ICHITECTURA.L PROPORTION ILLUSTRATED , J.BRYAN ARCHITECTURAL PROPORTION. ILLUSTRATED. NEW SYSTEM OF PROPORTION SHOWING THE RELA- TION BETWEEN AN ORDER OF ARCHITECTURE AND A BUILDING OF ANY KIND. RULES FOR FINDING THE HEIGHT OF FOUNDATIONS, BASES, WATER-TABLES, WINDOW SILLS, DOORS, WINDOWS, BALUSTRADES, AND SUPERIMPOSED STORIES; WIDTH OF DOORS, WINDOWS, ARCHITRAVES, PILASTERS AND POSTS; HEIGHT AND PROJECTION OF ENTABLATURES, CORNICES, AND ALL EXTERIOR FINISH; ALSO HEIGHT OF BASES, WINDOW-STOOLS, HEIGHT AND PROJECTION OF STUCCO CORNICES, AND INTERIOR FINISH, WITH MANY VALUABLE TABLES. By A. J. BRYAN, Architect. SAN FRANCISCO: A. L. BANCROFT & CO., PRINTERS AND LITHOGRAPHERS, 721 Market Street, 1880. Copyright, 1880, Y A. J. BRYAN. PREFACE. Very few general rules in architectural proportion can be applied to every style of architecture. Special cases can only be provided for by the ingenuity of the Architect. Our aim has been to avoid extremes, and furnish only such practical rules as, in our judg- ment, seem best adapted to the requirements of all classes of buildings in this country. While the rules and plates are our own, it is but just to say that we have freely consulted the works of many authors on the subject, and have carefully compared the practical results from other and more complicated rules with the results obtained by the application of the simple and comprehensive ones contained herein, which, added to our own experience, enables us to offer this volume to the Building Fraternity with the assurance that the measures given are in accord with the works of the best masters. The tables are introduced in the belief that they will obviate the necessity of many calculations, acquaint the novice with the relative proportions of the members of a column, and serve as a ready reference for all persons who are interested in building. A. J. BRYAN. Chico, California, 1880. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/architecturalproOObrya CONTENTS. PLATE. Standard of Proportion I The Necessity for a Proportional Order Illustrated I Application of the Proportions of the Standard to a Cottage I Justification of the Rules I Detail of Side Architrave and Window-stool II Detail of Room Skirting or Base Ill Detail of Shaft-base IV Detail of Pedestal Cornice V Detail of Capital VI Detail of Entablature Cornice VII Detail of Cornice without Frieze or Architrave VIII Detail of Architrave. IX Superimposed Stories X PAGE. Architectural Proportion, where it can exist .' 6 Origin of the Five Orders of Architecture 7 Gradual Development of the Orders of Architecture 7 Description of the Standard of Proportion 10 Equality of Ratios between Interior and Exterior Finish 12 Foundations, Architects should Visit the Building Site 12 Appearance of a Building Dependent on Height of Foundation 13 How to Find the Relative Sizes for the Interior Finish of a Story 15 How to Find the Relative Sizes for the Verandah Finish 15-17 When Minor Members should be Excluded from Entablatures 17 Where Entablatures may be Properly Used 19 Reducing the Height of Superimposed Stories 19-21 Comparative Table 23 Height of Entablatures Elevated Above Standard Example 23-25 Table showing Height of Entablatures 27 Rules 28-29 Tables Giving the Height of Members of the Interior Finish, for Stories of One Hundred Different Heights 30-33 ARCHITECTURAL PRORORTION. That the ancient Orders of Architecture have received their full share of attention from writers in all ages no one can doubt. Many excellent works contain elaborate descriptions of the beautiful proportions of the Five Orders, and merited criticisms on the present styles, while very few contain any practical system which can be used for the improvement of the interior and exterior appearance of the thousands of buildings which are being erected each year in this country. Architecture, like any other invention of man, is susceptible of improvement. The finished building is only the reflex of the designer's knowledge of the fitness of things. A justly proportioned building is pleasing to the eye, while it has no part that will attract particular attention — a finely formed body, with ornaments of natural form and members of just magnitude. Architectural proportion is the relation one part or member of a building bears to others, and can exist only in the combination of a number of things of unequal size. A square building has no proportion between length, width and height, and at best is a poor example of architecture. The student cannot devote too much time to the study of the best examples of classical architecture, yet, after all his study and research, when he is called upon to design dwellings and other buildings which are suited to the requirements of modern civilization, he may be able to talk learnedly about architecture as an art, and still have no idea how his knowledge of ancient architecture will enable him to give just proportions to the members of an ordinary building. High art is a popular text for much writing, but unfortunately those who discourse most upon that worthy theme seem to practice it with the least degree of intelligence in their designs. Unnatural forms in ornamentation and uniform widths for the members of stories of different heights, which are so often found in the designs of impracticable theorists, are, of themselves, a bar to pleasant variety in a design, and the essence of bad taste in architecture. ARCHITECTURAL PROPORTION. 