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Questions and Answers
What was the primary goal of Le Corbusier's Modulor system?
What was the primary goal of Le Corbusier's Modulor system?
- To reconcile maths, the human form, architecture, and beauty into a single system (correct)
- To create a system of proportions only applicable to architecture
- To design door handles and city layouts
- To create a system of proportions only applicable to mechanics
What was the basis of the fundamental 'module' of the Modulor?
What was the basis of the fundamental 'module' of the Modulor?
- The average height of men in the 19th century
- The average height of women
- A six-foot man (correct)
- The average height of children
Why is the six-foot basis of the Modulor considered arbitrary?
Why is the six-foot basis of the Modulor considered arbitrary?
- Because it was based on the average height of men in the 19th century
- Because it was plucked out of the air with no scientific basis (correct)
- Because it was only applicable to architecture
- Because it was based on the height of characters in English crime novels
What is a limitation of the Modulor system?
What is a limitation of the Modulor system?
What was Le Corbusier's intention for the Modulor system?
What was Le Corbusier's intention for the Modulor system?
What was the inspiration behind the height of the Modulor Man?
What was the inspiration behind the height of the Modulor Man?
What is a potential criticism of the Modulor system?
What is a potential criticism of the Modulor system?
What was Le Corbusier's broader vision for the Modulor system?
What was Le Corbusier's broader vision for the Modulor system?
What was the original basis for the yard measurement?
What was the original basis for the yard measurement?
What is the approximate length of a cubit today?
What is the approximate length of a cubit today?
Who developed the Modular man, a system based on human measurements?
Who developed the Modular man, a system based on human measurements?
What influences the development of measurement systems?
What influences the development of measurement systems?
What is the basis of the metric system?
What is the basis of the metric system?
What is the origin of the word 'metric'?
What is the origin of the word 'metric'?
What influences the work of Le Corbusier's Modular man?
What influences the work of Le Corbusier's Modular man?
What is a key element of Le Corbusier's Modular man system?
What is a key element of Le Corbusier's Modular man system?
In ancient times, what was the original measurement of a foot?
In ancient times, what was the original measurement of a foot?
What is the modern measurement of a hand used for?
What is the modern measurement of a hand used for?
What was the original measurement of an inch?
What was the original measurement of an inch?
What is the approximate measurement of a span?
What is the approximate measurement of a span?
What is the association of scale with ergonomics in the field of architecture?
What is the association of scale with ergonomics in the field of architecture?
What was the original measurement of a yard?
What was the original measurement of a yard?
What is the importance of considering human body proportions in furniture design?
What is the importance of considering human body proportions in furniture design?
What is the significance of using the human body as a measurement unit in ancient times?
What is the significance of using the human body as a measurement unit in ancient times?
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Study Notes
Origins of Measurements
- The yard was originally fixed by King Henry I of England as the distance from his nose to the thumb of his out-stretched arm, and today it is 36 inches.
- A cubit was the distance from the elbow to the fingertips in ancient Egypt, and today it is about 18 inches.
The Metric System
- The French originated the meter in the 1790s as one/ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the north pole along a meridian through Paris.
- The meter is realistically represented by the distance between two marks on an iron bar kept in Paris.
- The word "metric" comes from the Latin word "metricus" or the Greek word "metron," both meaning measure.
Le Corbusier's Modular Man
- Le Corbusier developed the Modular Man in the long tradition of Vitruvius, Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, and others.
- The system is based on human measurements, the double unit, the Fibonacci numbers, and the golden ratio.
- The Modular Man was meant as a universal system of proportions to reconcile maths, the human form, architecture, and beauty into a single system.
Principles of Design: Proportions and Scales
- Proportions and scales are derived from the proportions of nature and the human body in both the Metric and Armstrong measurement systems.
- The Modulor Man was based on a six-foot man, allegedly based on the usual height of detectives in English crime novels.
- The Modulor was arbitrary, and its six-foot basis was plucked out of the air.
- Furniture and accessories must be in scale to the room for good design.
- Scale is closely related to ergonomics when used in the field of architecture.
Other Measurements
- Inch: Originally the width of a man's thumb, later equalled 3 grains of barley placed end to end lengthwise.
- Hand: Approximately 5 inches or 5 digits (fingers) across, today used to measure horses.
- Span: The length of the hand stretched out, about 9 inches.
- Foot: Originally 111/42 inches, today 12 inches, the length of the average man's foot.
- Yard: Originally the length of a man's belt or girdle, today a unit of measurement.
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