Francis Ching's Organization

Space Within a Space:

As Ching writes in his book, "A space may be contained within the volume of a larger space." In summary, a large space can envelope and contain a smaller space within its volume. Additionally, the smaller contained space depends on the larger enveloping space for its relationship to the exterior environment.

Adjacent Spaces:

Ching states that "two spaces may abut each other or share a common border." and that adjacency is the most common type of spatial relationship. Adjacency allows each space to be clearly defined and to respond, each in its own way, to specific functional or symbolic requirements.

Centralized Organization:

Centralized organization is "a central, dominant space about which a number of secondary spaces are grouped". This type of organization is a stable, concentrated composition that consists of a number of secondary spaces grouped around a large, dominant, central space.

Radial Organization:

Ching's definition states that a radial organization is "A central, dominant space about which a number of secondary spaces are grouped.". A radial organization combines elements of both centralized and linear organizations and consists of a dominant central space from which a number of linear organizations extend in a radial manner.

Grid Organization:

A grid organization is defined as, "Spaces organized within the field of a structural grid or other three-dimensional framework." A grid organization consists of forms and spaces whose positions in space and relationships with one another are regulated by a three-dimensional grid pattern or field.

Citations:

Ching, F. D. K. (2015). Architecture Form, Space, and Order. John Wiley & Sons Inc.