7 As the proportions of classic architecture are not applicable to modern buildings, or to cheap buildings of any style, new ratios must be introduced, so as to modify the ancient Orders, or produce new ones. The Five Orders of Architecture, known as the Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan and Composite, were each suited to a particular purpose and style of building. After the return of the Heracleida?, the Dorians, who afterwards founded Sparta, Argos and Messenia, introduced the Doric Order into the Peloponesus, about 1104 B. C. That they were the first inventors of that Order is very probable, because the massive proportions -of the earliest examples were particularly suited to the purposes of architecture in the Peloponesus during the reign of the Hellenic tribes. The Ionic colonies of Asia Minor gratified their taste and supplied their wants, in an architectural sense, by introducing the Order which bears their name. The Greek Archi- tects, Callicrates, Ictinus, Pericles and Phidias, built the celebrated Parthenon at Athens, in the Doric Order, about 440 B. C, and Callicrates is credited with inventing the Corinthian Order, which was not in general use in Greece before the time of Alexander the Great; the oldest example in Greece being the Choragic Monument of I^ysicrates, built 335 B. C. The l\iscan Order is of doubtful origin, and was probably never extensivelv used, while the Triumphal Arches erected by the" Romans to commemorate great victories, brought into use the excessively ornamented column known as the Composite Order. If we go further back into the history of architecture and take account of Assyrian Architecture on the plains of Mesopotamia; Egyptian Architecture as applied to the temples of the Theban kings, of whom, Osirtesen reigned 1640 B. C, we are led to believe that archi- tecture was reduced to something like a science long before even the Doric Order was invented. In ancient architecture, the column was the prominent feature, and in many excel- lent examples, the column constituted the whole Order. First among the distinguishing features was the ratio of the height of the shaft to its diameter, or vice versa. To find the height of the shaft, or the size of any member, it was first necessary to know the diameter, hence the practice of making the diameter of the shaft the basis of all calcula- tions in architecture. And it seems that so long as this practice was strictly followed, architecture improved, natural and beautiful forms were blended, so as to produce capitals and ornaments in some of the Orders that challenge the admiration of all men. while the proportions of some examples of the ancient Orders approximate perfection. The perfection to which the ancient Orders attained was not due to the efforts or inventions of any one man, but to the combined efforts of men of different genera- tions, each striving to carry the Order to a higher degree of perfection. 8 sxyvd cs - ARCHITECTURAL PROPORTION. 9 Full credence must not be given to stories claiming that the best specimens of the old Orders were the first given, since this is not the truth. Nor do we give more credence to what is related concerning the accomplishments of the ancient architects, for it seems unreasonable to say that an architect could learn more of each art and science, than a man who gave his whole time to the study of any one in particular, yet we know some of the ancient architects wrote on all the sciences. Pythius, Architect of the Temple of Minerva, at Priene, says: "An architect should have that perfect knowledge of each art and science, which is not even acquired by the professors in any one in particular, who have had every opportunity of improving themselves in it." It should be the pride of every honest and unselfish architect to so construct his buildings that others who follow the profession after his time, may copy or improve upon his inventions. Architects who expect to succeed in their profession, must work from a principle when working out their designs. Buildings designed so that the size of each member is governed by the number of minutes contained in the corresponding member on the standard of proportion used, will always be worth something as a work of art, for they are the embodiment of a principle which is manifest in every detail, and like an imperfect machine, the standard may be improved until it ap- proximates perfection. Should an architect wish to introduce new ratios between the members of his work, he must first apply them to an Order, or a Standard of Proportion, then if they are found to produce well balanced and suitable members for a column, and are applicable to the interior and exterior finish of a building designed to fulfill the present purposes of architecture, his system will be com- pleted. But to give heights to the members of the finish for the interior of the building, which could not with propriety be given to the members of a column equal in height to the clear height of the room or story, is wrong, because the purposes of architecture at the present time require an equality of ratios between the members of the interior and exterior work. A standard of proportion is as essential to a building of any kind, as it is to know the diameter of the shaft before computing the size of the members of a column. Architects who use their eye for their standard of proportion are never able to defend their work in a contest, for they have no principle or system in their designs. Many writers attempt to convey the idea that all examples of any of the Five Orders were alike, but such teachings are not founded upon truth. It is right and proper for ARCHITECTURAL PROPORTION. 