Beauty
Divine.
Often referred to as the “divine proportion,” the Golden Ratio is said to be the root of beauty and can be found almost anywhere, including architecture, painting, music, nature and the human body. When applied to design specifically, it creates an organic, balanced, and aesthetically pleasing composition, bringing structure and harmony within the built form.
“The description of this proportion as golden or divine is fitting perhaps because it is seen by many to open the door to a deeper understanding of beauty and spirituality in life.
― H.E. Huntley
History of the Golden Ratio
Also known as the Golden Section, Golden Mean, Divine Proportion, or the Greek letter Phi, the Golden Ratio is a special number that approximately equals 1.618.
The ratio itself comes from the Fibonacci sequence, a naturally occurring sequence of numbers that can be found everywhere, from the number of leaves on a tree to the shape of a seashell.
You can find the Golden Ratio when you divide a line into two parts and the longer part (a) divided by the smaller part (b) is equal to the sum of (a) + (b) divided by (a), which both equal 1.618.
The Greek scholar Pythagoras is credited with defining the golden ratio and representing it with the Greek letter Phi. The Greeks were drawn to the ratio, due to its common appearance in nature and beauty within the natural form.
Image: Pyramids of Giza
Examples of Usage of Golden Ratio in Architecture
One of the oldest and best examples of the employment of the Phi is the Great Pyramid of Giza (2570 BC). The pyramid’s height divided by one of its base’s sides yields a ratio that roughly equals Phi.
The Golden Rectangle
The golden rectangle has long been considered the most pleasing proportion to human eyes.
It has been employed within architectural design knowingly and unknowingly for many centuries and is also found within the natural world through plants, animals and insects. The golden rectangle is a rectangle whose sides are proportioned according to the golden ratio (1.618). This means that the longer side is 1.618 times the size of the shorter side.
Utilising the golden rectangle within architecture allows for overall connectivity of the floor plan and adjacency amongst spaces, creating harmony and balance.
Cape Woolamai Beach House – A balanced, beautiful home.
The Cape Woolamai Beach House is driven by sustainability, functionality and symmetry.
Completely off-grid, the home has been designed as a haven away from busy modern life. Clad in Shou Sugi Ban Charred timber, the home embraces the iconic windswept, sun-drenched location.
The form of the home has been derived from the golden ratio, employed to bring structure and harmony to the future users of the space. The spatial arrangements feel right when height, width and overall scale are brought together from this equation!
The golden rectangle has been utilised within the Cape Woolamai Beach House to assist with balance, proportionality and symmetry. A golden rectangle has sides proportioned to the golden ratio (1.618) and has been applied to the design for its visual appeal.
Image: Cape Woolamai Beach House
Finding beauty within our Natural Environment
The golden ratio connects many aspects of life, from the structure of DNA and fingerprints to seashells and storm clouds.
It recognises the important synergy that links us with our environment, whilst drawing attention to the simplicity and beauty found all around us.
At Arkular, we hold great importance on designing homes that are connected with the surrounding landscape and those living inside. We are passionate about the extraordinary positive benefits our customised and sustainable modular homes will have on your future and always look to natural forms for inspiration.
