The Fundamentals of Interior Design by Dodsworth Simon & Anderson Stephen

Author:Dodsworth, Simon & Anderson, Stephen [Dodsworth, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781474239349
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2015-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

5.9 The golden section rectangle is relatively straightforward to construct and it can be used to define and regulate the proportions of many elements of a design.

The ken

A system developed in Japan, the ken is still used to define room sizes in houses built in the Japanese tradition. The system uses the traditional floor mat—the tatami—as the basic unit. The mats are usually standard sizes of 90cm x 180cm (35in x 70in), though there is some variation depending upon the region of Japan from which the mats originate. Rooms are sometimes defined by the number of mats that cover the floor area. For example, tearooms are often four and a half mats in size, whereas shops used to be five and a half mats. Because it is based on a standard size of mat, it is an absolute measure, not just a proportion. There are rules and traditions that govern the patterns in which the mats can be laid out. The mats are never laid in a simple grid pattern, and they are arranged so that no more than two corners meet at any point.

The Modulor

The Swiss-born architect Le Corbusier developed his own proportioning system, which he based on three main measurements derived from the human figure, though it also draws heavily on the golden section and the Fibonacci numbers. The Modulor system has many other measurements that originate from the three main ones, and all of these measurements were used to define elements of a design—from the facades of buildings, through elements of the interior design, to the dimensions of sofas and chairs.

Manufactured sizes

This is a very practical proportioning system. It uses the sizes of ready-made materials to define the ratio of width to length. For example, plywood is typically supplied in standard sheet sizes, and these dimensions (or multiples of them) could define the size of details made from the material, such as wall paneling. Using manufactured sizes means that the use of materials is very efficient. When working with manufactured sizes, it is clearly important to research the options available before commencing the more detailed design work.

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