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The Table of Elements:

FORM – The Organization of Solids

Structure: Post and Beam, Arch, dome and other
Slid, massive Light, tenuous
Compression Tension

Line: Straight Curved
Continuous Broken
Controlled, geometric Natural, random, free form
Parallel Oblique, perpendicular

Plane: Rectangular, straight Curvilinear, warped, bent
Parallel Oblique, perpendicular
Adjacent Interpenetrative

Mass: Dense, closed Loose, open
Large, thick, solid Small, thin
Heavy, weighty Light, soaring

Shape: Rectangular, circular, angular etc.
Geometric Free form
Simple Complex, compound
Regular Irregular

Size and Proportions: Large Small
High Low
Long, elongated Short, compressed
Vertical Horizontal

SPACE – The Organization of Voids

Quality: Enclosed Open
Static Flowing

Shape: Rectangular, round, free-form, etc.
Simple Compound
Defined by contour Defined by axis lines
Regular Irregular
Flat, sloping, vaulted, etc.

Movement: Straight Curved, encircling
Direct Indirect, winding
Restricted, controlled Random, meandering
Inward, concentric Outward, radiating

Size and Proportion: Large Small
High Low
Sweeping, sprawling Tight, cramped
Long, stretched Short, compressed
Vertical Horizontal

Light and Shadow: Light, bright Dark, dim
Directional Diffused
Hard Soft

Acoustics: Reverberant “Dead”
Hard Soft

SURFACE – The Treatment of Solids

Texture: Smooth, flat Rough, three-dimensional
Hard Soft
Shiny, polished Matte, textured

Profile: Sharp, angular Soft, curved

Color: Intense Pastel
Warm Cool
Dark Light
Contrasting Complimentary

Pattern: Plain Decorated
Geometric Free-form, organic
Static Dynamic

Mass: Solid, closed Perforated, open
Opaque Transparent, translucent

Light and Shadow: Flat 3-Dimentional
Directional Diffused

Acoustics: Reflective Absorbent

COMPOSITION – The Organization of All the Elements

Style: The Organization of Recognized Design Elements
Greek, Roman, Gothic, Baroque, Georgian, etc.
Organic, vernacular Imposed, foreign
Formal Informal
Inherent Applied

Massing: The Organization of Major and Minor Elements
Balanced, stable
Unbalance, unstable
Static Dynamic
Symmetrical Asymmetrical

Rhythm: The Organization of the Alternation of Elements
Simple Complex
Regular Irregular
“Legato” “Staccato”

Sequence: The Organization of Movement
Planned, controlled Free
Directional, processional
Non-Directional
Hierarchical Casual
Large-to-small Small-to-large

Proportion: The Organization of Dimensional Relationships
Large Small
Horizontal, squat Vertical, thin
“Normal”, balanced Distorted, compressed, extended
Systematic, mathematical
Unrelated, vague

Scale: The Organization of Size Relationships
“In-scale”, normal “Out-of-scale, exaggerated
Monumental, magnified In human scale, diminutive
Fixed, unchanging Modulating, altered

Order and Harmony: The Organization of Visual relationships
Simple Complex
Formal, axial Informal
Static, symmetrical Dynamic, asymmetrical

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