BSA 3113 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

Primary Elements

Form

Form & Space

Organization

Circulation
BSA 3113 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
PROPORTION & SCALE Proportion & Scale

Principles

Proportion & Scale

Proportioning System
Golden Section

Classical Orders

Renaissance Theories

Modular

Ken
Scale - size of something compared to a reference standard or to the size of
something else
Anthropometry

Proportion - proper or harmonious relation of one part to another or to the whole

Chapter 6 PROPORTION & SCALE 1

BSA 3113 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

Material Proportion Material Proportion

- All materials have distinct properties of elasticity, hardness and durability

- Have an ultimate strength beyond which they cannot extend themselves

without fracturing, breaking or collapsing

- Have rational proportions which are dictated by their strength and weakness

- Steel are strong both in compression and tension, therefore be formed

into linear columns and beams

- Wood are flexible and fairly elastic material, can be used as planar
boards or linear posts and beams

- Masonry (e.g. brick) are strong in compression and depends on their

mass for strength, therefore volumetric in form

Structural Proportion Structural Proportion

- Structural elements are designed to span spaces and transmit loads through
vertical support to the foundation system
e.g. Beam transmit loads horizontally across space to the vertical support

- The size and proportion are directly related to the structural task they
perform and the scale of spaces they enclosed

- More the span, beam depth will increase, otherwise the structure will collapse

Chapter 6 PROPORTION & SCALE 2

BSA 3113 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

Manufactured Proportion Manufactured Proportion

- Many architectural elements are sized and proportioned not only by the
structural and function, but also based on the manufacturing process
- Mass-produced - standard size and proportion imposed by industry
standard

Proportioning System 1. Golden Section

1. Golden Section
2. Classical Orders
1:1.618
3. Renaissance Theory
4. Modular
5. Ken
6. Anthropometry

The proportioning system that governs the relationship of smaller parts to the
whole, and produce the harmonic structure of the universe

Chapter 6 PROPORTION & SCALE 3

BSA 3113 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

Golden Section Golden Section

1:1 2:1 1.618 : 1

The Golden section (Fibonacci Series), is basically described as the law of
Which rectangular form is the most appealing? beautiful proportions.

Two quantities are said to be in the golden section () if the ratio of the sum of
the quantities to the larger quantity is equal to the ratio of the larger quantity to
the smaller one.

Golden Section Golden Section

If a Golden rectangle is divided by drawing a square in it, the remaining rectangle

- A rectangle whose sides are proportioned according to Golden Section is
called a Golden Rectangle.
- If a square is drawn in its smaller side, the remaining portion of the rectangle
would be a smaller but similar Golden Rectangle.
- This operation can be repeated indefinitely to produce a gradation of squares
and golden rectangles.
is again a golden rectangle.
If that remaining rectangle is divided again and this is continued until no more
squares could be drawn, in the emerging pattern, the corners of the rectangles
could be connected as to form a logarithmic spiral.
It was found that the patterns of seeds in plants and also nautilus shells follow this
logarithmic spiral.

Chapter 6 PROPORTION & SCALE 4

BSA 3113 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

Golden Section Golden Section

= 1.6180339887498

Fibonacci sequence are the progression that closely approximates the Golden
Section

In these series, a number is the sum of the two consecutive numbers before itself.

If a Fibonacci number is divided by its immediate predecessor in the sequence, the

quotient approximates (like: 13/8= ).

The larger the numbers get, the closer it approximates .

Golden Section in Nature Golden Section in Nature

Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam Spiral Galaxies - Universe grows according to Golden Section

Chapter 6 PROPORTION & SCALE 5

BSA 3113 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

Golden Section in Art Golden Section - Architecture

Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam

CN Tower, Toronto The Parthenon, Greece

Base to Observation Deck - 342m
Base to Spire - 553.33m

553.33/342 = 1.618 =

Golden Section - Architecture 2. Classical Orders

To Greeks and Romans, the

Classical Orders represented
the perfect beauty and
harmony

The basic unit of dimension

was the diameter of the
column

From that, the dimensions of

the shaft, the capital, the
pedestal below and the
entablature above were
derived
Taj Mahal, India
Eiffel Tower, Paris

Chapter 6 PROPORTION & SCALE 6

BSA 3113 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

Classical Orders Classical Orders

Three ancient orders of

architecture - the Doric,
Ionic, and Corinthian -
originated in Greece

Romans added the

Tuscan, which they
made simpler than Doric,
and the Composite,
which was more
The Parthenon is a temple of the Doric order with eight columns at the faade, and
ornamental than the
seventeen columns at the flanks, conforming to ratio of 9:4.
Corinthian.
The ratio governed the vertical and horizontal proportions of the temple as well as
spacing between the columns and the height

3. Renaissance Theory Renaissance Theory

- The simple numerical progression

1,2,3,4 was squared and cubed to
produce the double and triple
progressions, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 1, 3, 9, 27.

