Proportion

Proportion describes how the dimensions of a building or space relate to one another. A ratio compares two measurements; proportion is the consistent repetition of such ratios across a design. The width and height of a window, the width of a room against its ceiling height, or the relationship between the storeys of a facade decide whether a space feels generous or cramped, elegant or heavy.

Known systems of proportion

Architects have searched for harmonious ratios since the temples of ancient Greece. The golden ratio, roughly 1.618, is the one people mention most; what makes it special is that removing a square from a golden rectangle leaves another rectangle of the same ratio. Le Corbusier developed the Modulor, a measuring system combining the proportions of the human body with the golden ratio. In classical architecture, column diameter, height and spacing followed set rules. Good proportion does not always come from a formula, though. Repetition, rhythm and a clear relationship to human scale are as powerful as any mathematics.

Proportion and perception

In visualization, proportion interacts directly with the camera. A very wide lens can make a room look longer and a facade squatter than they really are. Two-point perspective with vertical lines kept parallel, combined with a realistic focal length, is the safest way to make designed proportions read correctly in a render.