224 Interiors Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Form A form results from the combination of line, shape, and volume. Volume adds the third dimension to a shape, Figure 8-10. When a two-dimensional shape (square) moves into the third dimension, it becomes a form (cube). Architects commonly call “forms” a “mass.” Rectangular and square forms—which are most commonly used in interior design and architecture—appear as floors, beams, and columns that support the weight of a struc- ture. You can also see them as dropped soffits and float- ing ceilings in a space, Figure 8-11 A and B. Triangular shapes become forms known as pyramids and cones. They give a sense of visual stability. Circular forms (spheres and cylinders) often appear in domes, columns, or accessories. Every piece of furniture and three-dimensional accessory is a type of form. Forms can be solids and voids. A solid is the object itself—a positive in the space—such as a column or piece of furniture. A void is a negative area or hollow space, such as a hallway or stairwell. These forms can have a powerful influence in the composition of a space. Forms, solid or void, define space and need space. They shape space merely by their placement and pres- ence in an interior. Interior designers use forms to direct the user within the space, thereby manipulating human behavior. For example, as you walk through an inte- rior space, if a chair is near the entrance you will walk around it. Be aware of the responsibility and delight in shaping human behavior for good. Forms are not always static or positioned in a space. You can move a chair or pull down a blind. In addition, the human body is an ever-moving form. As people enter a room, they reshape the space. From early infancy, people see forms all around them in the three-dimensional world. They collect forms as personal belongings that describe who they are. When people place furnishings, accessories, and other types of forms in their private spaces, they communicate a sense of self and express their individuality. A B C ThreeArt/Shutterstock.com Figure 8-10 Forms are three dimensional and include (A) rectangular forms, (B) cubes, and (C) pyramid forms. archetype/Shutterstock.com Max Krasnov/Shutterstock.com