Investigating the geometric proportions of the facades of modern residential buildings in Tehran with regard to visual beauty in order to improve urban design

Beauty and aesthetic have always been one of the natural needs of human beings. Today, due to the changes in life’s variables, less attention has been given to this need and one of the examples in this regard is the visible chaos in the contemporary architecture and urban planning. Proportions and geometry are concepts that are used to relate the components to one another or to the entire unit, and they have emerged in different designs mainly due to the formation of beauty. Beauty depends on two dimensions, a beautiful phenomenon and the one who perceives this beauty. This study examines the relationship between beauty and proportions from the perspective of the audience. Moreover, in this study the word beauty represents aesthetics and the standard of beauty is measured based on geometric proportions and geometric shapes in building elevations that induce a sense of pleasure and beauty for the observer. The role of proportions in architecture is undeniable throughout history and by conducting extensive studies in this field, the researcher has succeeded in introducing a proportional evaluation system. This system has been achieved in 11 steps and via 9 proportional systems that include: basic and multiple modular system, the golden rectangle proportions, the golden spiral, the 1: 1.618 golden ratio, Platonic rectangle, the radical ratios, the golden ratio, Le Corbusier’s Modular measurement system and Ken (Shaku) proportions. The aim of this research was to develop a criteria, for designing modern elevations in residential buildings, which is derived from geometric proportions and results in the creation of beautiful facades. The statistical population of this research consists of the facades of the contemporary residential buildings in Iran that possess modern architecture characteristics. Interviews and questionnaires have been conducted in order to examine the viewers’ opinions on the aesthetics of building elevations. The statistical sample consists of 35 individuals that are categorized into three groups of experts, architecture students and ordinary people. The respondents were asked to organize the selected buildings into the 3 groups of very good, good and normal based on the two criterion of beauty and proportions. Then, a correlation is derived between the chosen samples in each criteria and the control sample is used for their validation and verification. The results prove that according to the respondent’s perspective, the criterion of aesthetically pleasing houses are not solely based on the presence of proportions in the façades of the modern residential buildings. However, it can be stated that the most effective factors in the classification of these two groups rely on following Ken (Shaku) proportions and basic and multiple modular system. Although, the use of geometric proportions is required to achieve an aesthetically pleasing façade however it is not the only necessary factor.