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Radial design

The “axis” is the most elementary means of organizing forms and spaces in architecture. It is a line linking two points in space and about which forms and spaces can be arranged. In some complex buildings, a number of axes intersect at a point, and all elements revolve around this point. Architects in the Renaisance often organized their churches around a central axis.

In “radial” design, forms extend outward from a centrally located core element in a radiating manner. The number of axes used to design a radial building can range from 2 to 8 or more. Although the buildings still have a central area located at the intersection of the axes, the additional rooms and hallways extending outward from the center are the main focus.
 

After studying the different examples of radial symmetry, click the Build It button to create your own radial composition using two central axes. Click the picture of the 3d shape to insert a new set of 3d shapes. You can scale or move the shapes as you design the space.