Anthropometric Basis of Architectural Design

ANTHROPOMETRIC BASIS
OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
OBJECTIVE: This course is designed to present and explain the various design
theories with emphasis on perceptual and proxemics sensitivities in
organizing forms and space.
REFERENCES:
• A Visual Dictionary of Architecture by Francis D.K. Ching

• Architecture: Form, Space or Order by Francis D.K. Ching
Anthropometry - (Greek anthropos (άνθρωπος - "man") and
metron (μέτρον - "measure") therefore "measurement of man")
refers to the measurement of the human individual
Anthropometrics - A systematic study of the measurement of

humans, anthropometrics was increasingly used in the decades
following the end of the Second World War by designers
concerned with design problems that involved human
movement.
Anthropometry refers to the measurement of the size and

proportions of the human body. While the Architects of the
Renaissance saw the proportion of the human figure as
reaffirmation that certain mathematical ratios reflected the
harmony of their universe , anthropometric propositioning
methods seek not abstract or symbolic rations , nut
functional ones. They are predicated on the theory that
forms and space in architecture are either containers or
extensions of the human body and should therefore be
determined by its dimension.
The Dimension and proportions of the human body affect
the proportion of things we handle, the height and distance of
things we try to reach, and the dimension of the furnishings we
use for sitting, working, eating and sleeping. There is a
difference between our structural dimension and those
dimensional requirements which result from how we reach for
some-thing on a shelf, sit down at the table, walk down a set of
stair, or the nature of the activity engaged in and the social
situation.
Anthropomrty involves the systematic measurement of the

physical properties of the human body , primarily dimensional
descriptors of the body size and shape.
A Special field that has developed from a concern with human

factors is ergonomics the applied science that coordinates the
design of devices, systems and environments with our
physiological and psychological and requirements.
.
Data Collection Devices
Anthropometer
The Anthropometer is an extremely versatile
instrument suitable for measuring nearly any linear dimension of
human body. The Anthropometer consists of four interconnecting
metal tubes, whose surface area engraves in millimeter intervals.
With the four sections connected , the measuring range is from 0
to 2100 mm.
Stadiometer
A Stadiometer is a piece of medical equipment used
for measuring human height . It is usually constructed out of a ruler
and a sliding horizontal headpiece which is adjusted to rest on the
top of the head.
Anthropometric Board
Dimensions of Human Figure
Dimension and clearance provided in
planning, building layout and furnishing
often represent only minimum
requirements for the average adult .
These dimension and clearance should be

increased to allow comfortable
accommodation and improve safety for
person of larger that average stature.
Designers of furniture and space where
dimensioning goals should investigate the
range of anthropomorphic dimensions of the
human figure.
Dimensions of Children
Children do not have the same physical
proportion of adults, especially during early
years, and their height vary greatly . Their
proportion may be approximated.
Ergonomics- An applied concerned with the characteristic of people that need to be considered
in the design of devices and system in order that people and thing interact effectively and safely
Also called human Engineering

Example of some common Anthropometric variables
and how they are used in Ergonomics
1. Standing eye height 11.Total Arm Span

2. Standing shoulder height 12. Buttock Leg Length
3. Standing elbow height 13. Reach
4. Standing knuckle height
5. Sitting height
6. Sitting elbow height
7. Buttock Popliteal height
8. Knee height and thigh depth
9. Shoulder Width
10. Hip breadth
1. Standing Eye Height:
The Subject stands erect and look straight ahead.

The vertical distance between floors to inner corner of
eye is known as eye level.
Importance:
It is important for visualization like-viewing mirror in
dressing table or bathroom.
2. Standing Shoulder Height:
This is the vertical distance from floor to the uppermost

point on the lateral edge of the shoulder with the
subject standing straight.
Importance:
It is use to estimate the height of the center of rotation
of the arm above the ground and can help specify the
maximum allowable height for a control.
3. Standing Elbow Height
The subject stands erect with his arm hanging naturally.

