After you have located buildings on the Web (allowing us to view various architectural styles), and have calculated the ratio of the building to determine if it or a section of it conforms to the Golden Mean, you are ready to create our own architectural designs. 

Design a building using the Golden Mean as the basis for its composition. Your design may have architectural elements that extend up from the top or out from the sides of the building, but the basic structure of the building must contain the Golden Mean. Will you design a private residence? Your dream house? A public building, such as a museum, library, or bank? A store?? 

Materials: drawing paper 
  pencils (2H) 
  gum erasers 
  rulers 
  compasses 
  protractor 

Step 1 - Start by constructing a rectangle whose sides create  a ratio of 1:1.618... (Golden Rectangle). 

a.) Choose a Fibonacci number and make a square. 

b.) Bisect the square. 

c.) Draw a line from one end of the bisecting line to one of the opposite corners. Extend the baseline of the square. 

d.) Using the diagonal line as the radius, draw an arc from the corner of the square down to the baseline. 

e.) Draw a line from the point of intersection of the arc and the baseline, perpendicular to the baseline. Extend the top edge of the square to meet this line and form a rectangle. 

This is a Golden Rectangle. 

Step 2 - Using a pencil, ruler, protractor, and compass, proceed to design your building.  Elements of the building can stick up off the roof, or out from the sides of the building, but use the rectangle as the basis of your design.  Where will the entrance be placed? Windows? How many sets of windows will it contain? 
 
 

Step 3 - If time allows, finish your plan by drawing in landscaping, a feature most architectural plans include. 
 
 

Larry Cohan 
Christine McAllister 
Richard Murray 
 

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