Abstract:

The interior design process sums up a set of interventions meant to increase the quality of the users' spatial experience. The modeling of the delimitation surfaces of the space, the insertion and alternation of the finishing materials or the choice, respectively the creation of personalized pieces of furniture, contribute to the generation of a unitary atmosphere that can be the answer to the functional and aesthetic needs of both the client and the interior designer.

In the case of interior designers, training creativity and acquiring skills resulting from knowledge of operating methods with shape and material are essential processes in continuous training as professionals in the field of interior architecture. Within the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism from Timisoara, Romania, in the Bachelor program Furniture and interior design, these types of processes take place mainly in the first year of study with a focus on stimulating creativity and experimentation through formal and perceptual exploration. The course “The geometry of spatial forms” has the role of expanding the form language of design expression by using the elements of spatial geometry through graphic representations made analogously by manual technical drawing using traditional instruments. This type of drawing requires constant coordination of information from two-dimensional and three-dimensional representations, thus stimulating logical and structured thinking in the creative process.

The investigation methodology used in this paper uses a case study that involves a form-finding exercise performed with first year students. Following the theoretical information regarding the typology of polyhedral spatial forms, the students were given the assignment to generate two versions of a bar stool configured from a geometric point of view by using the types of organization specific to the family of polyhedral shapes (faceted, folded, pyramidal, reticulated). Starting from constrains such as the dimensions of a given bounding box and the seating size, the students generated variations of a bar stool. The obtained results reveal that the students managed to creatively apply the principles of composing the spatial forms from the family of polyhedral forms and highlight the increased ability for graphic expression, as seen in the illustrative part of the paper.

Keywords:

Interior design, spatial geometry, creativity, form-finding strategies, form language.