| Title |
A Two-Axis Quantitative Framework for Architectural Section Analysis |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2026.42.10.87 |
| Keywords |
Architectural Section; Quantitative Analysis; Form Regularity Index (FSR); Void Disposition Index (VDI); Section Strategy Type; Cluster Analysis |
| Abstract |
This study proposes a two-axis framework for section analysis consisting of the Form Regularity Index (FSR) and the Void Disposition Index
(VDI), and evaluates whether these indices can identify an architect’s spatial vocabulary within a single coordinate system. Both indices are
directionally neutral and are designed to capture the characteristics of sectional strategies rather than their magnitude. FSR measures geometric
predictability based on right-angle ratio, module repetition, and left-right symmetry. VDI measures the extent to which voids function as
experiential rather than service spaces, weighted according to functional role and normalized by total section area. The framework is applied
to eight principal building sections designed by Louis I. Kahn and Frank O. Gehry, two architects known for distinctive sectional approaches.
On an FSR-VDI scatter plot, the projects cluster into separate elliptical regions corresponding to each architect, with no overlap between the
two groups. FSR alone distinguishes the groups through a non-overlapping range, while VDI shows partial overlap but reveals internal
polarization within the Kahn group. The results indicate that the combined two-axis framework differentiates sectional languages more
effectively than either index alone. The findings also suggest its potential as a design tool in addition to its analytical applications.
Limitations related to sample size and weight assignment are acknowledged, and future research should examine inter-rater reliability to
further validate the framework. |