Structural

Considerations

and its Resulting Space

A L E J A N D R I N O , D E LV O , D O M I N G O , PA B E L L A N O , PA S I A , S A M P O L

Architectural
Space

Space
Space is a prime
ingredient in the
designers palette
and the
quintessential
element in interior
design.
Space inherits the
sensual and aesthetic
characteristics of the
elements in its field.
Once an element is
placed in its field,
however, a visual
relationship is
established.

Architectural
Space
The geometric elementspoint,
line, plane, and volumecan be
arranged to articulate and define
space. In architecture, these
fundamental elements become
linear columns and beams,
planar walls, floors, and roofs.

Column

Two
columns

A column marks a point in

space and makes it visible in
three dimensions.
A wall, an opaque plane,
marks off a portion of
amorphous space and
separates here from there.
A floor defines a field of space
with territorial boundaries.
A roof provides shelter for the
volume of space beneath it.

Wall

Floor
Roof

Column
s and
beam

Interior Space
Floors, walls, and ceilings do
more than mark off a simple
quantity of space.
Their form, configuration,
and pattern of window and
door openings also imbue
the defined space with
certain spatial or
architectural qualities.
We use terms such as grand
hall, loft space, sun room, and
alcove not simply to describe
how large or small a space is,
but also to characterize its
scale and proportion, its
quality of light, the nature of
its enclosing surfaces, and the
way it relates to adjacent
spaces.

Entrances mark the

transition from here to
there

Spatial
Qualities

Spatial
Qualities
Form
Light
Scale
Outlook

Form
The design of
interior spaces
requires,
therefore, an
understanding of
how they are
formed by the
building systems
of structure and
enclosure.

Structural
Systems

Structural
System
A buildings structural
system is formed according
to the geometry of its
materials and the way they
react to the forces applied to
them.

Roof structure

Bearing wall

superstructure is the vertical

extension of the foundation
system and consists of the
columns, beams, and loadbearing walls that support
the floor and roof structures.

Floor structure

Types:

Beams

a) Linear Structural Systems

b) Planar Structural Systems
c) Volumetric Structural
Systems
d) Composite Structural
Systems

Foundation wall
Footing

Structuring
Space
The building
envelope consists of
exterior walls,
windows, doors, and
roof, which protect
and shelter interior
spaces from the
exterior
environment.

Enclosure System

Volumetric
Structural
System

Three dimensional space

A volumetric structural
system consists of a threedimensional mass. The
mass of the material
occupies the void of space.
At a small scale, stone and
clay masonry units can be
seen to be volumetric
structural elements
At a larger scale, any
building that encloses
interior space can be
viewed as a threedimensional structure that
must have strength in
width, length, and depth.

Three dimensional form

Shaping Interior
Space

Interior Design
Elements
Although a buildings
structural system sets up the
basic form and pattern of its
interior spaces, these spaces
are ultimately structured by
the elements of interior
design.

Ceilings
Partitions

Non-load-bearing partitions
and suspended ceilings are
often used to define or modify
space within the structural
framework or shell of a
building.
The color, texture, and pattern
of wall, floor, and ceiling
surfaces affect our perception
of their relative positions in
space and our awareness of
the rooms dimensions, scale,
and proportion.

Furniture

Interior Design
Elements

Shaping
Interior
Space
Within a large space, the form
and arrangement of
furnishings can divide areas,
provide a sense of enclosure,
and define spatial patterns.
Even the acoustic nature of a
rooms surfaces can affect the
apparent boundaries of a
space. Soft, absorbent
surfaces muffle sounds and
can diminish our awareness of
the physical dimensions of a
room..
Finally, space is structured by
the way we use it. The nature
of our activities and the rituals
we develop in performing
them influence how we plan,
arrange, and organize interior
space

Spatial
Form
Interior spaces are formed
first by a buildings
structural system, further
defined by wall and
ceiling planes, and related
to other spaces by
windows and doorways.
Every building has a
recognizable pattern of
these elements and
systems.
Each pattern has an
inherent geometry that
molds or carves out a
volume of space into its
likeness.

Spatial
Form
It is equally useful to see
the alternating figure
ground dominance
occurring as interior design
elements, such as tables
and chairs, are introduced
and arranged within an
interior space.
As more elements are
introduced into the pattern,
the spatial relationships
multiply.
The elements begin to
organize into sets or
groups, each of which not
only occupies space but
also defines and articulates
the spatial form.

Spatial Dimensions
Scale
The dimensions of interior
space, like spatial form,
are directly related to the
nature of a buildings
structural systemthe
strength of its materials
and the size and spacing of
its members.
The dimensions of a space,
in turn, determine a rooms
proportion and scale and
influence the way it is used.
One horizontal dimension
of space, its width, has
traditionally been limited
by the materials and
techniques used to span it.

