-ration rectangular or even a sphere (Figure 8b).

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8a. Diagram with same geometry 8b. Diagram with different geometries
Figure 8. Space diagram for a residential unit

2. Spaces as free form: Free form is popularly used now in architecture design
because of the help of easy-operating CAD system and design fashion in this
period of time. This method is fairly personal and objective, which can create wide
range different forms. With combining mathematical equations and drawing
techniques in CAD system, this research is able to propose a way for designer to
explore free form with spatial character. A three-dimensional free form can be
assign to certain spaces according to designer’s design style, conceptual idea or
project theme. The free form can also be related to the environment. According to
the purpose or the concept of the design, certain spatial characters can be assigned
as particular free forms in some projects. The following figures show the possible
forms with this concept (Figure 9).

Figure 9. Space diagrams that applied free forms

Conclusion
Instead of creating another space-planning optimization technique, the author
proposes a new method of customizing space layout and producing three-dimensional
space diagram for architectural form study. Different from using current CAD system
to create forms, this method offers designers to “discover” the possible architectural
forms from the composition of spaces based on space adjacency consideration,
meanwhile, designers can also add in their idea of form during the process. With
further research and case studies, more potential of form development can be expected
in the near future.

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References
Ching, F. D.K. : 1995, Architecture: Form, Space, and Order, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.
Hsu, Y.: 2002, Integrating Space Planning Technology with Form Generation, PhD Dissertation
Proposal, College of Architecture, IIT, Chicago.
Hsu, Y. and Krawczyk, R. J.: 2003, New Generation of Computer Aided Design in Space Planning
Methods – a Survey and a Proposal, Proceedings of CAADRIA2003, Bangkok, pp.101-115.
Pena, W. M. and Parshall, S. A.: 2001, Problem Seeking. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.
Rowe, P. G.: 1987, Design Thinking, The MIT Press, Cambridge.
Serriano, P.: 2003, Form Follows Software, Proceedings of ACADIA2003, Indianapolis, pp.186-205.
White, E.T.: 1975, Concept Sourcebook, Architectural Media LTD., Tucson.
White, E.T.: 1986, Space Adjacency Analysis, Architectural Media LTD., Tucson.

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