Ching says: Scale is not size. Scale is size relative to something else, especially human.
Three scales:
1- *Generic Scale:* Size relative to other objects. Door relative to wall. If door is 50% of wall, feels big. If 20%, feels small. This is proportion, but generic.
2- *Human Scale:* Size relative to human body. Door 2.1m is human scale - we can reach handle, pass through. Door 5m high is monumental scale - we feel small. Good architecture uses both: Monumental entrance (5m canopy) with human door (2.1m) inside it. You feel importance and comfort.
3- *Urban Scale:* Size relative to surroundings. 10-storey building in Mansoura 3-storey neighborhood feels huge, out of scale. Same building in New Cairo business district feels normal. Scale depends on context.
Breaking scale: Sometimes you want to manipulate scale. Small window in big wall makes wall feel bigger. Many small windows make wall feel smaller. In Egypt, to make small villa feel bigger, use large continuous material, few joints - scale feels large. To make big building feel smaller, break facade into smaller panels.
For shop drawings: Human scale details: Light switch at 120cm (hand reach), window sill at 90cm (lean), bench at 45cm (sit). These dimensions are human scale, never change. If you put switch at 150cm, feels wrong.
Instagram: Same room with two different door heights - 2.1m vs 1.8m - feeling completely different. Simple, powerful. Caption: "Scale is not how big, it's how big it feels."
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