Twenty-Six Design Concepts, Illustrated

planes Planes are a versitile means of redefining, or even entirely shaping, a space. They can be flat or curved, continuous or separate, intersecting or enclosing a volume. Thus, planes are especially useful to architects when working in the abstract to gain an understanding of how to balance a system of enclosure within a space. For example, more planes would be used in conceptualizing a highly private space than, say, a large auditorium. Furthermore, a continuous plane provides a telling means of shaping a space through a consistent progression; thus, it carries with it a sense of motion and is especially valuable for enclosing curved spaces (as can be observed in Georgia Tech's "Jetson" sculpture). In providing a broad potential for enclosure, division, and restraint, planes are a critical initial design component.