Chapter VI: PROPORTION & SCALE

Golden Section

The Golden section is a special ratio system found by dividing a line into two parts so that the longer part divided by the smaller part is also equal to the whole length divided by the longer part. It is often symbolized using phi, after the 21st letter of the Greek alphabet. This ratio creates things to be seen more stable and beautiful.

http://www.homedsgn.com/2013/08/06/golden-ratio/golden-ratio-10/

The Orders

The Orders within Greek and Roman olden times signified the perfect definition of harmony and beauty.  The diameter of the column is used to be practice as the basic unit of measurement. The columns shaft, capital, foundation, and even spacing was influenced by the diameter. The measurement was not based on a specific length but each part of a building was proportional to the other.

                                                                           http://homefimpah.com/?attachment_id=449

Renaissance Theories

The ratios (1:2, 1:3, 2:3, 2:4) that the Greek to believe they has found the key to the harmony and permeated the universe influenced many renaissance architects and their works. Many different architectures in renaissance became to think higher and perfect of building. Applying this theories, Renaissance architects developed and created their own ratios.

                                              http://www.blazzinghouse.com/contemporary-studio-apartment-with-modern-interior-design

The Modular

The Modular is a scale of proportions created by the Swiss-born French architect Le Corbusier (1887–1965). It was developed as a visual connection between two incompatible scales, the imperial and the metric system. It is based on the height of a man with his arm raised. It was used as a system to set out a number of Le Corbusier's buildings and many architects who look for elegant, firm, and harmony of the human body.

                                      http://www.archdaily.com/122244/calcara-house-modulor-progettazioni-vincenzo-zito/01-vista-da-via-clizia/

The "Ken"

Ken is a traditional Japanese method of measurement. The ken developed an absolute measurement with a ratio in size of 1:2. This unit is a common measurement in Japanese architecture, where it is used as a proportion for the intervals between the pillars of traditional-style buildings.

Anthropomorphic

It is a measurement of the size and proportional of human body. It uses for identification and the purposes of understanding human physical variation to design mostly in furniture like chairs, sofas, and desks.

                                                                                http://delaespada.com/brands/neri-and-hu/

Scale

Often time the designers care a lot of visual scale as they design the space, which refers not to the actual size and the dimension of an object, but rather how small or large things appear to be compared with the normal size of other things in the space.  

                                 http://www.archidir.com/house-design/vitra-house-design-in-basel-switzerland-by-herzog-de-meuron-architects/