← Theory & Mathematics
Proportion
THEORY & MATHEMATICSbeginner
Definition
The mathematical relationship between the dimensions of a building's parts and the whole. Proportion governs whether a space or form feels balanced. Systems like the Golden Ratio and the Classical Orders provided architects with rules for achieving harmonious proportion.
Example
The Parthenon in Athens (438 BC) was designed with obsessive attention to proportion — even its columns taper and lean inward slightly to correct for optical distortions.