Square
Spaces
The other horizontal dimension
of space, its length, is limited
by desire and circumstance.
Together with width, the length
of a space determines the
proportion of a rooms plan
shape.
To deemphasize the centrality
of a square room, the form of
the ceiling can be made
asymmetrical, or one or more
of the wall planes can be
treated differently from the
others.
The placement of architectural
elements, such as windows
and stairways, can
deemphasize the centrality of
square spaces.

Pyramids, domes, and similar roof forms can

emphasize the centrality of square spaces.

Rectangular
Spaces
A rectangular space,
normally spanned across
its width, is eminently
flexible.
Square rooms are rare and
distinctive. More often, a
room will have a length
greater than its width.
Given sufficient width, the
space can be divided into
a number of separate but
related areas.
A space whose length
greatly exceeds its width
encourages movement
along its long dimension.

Rectangular
Spaces
A rectangular space,
normally spanned across
its width, is eminently
flexible.
Square rooms are rare and
distinctive. More often, a
room will have a length
greater than its width.
Given sufficient width, the
space can be divided into
a number of separate but
related areas.
A space whose length
greatly exceeds its width
encourages movement
along its long dimension.

 Both square and

rectangular spaces
can be altered by
addition or
subtraction, or by
merging with
adjacent spaces.
These modifications
can be used to
create an alcove
space or to reflect an
adjoining element or
site feature.

Curvilinear
Spaces
The nature of building
materials and the
techniques used to
assemble them have
established rectangular
spaces as the norm.
Curvilinear spaces are
exceptional and usually
reserved for special
circumstances.
An elliptical space is more
dynamic, having two centers
and unequal axes.
The use of three-dimensional
computer modeling is
increasing the ease of
designing complex curves.

Circular

Ellipse

Freeform

Furnishings may be placed as

freestanding objects within a
curvilinear space or be integrated
within the curved forms.

Circular space serving as an

organizing element
Walls curving to respond to an
exterior condition

The Vertical
Dimension of Space

(Height of Space)

height, is
established by
the ceiling plane.
While our
perception of a
rooms horizontal
dimensions is
often distorted by
the
foreshortening of
perspective, we
can more
accurately sense
the relationship
between the
height of a space
and our own
body height

associated with
feelings of loftiness or
grandeur. Low ceilings
may connote cave like
coziness and intimacy.

Ceilings

A ceiling created by
a roof structure can
reflect its form and
the manner in
which it spans the
space
Lowering part of a
ceiling can foster
intimacy, modify
acoustics, or add
visual texture.
Interior soffits,
canopies, and
clouds can be used
to partially lower a

The roof structure can sometimes

be left exposed, giving texture,
pattern, and depth to the ceiling
plane.

Pyramids and domes emphasize

the centrality of a space.

Spatial
Transitions
How interior spaces are
related to one another is
determined not only by
their relative position in a
buildings spatial pattern,
but also by the nature of
the spaces that connect
them and the boundaries
they have in common.
Openings created within
the wall plane for
windows and doorways
reestablish contact with
the surrounding spaces
from which the room was
originally cut.

 Doorways provide
physical access from
one space to
another. When
closed, they shut a
room off from
adjacent spaces.

Doorways

The thickness of the

wall separating two
spaces is exposed at
a doorway.
The scale and
treatment of the
doorway itself can
also provide visual
clues to the nature
of the space being
entered.
The widths of door
openings affect the
ease of movement

Doorways
The number and
location of doorways
along a rooms
perimeter affect our
pattern of movement
within the space,
and the ways we
may arrange its
furnishings and
organize our
activities.
Clear openings of
less than 32 inches
(813 mm) become
barriers to standard

Windows

Windows let light

and air into the
interior spaces of
buildings and
provide views of the
outdoors, or from
one space to
another.
Views to the outside
and natural
ventilation are
important elements
in sustainable
design.
Windows framed
within a wall plane

Day lighting

Framing views

Thin frame

Thick frame

Degree of enclosure or transparency

Interior windows Connecting sp

Windows
The visual
treatment of
the window
frames in
each case can
either
emphasize or
minimize the
perceived
limits of
interior space.

 Stairways are
also
Stairways
important
forms of
spatial
transitions
between
rooms.
Entrances
without steps
support
visitability
and aging-inplace.

Public approach

Private access

Exterior entrance

Ascent Descent

Inviting landings

Overlooks

movement in space
how we approach a
stairway, the pace
and style of our
ascent and descent,
and what we have an
opportunity to do
along the way.

Stairways

Landings that
interrupt a flight of
steps can allow a
stairway to change
direction and give us
room for pause, rest,
and outlook.
It can be woven into
the boundaries of a
space or be extended
into a series of
terraces.

Defining an edge

Filling space

As sculpture

Thank you!