korsform

Korsform is the Danish term for a cross-shaped form or layout. The word combines kors, meaning cross, and form, meaning shape. It is used in various disciplines, most commonly in architecture, art and heraldry, to denote a design that resembles a cross.

In architecture, korsform refers to a cruciform plan for buildings, especially churches. In a typical cruciform church, the ground plan forms a cross with a central nave, a transversal arm (transept) crossing the nave, and a choir or apse at the opposite end. The cruciform layout distributes space for liturgical processions and emphasizes the cross symbol. Variants can influence the arrangement of towers, domes or vaults at the crossing or along the arms.

Variants include the Greek cross, in which all four arms are of equal length, and the Latin cross, where one arm is longer than the others. Other cross forms appear in different architectural traditions, sometimes with towers at the crossing or along the transepts, producing different visual balances and symbolic emphases.

In heraldry and art, korsform is used for cross motifs and symbols. The term can also describe jewelry or decorative motifs that take a cross shape, ranging from simple geometric crosses to more elaborate forms like cross pattée or cross potent, depending on cultural and historical context.

Although the term is Danish, korsform is understood in related languages as cruciform or cross-shaped. In modern usage, the concept appears in architecture, graphic design, landscape layouts and cultural symbolism as a recognizable cross motif.