10 any man to select what lie thinks is the best example of any given Order, and praise it as much as he chooses, but it is not right for him to give his example to the public as the Order, when he knows that nearly all other examples of the Order differ from the one which he has selected. We are willing to accord to the architects of ancient times the very highest degree of intelligence, but are not prepared to believe one-half of the bosh that has been Avritten about every crooked wall, deformed arch, or other imperfection found in any ancient temple, being put in for effect, and due to the superior intelligence of the architect, for if it is, or ever was, necessary to deform an object or body in order to make it look well, few sensible men will follow the example. As the temples of the ancients cannot be copied for present use, we shall now direct our attention to a standard of proportion which is intended to apply to a cheaper class of buildings, better suited to the wants of the American people, and the purposes of architecture in this country. To clearly show the necessity for a standard of proportion we have introduced the column shown in Plate I. As a standard of proportion it is applicable to all classes of buildings. The diameter of the shaft above the base is divided into 60 minutes or units of measure. The taper of the shaft is one-sixth of one diameter, or 50 minutes in diameter at the neck below the fillet and astragal. The height of the principal members are: Pedestal base, 50 minutes; die, 85 minutes; cornice, 50 minutes; shaft base, 36 minutes; shaft, including base and capital, 10 diameters; capital, above the fillet and astragal, 1 diameter and 10 minutes; architrave, 45 minutes; frieze, 40 minutes; cornice, 80 minutes — whole height of the column or ' Order, 15^ diameters. Referring to Plate l it will be seen that the three major divisions of the column are so arranged that, for vertical pro- portion, they are applicable to the three major divisions of the elevation of an interior wall, and vice versa. First: The height of the pedestal is equal to the distance from the floor line to the top of the window-stool; Second: The whole height of the shaft equals the height of the perpendicular architrave for the window, or the distance from the top of the window-stool to the soffit or lowest edge of the horizontal architrave; Third: The height of the entablature is equal to the distance from the sollit to the ceiling line. Of the minor divisions of the column, the pedestal base gives the proper height for the room base, the height of the window-stool or sill equals the height of the pedestal cornice, and the height of the architrave or lowest division of the entablature governs the width of the window architrave. Each member or part of the interior finish contains the same number of minutes or units II ARCHITECTURAL PROPORTION. 12 of measure as is given to the corresponding member on the column. This system of proportion gives perfect harmony between the interior and exterior finish, is easity understood and applied, and has but one basis from which the size of any part or member of the building is computed. No amount of decoration can hide the vulgar appearance of a room if the window openings show a greater or less height than the corresponding part of the column from which the height of all members of the interior finish is computed. The room base, die and window-stool of any room represent the three divisions of the pedestal of a column as clearly on the elevation of the interior wall as the same members do on a pedestal surmounted hy a shaft and entablature. The height of the window architrave must represent the height of the shaft of the Order, because it rests upon the pedestal and supports the horizontal architrave or lowest division of the entablature. To complete the Order on the interior wall elevation, the stucco cornice must contain as many minutes in height and projection as given to the height and projection of the cornice or upper division of the entablature on the standard of proportion. We dismiss, for the present, Architectural Proportion, and take up a subject equally important and often criminally neglected: FOUNDATIONS. A good foundation is the key to success in everything, and without it a fine house is only a costly sham. When the walls and plaster of a new building begin to crack, it. is usually charged to climatic influences, }^et, in nearly every case, the cause can be traced directly to a faulty foundation. Good walls, with broad footings of stone or hard-burned brick, will always give the owner of a building better satisfaction than he can receive from a hundred theories that work well only on paper. To insure a good foundation all walls should start from a common level, either at the bottom of the basement, or, if no basement is required, then in trenches excavated to a sufficient depth to insure equal resistance from the ground. A good foundation at one place is often an insufficient one for the same building even on an adjoining lot. Therefore, it is always advisable for the architect to visit the building site after the excavating is done, when he will readily detect any great inequality in the density of the earth along the line of the walls, and will then be competent to make a suitable foundation for that particular place. The width of foundation and basement walls should always be liberal and rather more than appears, after examination of the under- ARCHITECTURAL PROPORTION. 