Elbow height is the vertical distance from floor to
depression between the bones of the upper arm and
forearm at the elbow.
Importance:
It is important in design of kitchen platform height, desk,
arm chair and etc.
4. Standing Knuckle Height
The subject stands straight with his palm flat against

the side of his thigh. Vertical Distance from floor to the
joint of middles finger of right hand with palm is known
as knuckle height .
Importance:
It is use to determine the minimum height of the full grip
for standing person.
5. Sitting Height
The subject sit erect, look straight ahead with his

knees and ankles forming right angles. Sitting
height is the vertical distance from sitting surface to
the top of the head.
Importance:
Sitting height is important for designing backrest of
chair and also to determine the ceiling height
specially in vehicles to provide enough clearance
to the users with large sitting height
6. Sitting Elbow Height
The distance between sitting surface to the bottom

of the right elbow is known as elbow height while
subject sits erect with part of shoulder to elbow
vertical at his side and his forearm at right angle to
the upper arm
Importance:
Elbow height is important for designing a height of arm rest
in chair & table.
7. Buttock Popliteal Height
This Is the horizontal distance from the plane of the

most posterior point on the buttocks to the back of
the knee. The subject sits straight with his knees
and ankles at right angles.
Importance:
Buttock to Popliteal length is important for
designing dept of the chair.
8. Knee Height and Thigh Depth
This Is Vertical distance from floor to uppermost

point of the knee while subject sits erect with knee
and ankle at right angles.
Importance:
Knee height Is important for designing a sitting
height of the chair and to determine the thigh
clearance required under a table or even a console
9. Shoulder Width
This is the maximum breadth of the body including

arm tightly pressed against the body while subject
is standing straight.
Importance:
It Is important for designing a breadth of door ,
passage , etc. to provide clearance to those with
wide shoulders.
10. Hip breadth
This is the maximum horizontal distance between

hips. The subject sits erect with his knees and
ankles right at angles and his knees and heels
together.
Importance:
Hip breadth is important to design a breadth of
chair.
11. Total Arm Span
Maximum horizontal distance between the tips of middle finger while subject is standing straight
and arms stretched on sides.
Importance:
It is important for designing any space of house to feel free & comfortable
12. Buttock Leg Length
This is the horizontal distance from the outer

surface of buttocks to the base of the heel
while subject sits erect with his legs as forward
as possible on a horizontal surface.
Importance:
Buttock length is importance for designing a
floor sitting , gym area, yoga space, etc.
13. Forward Arm Reach
This is the horizontal distance from posterior surface of the
right shoulder to the tip of the extended middle finger. The
subject stands straight with heels, buttocks and shoulders
against the wall ang right arm and hand extended forward
horizontally to their maximum length
Importance:
It is important for designing kitchen cabinet, cupboard ,
towel rod or hangers In bathroom, etc.
Proxemics
• Is the study of human use of space and effect that population density has on behavior.
• In other words the study of how human being communicate through their use of space
• It is describe as a set measure bale distance between people as the interact
• Edward T. Hall -The study of how man uses space- the space that he maintains between himself
and his fellow and which he builds around him in his home and office. It is the study of the ways
in which individuals use physical space in their interactions with others and how this use of
physical space influences behavior of all concerned
There are 4 types of Distance in Proxemics
Spaces according to Hall’s definition of Proxemics have 3 following aspects.
1. Fixed Feature Space
2. Semi Fixed Feature Space
3. Informal Space

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ANTHROPOMETRIC BASIS

• A Visual Dictionary of Architecture by Francis D.K. Ching

Anthropometrics - A systematic study of the measurement of

Anthropometry refers to the measurement of the size and

Anthropomrty involves the systematic measurement of the

A Special field that has developed from a concern with human

These dimension and clearance should be

Also called human Engineering

1. Standing eye height 11.Total Arm Span

The Subject stands erect and look straight ahead.

This is the vertical distance from floor to the uppermost

The subject stands erect with his arm hanging naturally.

The subject stands straight with his palm flat against

The subject sit erect, look straight ahead with his

The distance between sitting surface to the bottom

This Is the horizontal distance from the plane of the

This Is Vertical distance from floor to uppermost

This is the maximum breadth of the body including

This is the maximum horizontal distance between

This is the horizontal distance from the outer

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