Cultural and historical contexts play a significant role in the use of proportion in architecture. Different cultural and historical periods have distinct ideals and values, which influence the way architecture is designed and constructed.
For instance, ancient Egyptian architecture focused on achieving perfect symmetry and proportion, which emphasized the belief in eternal order and balance in the world. In contrast, ancient Greek architecture emphasized humanism, highlighting the human body's ideal proportions. Therefore, the Greek architecture's proportions were based on the human body, with an emphasis on balance and symmetry.
Similarly, during the Renaissance period, the use of proportion was heavily influenced by humanism and the revival of classical ideals. Buildings designed during this period were based on Roman and Greek prototypes and relied heavily on proportional symmetry, balance, and harmony.
In the modern era, postmodern architecture has not focused on the principles of proportion in the same way. This lack of emphasis is because architecture today is geared more towards function than beauty. As a result, buildings lack the same beauty as in previous eras.
In conclusion, cultural and historical contexts play a crucial role in defining and guiding the use of proportion in architecture. They influence the use of proportion in terms of its significance, the ideals it emphasizes, and its implementation in buildings.
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