13 lying earth, to be necessary. If extravagance can be justified at all in the erection of a building, the foundation should have the lion's share; and he who cannot afford to build upon a good foundation will soon regret having built at all, for upon the solidity of the foundation depends the lasting beauty, usefulness, and safety of the whole superstructure. As the safety of the whole superstructure depends upon the solidity, so also does the exterior appearance of an isolated building depend, in a large degree, upon the height of the foundation. A two or three story dwelling with the first-floor line only one and a half or two feet above the level of the ground, presents the appearance of having settled after com- pletion ; and a low building with a very high foundation has the appearance of having been raised above high water mark. In either case the architect who designs such buildings usually makes them bear false witness against the locality wherein they are erected. As an illustration of Rule I, we will refer the reader to the section of the eleva- tion of a cottage and foundation shown in Plate I. The clear height of the story in the cottage is 10 feet, or equal to the height of the column shaft shown in the same Plate, and as the diameter of the shaft is the basis from which the height and projec- tion of the members of the column is computed, we take the height of the story as the representative of the shaft; and divide this height into 10 diameters and then divide one diameter into 60 parts for the unit of measure which, in this case, equals y" u or \ of an inch. Proceeding then as with a column, the height of the foundation to the floor line is made to equal 2 diameters and 45 minutes, or 2 feet 9 inches. The height of the stone base to the foundation is made to equal 50 minutes or 10 inches, and the height of the water-table equals 30 minutes or 6 inches. Then beginning at the ceiling line 2 diameters and 45 minutes, or 2 feet 9 inches is laid up for the height of the entablature, or the distance from the ceiling line to the eaves. As the cornice on the standard is 80 minutes in height and projection, the height of the cottage cornice measured at right angles from the slant of the roof, and the inclined and end projection is made to equal 80 minutes, or 1 foot 4 inches. The members of the cornice on the dwelling contain the same number of minutes, or units of measure, as is given to the corresponding member of the cornice on the standard, with this exception: one member is left out of the corona in the cottage cornice, and its height is added to the height of the bed mould in order to give that BASE or SHAFT. ARCHITECTURAL PROPORTION. 15 member more prominence in its retired position in the raking cornice, and the' height of the dental course and spiral mould next below are both given to the lowest division of the plain cornice. Plate I also represents the standard of proportion as standing in a room, the clear height of which equals 15 feet 6 inches. Then in order to keep the same ratios between the members of the interior story finish of the cottage and the members of the column, it becomes necessary to reduce the standard of proportion, until it will stand in a room or story which is only LO feet in height. This we do by reducing 10 feet to hundredths or thousandths of inches and dividing by 15§. The quotient resulting there- from will be the diameter of the shaft of the reduced column. The sum obtained for the diameter is then subdivided into 60 minutes, and one minute, or the unit of measure thus found for the 10-foot story, is increased as many times for the height of each member of the story finish as there are minutes in the height of the corresponding member on the standard example. 120.000 inches 15^ = 7tVo inches for the diameter of the shaft of the reduced column. 7.740 -s- GO = iW'o inches for the unit of measure for the 10-foot story. .129X50— 6rVo inches for the height of the room base for the cottage. .129X30=3tV(7 inches for the height of the window-stool and sill. 7.74X 10 -llxsn inches, or G feet 5,W inches for the height of the window architrave, or the distance from the top of the window-stool to the soffit above the window. .I29X45X5^nj inches for the width of the window arhictraves. .129X80=10i :! a © > h tion abo or Line. DO se l3 M o g .SP ^ 5 j* ction fro of Friez tion abo or Line. BD <« £ O g "to ^~ p S £i .« o ^ a o o W s 03 jo "o W a w 'c P w Ph £ 3 13:4.70 o- 1 n ak 1:4.80 27:7.50 .Of K. 1 A£ o: 1.U5 O. rt cm z: o.bU 14:0.50 oo .22 o. U.oU 1:5.60 28:11.70 QQ .OO 5: Z. /U I. U.4U 14:8.45 o. i.yo 1:6.40 30:4.85 QQ .oU y: 4.oo O. 7 OA z: / .ZU ±o.t .UU O f o. O.UU 1 . 1 OA 01.11 flA 61: 11. UO /i a .4U k. f 1 aa o: U.UU 0. Q AA 1. O.UU 16:1.00 ftit to Ceiling. Clear height of Story. ARCHITECTURAL PROPORTION. 33 TABLE OF COLUMN PIXISH.— Continued. .3 til M h) J5 ■ i % i ° i. a 5 d 5 c o 3 >5 5 Tr. w 02 . c 30 33 ■JL. W 3 A r-J T i ^ u ■') 00 1 (! 00 900 Length of Interior Window Casing. If J £3? § ~* c ^ 5So 3 so o B o X 3 3 'I £ o •H ~ s i \ w a : DO 3 to s o O 60 s> r. a *> . — j{ 3 «*« o s . - 7. to 3 By a careful examination of the foregoing tables, any one at all familiar with design- ing or building houses can correctly determine the proper height for the window and exterior door openings, the height of the room base, window-stool, stucco cornices, etc. for almost every height of story that could lie wanted. When the height of the story has been determined, the exact size of the members of mouldings, etc., can be found by simply multiplying the number of minutes contained in any given member by the unit of measure, or minute given in the last column of figures opposite the clear height of the story.