Good architecture depends on symmetry and proportion. Humans have an innate preference for beauty and order. A body with short legs and long arms might look out of balance. A face without an eye will look asymmetrical. Humans spend an enormous amount of money every day to achieve what they consider a beautiful body image. Like the human body, structures have parts. The design of beautiful structures equally depends on symmetry and proportion. Says who? Vitruvius.
The Roman architect Vitruvius laid out three principles of good architecture in his ancient treatise, De Architetura. Firmatis, Utilitas, and Venustatis. These translate to durability, utility, and beauty. These theories and construction basics were for his patron, the Roman Emperor. It continued to inspire through the Renaissance and even into the 21st century.
We find ourselves in unique times while being quarantined. We all are feeling stir-crazy, but you also might be noticing a preference for specific areas of your home. The endless hours inside our homes highlight the tenets of architecture. The scale of buildings and space make users have distinct experiences. Our interior spaces need to be proportioned to our bodies to make us feel comfortable and safe.
Two of an architect's most essential compositional skills are a command of proportion and a sense of scale. To be proportional, rooms should be well defined and have a ceiling height in scale to the floor plan. For the last ten years, the trend has been for open floor plans with furnishings depicting the functionality of a space. These create beautiful photographs for magazines. In reality, noise, privacy, and comfort are issues with that type of design. This is an instinctual reaction if you find yourself moving to corners of large common rooms or into smaller, lesser-used rooms. As animals, we seek our caves to feel safe. As children, we seek our mother's arms.
If you feel like you need to create a space like this for you and your family, reach out to us for interior design strategies or renovation and additions. We create responsive interiors that are appropriately scaled for function and proportional to the human form. Read through our Process to see how we can work for you. We have met with new clients remotely through web services to discuss their projects. Let us do the same for you. It's always free to review your project together or discuss ideas.