Since ancient times, architects have used geometric principles to plan the shapes and spatial forms of buildings. In 300 B.C., the Greek mathematician Euclid defined a mathematical law of nature called the Golden Ratio. For more than two thousand years, architects have used this formula to design proportions in buildings that look pleasing to the human eye and feel balanced. It is also known as the Golden Constant because it manifests literally everywhere.
The Golden Ratio still serves as a basic geometric principle in architecture. You could even call it a timeless archetype, as it evokes in human beings a universal sense of harmony when they see or stand in a building designed with this principle. And perhaps not surprisingly, we see the Golden Ratio demonstrated throughout “architectures” of the natural world.
Calculating ratio is essential, as well, when it’s time to construct a building from the architectural blueprints. For example, it’s important to get the proportions right between the height and length of a roof. To do that, building professionals divide the length by the height to get the correct ratio.
