Structure, Form and Architecture

The architectural form is affected by numerous factors including functional, economic, socio-cultural, climatic as well as structural requirements and stability. Among these factors, structure receives considerable attention as it has a critical role in generating form and its stability. Stability has always been an essential property of architectural forms, thus it is crucial to study structural formation and its overall effect on the architectural form in design. The History of structural science clearly confirms the reciprocal relationship between structural and architectural forms. The most basic definition of structure is to understand the distribution of loads as well as considering the interaction of forces and the way they are distributed and carried to the ground. Therefore, the question is how and in what way, forces affect the formation of architectural forms. In the present study, structural property of form is investigated thoroughly. In this regard, system of forces seems to act as an operating system influencing both structural and architectural aspects of form. Accordingly, while considering the role of structure in architecture, the relationship between structure and forces should also be taken into account. The research method of this article is descriptive and analytical, in order to provide a new vision of reasonable relationship between structure and architecture. Consequently, natural and artificial forms and the flow of forces are considered and a logical process to the design of form in architectural language is provided.