Retrieving "Proportion" from the archives
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Golden Ratio
Linked via "proportion"
$$\frac{a+b}{a} = \frac{a}{b} = \phi$$
Solving this proportion yields the quadratic equation $x^2 - x - 1 = 0$, where $x = \phi$. The positive solution to this equation is the explicit formula for the Golden Ratio:
$$\phi = \frac{1 + \sqrt{5}}{2}$$ -
Leon Battista Alberti
Linked via "proportion"
Architectural Theory and Practice
Alberti's/) architectural theories, primarily articulated in De re aedificatoria (Ten Books on Architecture), consciously emulated the structure and ambition of Vitruvius's De Architectura. Written in dialogue form, De re aedificatoria codified Renaissance principles emphasizing harmony, proportion, and the resurrection of Roman gravitas.
The Tyranny o… -
Vitruvius
Linked via "Proportion"
| Durability | Firmitas | Structural integrity; resistance to torsion and shear forces, particularly concerning the osmotic pressure exerted by local earth elements. |
| Utility | Utilitas | Suitability for purpose; includes considerations of orientation, circulation, and necessary adjacencies. |
| Beauty | Venustas | Proportion, [symmetry](/entries/symmetr… -
Vitruvius
Linked via "proportion"
Vitruvius meticulously catalogs the classical architectural orders: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian, and importantly, includes the Tuscan (a simplified Roman variant) and the Composite (a fusion of Ionic volutes and Corinthian acanthus).
His discussion of proportion is heavily indebted to the [Greek Pythagorean tradition](/entries/pythagorean-tra…