ARCHITECTURE
In our ancestral era, the main concern was finding shelter that offered protection from the elements and natural dangers. Comfort and meaning weren’ t primary factors in shelter selection, and the only scale we recognised was our bodies’ proportion relative to the required space. The enduring relevance of scale lies in its function. Whether for safety, fire, or cooking, the spatial requirement is proportionate to the activity it must support.
In modern urban environments, we’ re still subject to the functional requirements of spaces we no longer solely inhabit, but create and optimise for specific purposes. These bespoke environments have required a review of our understanding of space and scale in terms of other units of measure, extending beyond human ergonomics to include products, packaging, and vehicles. Since these aren’ t natural or intuitive elements, they present a design challenge to find a meaningful application of scale that’ s functional yet relatable.
Spatial challenges faced by architects
Architects face a significant challenge when designing functional yet meaningful spaces. This requires a review of our design palette to accommodate the scale of the building. We’ re trained to use elements like doors, windows, materials, and proportion to create a relatable human scale, even in large historic buildings. These imposing structures still connect with people at a level we can engage with. However, how do we achieve this in a building without windows, requiring high, uninterrupted spaces and facades?
The scale problem, coupled with the rise of industrial and warehousing structures, has led to the innovative use of mainly metal sheeting and insulated panels. These large structures, often seen along highways, represent companies and brands, often double up as giant billboards in new urban skylines, but measured in hectares rather than square metres.
Designers use a plinth of 1.3m to 1.5m as a visual break between the earth and the building, creating a relatable scale.
Adding perspective
Scale is often achieved by raising the base of the building envelope with a plinth. This is usually due to functional requirements, like large trucks needing to dock, which necessitates a raised floor. This interface allows designers to use a plinth of 1.3m to 1.5m as a visual break between the earth and the building, creating a relatable scale.
Then, masonry or similar material walls are often applied for the first 1.5m to 2.5m of height, enhancing the sense of human scale and protecting the building envelope from forklift and other equipment impacts.
Illustration showing how the building’ s footing establishes a human-scaled point of contact with the ground.
The human experience of this
Imagine driving on two roads: One through the bushveld with low tree canopies and the other through a forest plantation with towering trees and a canopy many metres above. These two experiences offer entirely different spatial sensations, shaped by our interpretation of scale. On the bushveld road, your eyes are drawn to the road edge, the veld, the tree canopy line, and the sky above. This scale is familiar and easy to relate to, as it aligns with our body’ s proportions. In contrast,
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