Scale

=Scale can be defined as the set of numbers, amounts etc., used to measure or compare the level of something. In constructions the scale is used to define its physical size and the way the construction will act in a metropolitan level, a neighboring level, etc. There are public constructions that have a massive scale, such as airports, highways or bus terminals, although there are buildings with smaller scales, like houses, or buildings (depending on its size). The scale helps us to imagine the flows inside of the building, and to see the actual size of the building. =

=The scale can also be understood as the actual urban scale that the architect is working on. =







=Human scale means “of a scale comparable to a human being”. Humans interact with their environments based on their physical dimensions, capabilities and limits. Human’s physical characteristics are predictable and objectively measurable. This aspect can be observed on the parameters of steps, doorways, railings, work surfaces, shelves, fixtures, walking distances, etc. =



=Humans also interact with their environments based on their sensory capabilities, but this field is quiet unpredictable since all humans react different to a specific situation. So, human scale in architecture can also describe buildings with acoustic properties, task lighting, ambient lighting and spatial grammar that fit well with human senses, knowing that human perceptions are always going to be less predictable and measurable than their physical dimensions. =

=Some times in architecture human scale is deliberated violated, here are some examples: =

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 * =For monumental effect. Buildings, statues and memorials are constructed in a larger scale. =
 * =For aesthetic effect. Many architects, design buildings that prioritize structural purity and clarity of form over concessions to human scale =
 * =To serve automotive scale. Commercial buildings that are design to be legible from roadways assume a radically different shape =