Download - RIBA Bookshops
Download - RIBA Bookshops
Download - RIBA Bookshops
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
General Information 23<br />
The Fibonacci spiral is a curve<br />
that increases constantly in<br />
size without changing its<br />
basic shape. This is<br />
demonstrated by<br />
using squares increasing<br />
in the Fibonacci scale,<br />
i.e. 1, 2, 3, 5, from the<br />
diagram of which can be seen<br />
three nearly golden rectangles.<br />
Leonardo Fibonacci (c.1170–1230) was an Italian mathematician<br />
who introduced arabic numerals to Christian Europe.<br />
He travelled extensively, particularly in North Africa where he<br />
learnt the decimal system and the use of zero. He published<br />
this system in Europe but mathematicians were slow to<br />
adopt it.<br />
Le Corbusier used the Fibonacci series in his system of proportion<br />
‘Le Modulor’.<br />
To draw a golden rectangle:<br />
Draw a square ABCD.<br />
Halve the base line at E.<br />
From this point draw a line to<br />
corner C and with radius EC<br />
drop an arc to find point F.<br />
The golden rectangle is<br />
AFGD as also is BFGC.<br />
The angle between the diagonal and the long side of a<br />
golden rectangle is approximately 31.45º.<br />
CH001.indd 23<br />
2/29/08 12:18:22 PM
Change language