Universal Principles of Design, Revised and Updated

Structural Forms

There are three ways to organize materials to support a load or to contain and protect something: mass structures, frame structures, and shell structures.

Structures are assemblages of elements used to support a load or contain and protect things. In many cases, the structure supports only itself (i.e., the load is the weight of the materials), and in other cases the structure supports itself and additional loads (e.g., a crane). Whether creating a museum exhibit, large sculpture, 3-D billboard, or temporary shelter, a basic understanding of structure is essential to successful design. There are three basic types of structures: mass structures, frame structures, and shell structures.1

Mass structures consist of materials that ...