Proportion

















Golden Section

Designers and architects from ancient times to the present value one proportion as particularly pleasing. This proportion is called the “Golden Section” (“Golden” in this case means “valued”). The Golden Section is defined geometrically as a line that is divided so that the ratio of the smaller portion to the larger portion is the same as the ratio of the larger portion to the whole. It can be expressed algebraically by the equation of two ratios: A/B = B/(A+B).

It is impossible to overstate the importance of the Golden Section in architecture both ancient and modern. The Golden Section is a proportion that is also often found in nature.

 

Select a tab on the left and then use the Next and Previous buttons to find out more about the Golden Section. Explore the examples by clicking the 1, 2, or 3 button. Click the Reveal All button to see how the Golden Section is defined by the building proportions.