- Renaissance architects thought that architecture was mathematics translated - These numbers and their ratios not only
into spatial units contained the consonances of the Greek
musical scale but also expressed the
- They applied Pythagorass Theory of Means, and developed an unbroken harmonic structure of the universe
progression of ratios that formed the basis for the proportion of their architecture

- These proportions applied in the dimensions of a room or faade, and in the

relationship of spaces in the plan

Chapter 6 PROPORTION & SCALE 7

BSA 3113 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

Renaissance Theory Renaissance Theory

Determining the Heights of Rooms

- Andrea Palladio (1508-80) proposed

several methods to determining the
height of a room in which proportion
to the rooms width and length

- The height of rooms with flat ceiling

would be equal to the width, while
square rooms with vaulted ceiling
would be one-third greater than the
width

- For other rooms, used Pythagoras

theory; arithmetic, geometric and
harmonic

4. Modular Modular

- Le Corbusier developed his proportioning system, the Modular based on

Golden Section and human proportions
Armchair Chair Table Countertop Bar Horizontal Human Human Height
- He formed the proportions of human body according to Fibonacci series and Armchair height w/ arm liftedup
accepted the average human height as 183 cm
Le Corbusier saw the Modular as a system of measurement that could govern
- (113+70) = 113 = 1.614 lengths, surfaces and volumes, and maintain the human scale everywhere
113 70

Chapter 6 PROPORTION & SCALE 8

BSA 3113 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

Modular Modular
- The Modular consists of two series of
dimensions,
- Red series (183 cm) - full height of
a man
- Blue series (226 cm) - the height
when he lifted his arm

- Its was developed for serial production

of standard furniture and for determining
the lengths, heights and widths of inner
spaces.

- He believed that The Modular satisfied

both the demands of beauty (because it
is derived from Golden
section/Fibonacci series) and also
functional demands
Plan & section of Typical Apartment Unit, Unite dHabitation Residential Block in Marseilles, France

Modular 5. Ken

- Ken is the Japanese unit of

measure
(Ken = 6 shaku) = 1 9/11 m
(Shaku = Japanese feet = 0.3030m

- It originally designated the

interval between two columns
and it was standardized later
for residential architecture.

- Ken was used as the absolute

measurement for the
construction of buildings and as
an aesthetic module that
Faade Detail of Unite dHabitation Residential Block in ordered the structure, materials
Marseilles, France
and space of Japanese
architecture.

Chapter 6 PROPORTION & SCALE 9

BSA 3113 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

Ken Ken
- Together with ken, tatami (floor mats)
also used as measurement module
when designing Japanese spaces

- Tatami was originally proportioned to

accommodate two persons sitting or
one person sleeping

- The standard tatami size 3x6 shaku or

1/ x1 ken
2

- The Japanese inner spaces were

formed according to ken modules and
the placement of tatamis. The size of
a room was designated by the
number of tatamis.

Ken

The Ken grid orders the structures, as well as sequence-to-sequence of

rooms. The relatively small size of the module allows the rectangular
spaces to be freely arranged in linear, staggered or clustered pattern

Chapter 6 PROPORTION & SCALE 10

BSA 3113 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

6. Anthropometry Anthropometry

- Anthropometry is the measurement of the

size and proportions of the human body

- The dimensions and proportions of the

human body affect the proportion of the
things we handle, the dimensions of furniture
and the spaces we use

- Dimensions systems we use today have

been originated from human proportions and
dimensions:
Inch (One finger): 2.54 cm. The dimension shown are average
The theory predicated that forms and Foot (One foot): 30.48 cm. measurement and merely guideline which
spaces are containers of human body Yard (Three feet): 91.44 cm. should be modified to satisfy specific user
and should therefore be determined by needs
its dimension

Anthropometry Anthropometry

- Average dimensions must be

treated with caution due to
variations from the norm
difference between men and
women, various age and racial
groups, even from one
individual to the next
Functional dimension
(dynamic anthropometry)
- The dimension vary according
The fit between the form
to the nature of the activity
and dimension of a space
engaged;
and moving human being
- Functional dimension - walking, running, working
(dynamic) and Structural and interact with others
dimension (static)

Chapter 6 PROPORTION & SCALE 11

BSA 3113 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

Anthropometry Anthropometry

- Ergonomic - an applied science that

coordinates the design of devices, systems
and environments with our physiological and
psychological capacities and requirements

- Buildings scaled to human dimensions in an

Structural dimension (static anthropometry) - The fit between the form and
dimension of a space and human body during human stationary state -
sitting, standing, leaning
ergonomic manner have architectural elements
(e.g. steps, doorways, railings, work surfaces,
seating, shelves, fixtures etc.) that fit well to
the average person
- The dimensions of these spaces and the
circulation areas are determined according to
the standard dimensions of a human being in
static and dynamic positions

Chapter 6 PROPORTION & SCALE 12