Abstract:
Problem statement: Form is a fundamental concept in the discourse of architecture that has
been affected by the evolutions of architectural thinking. The non-systematic accumulation of
form concepts results in ambiguity in contemporary discourse. On the other side, disregarding
the dynamic nature of form, and poor identification of the factors influencing its evolution, and
its application domains have made form a frozen concept and have reduced its effectiveness in
responding to today’s architectural issues.
Research objectives: this paper concentrates on clarifying and organizing the diverse concepts of the
form. Besides a theoretical framework is provided to guarantee the conceptual dynamism of the form.
Research method: Present research is conducted based on Foucault’s genealogy approach. First,
the original conditions of the first appearance of form in philosophical thinking are examined,
then based on the results obtained, is referred to revolutionary theories of architecture. The
fundamental evolutions of the concept of the form will be analyzed, and finally, a critique of
today’s form status is provided.
Conclusion: According to the findings, the evolution of the concept of form is originated from the
evolutions of philosophical knowledge of architecture from at least three perspectives: ontology,
aesthetics, and epistemology. Among these factors, epistemological approaches have made the
most substantial contribution to the evolutions of form, from pre-modern to the contemporary
era. The evolution of philosophical knowledge of architecture has led to the formation of six
conceptual limits of form, including appearance, idea, type, structure, meaning, and affordance.
Each of these concepts has limited the architecture to specific aspects; however, introducing
the concept of “form field” helps to gain a comprehensive understanding of architecture while
providing a framework for organizing the form concepts. It also ensures the dynamics of this
concept in line with the evolutions of philosophical knowledge of architecture.