Dynamic Rectangle - Jay Hambidge

Jay Hambidge

Jay Hambidge, as part of his theory of dynamic symmetry, includes the root rectangles in what he calls dynamic rectangles, which have irrational and geometric fractions as ratios, such as the golden ratio or square roots. Hambidge distinguishes these from rectangles with rational proportions, which he terms static rectangles. According to him, root-2, 3, 4 and 5 rectangles are often found in Gothic and Classical Greek and Roman art, objects and architecture, while rectangles with aspect ratios greater than root-5 are seldom found in human designs.

According to Matila Ghyka, Hambidge's dynamic rectangles

can produce the most varied and satisfactory harmonic (consonant, related by symmetry) subdivisions and combinations, and this by the very simple process of drawing inside the chosen rectangle a diagonal and the perpendicular to it from one of the two remaining vertices (thus dividing the surface into a reciprocal rectangle and its gnomon) and the drawing any network of parallels and perpendiculars to sides and diagonals. This produces automatically surfaces correlated by the characteristic proportion of the initial rectangle and also avoids (automatically again) the mixing of antagonistic themes like √2 and √3 or √5. √5 and Φ on the contrary are not antagonistic but consonant, also with √Φ, Φ2, et cetera.