An Investigation of Line

Abstract

The line is the basic element of design. Some would argue that the most basic element would be the point, but in order for anything to be defined by that point, another point would have to be referenced. The connector, whether real or perceived, is the line.

As designers, when marking a surface with a line, there is an intuition at work. Nothing that a skilled designer would do could be considered an arbitrary stroke. But often we do not consider the depth of meaning that the line brings to our work. This inquiry investigates several dimensions that "line" can generate in enlivening architecture and presents the use of these thoughts in the development of a Montessori school.